Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration

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Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration

Program Advisor
Sharon McDade, Ed.D. (202) 994-0956, (757) 269-4949

Program Representative
Lolita Liwag (757) 269-2202; (804) 649-1333

Applications for the Higher Education Administration doctoral program are no longer being accepted at the Hampton Roads Center. However, all coursework and dissertation support will be provided at HRC for admitted students to complete EdD requirements. The program is still offered in a weekend format at GW’s Northern Virginia Campus in Ashburn and in a traditional format, with classes on week nights at the main campus in Washington DC. For further information, please contact Pat Zimmerman at the Northern Virginia Campus, pzimmer@va.gwu.edu or Dr. Walter Brown at the main campus, wbrown@gwu.edu.

It is the mission of the GW Higher Education Administration (HEA) doctoral program to prepare exceptional leaders for administrative, academic, and research positions in four-year and two-year higher education institutions, national and international associations, government agencies, and educational settings in business and industry. Specific advanced-level competencies developed in the program include:

A comprehensive understanding of post-secondary education including the historical, social, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of education with specific knowledge of the dynamics of developing educational policy, theories and practices of administration and governance, financing of higher education, legal principles, and ethical issues.
The expertise to lead an organization in working with various groups, including colleagues, students, faculty, administrators, and external constituent groups.
The ability to design, apply, and lead others in problem-solving strategies and technological skills applied to individual, organizational, and institutional issues and problems.
The opportunity to conduct scholarly research and to use and apply research findings in an informed and critical manner.

The HEA program is known for its excellence in preparing emerging leaders in the field of higher education. Many HEA alumni rise rapidly within administrative ranks based on their knowledge, skills, experiences, and research expertise developed through the program and the resources they learn to utilize while in the Higher Education Administration doctoral program.

Program Curriculum
The HEA doctoral program provides students a great depth of knowledge and experience in the field of higher education administration. The foundation courses provide a broad range of knowledge and an introduction to dissertation tools. A set of research methods courses provides advanced research skills relevant to the dissertation. A set of elective courses provides specialized knowledge as a support to advanced dissertation research. Finally, there is a dissertation series to support the individualized research process. The program includes four units totaling 69 semester hours:
1. A Foundation of Eight Courses (24 credits)

EDUC 273 Foundations of College Student Development
EDUC 283 Higher Education in the U.S.
EDUC 284 Administration of Higher Education
EDUC 290 Leadership in Higher Education
EDUC 301 Advanced Seminar: Ideas, Issues, and Practices in Education
EDUC 353 Seminar in Higher Education
EDUC 374 Current Issues in Higher Education
EDUC 381 Curriculum in Colleges and Universities

2. A Research Methods Sequence of at Least 3 Courses (9 credits)

EDUC 302 Quantitative Methods III
EDUC 307 Qualitative Methods

An additional research methods course appropriate for the methodology to be used in the student's research-based dissertation 3. ELECTIVES (21 credit hours) Students select seven elective courses to create an area of concentration in general administration to support the dissertation.These electives may include additional research methods courses. Electives are selected by each cohort and offered during the second year of coursework.

3. Electives (21 credits)

Students select seven elective courses to create an area of concentration in general administration to support the dissertation.These electives may include additional research methods courses. Electives are selected by each cohort and offered during the second year of coursework.
4. Dissertation Research (15 credits)

EDUC 390 Pre-Dissertation Seminar (3 credits)
EDUC 391 Dissertation Research (12 or more credits)

Program Delivery

Coursework in the Higher Education Administration doctoral program at the Hampton Roads Center is taught in executive format, featuring cohort groups that meet four weekends (Friday evening and Saturday mornings) per course per semester. Either two or three courses are completed each semester, permitting completion of the coursework phase of the degree in two calendar years.

After successful completion of the comprehensive exam, continuing doctoral students enter the dissertation phase which typically requires one to three years for completion. The length of time depends upon each student's topic and research strategy. Cohort groups generally number 12-15 students. The cohort proceeds through the coursework phase of the program together, choosing electives as a group.

ELECTRONIC COURSE SUPPORT

Courses are posted on an Internet software platform, providing students easy access to all course support materials, readings, and assignments. This Internet course support platform also facilitates interaction among students and instructors between class meetings.

LIBRARY ACCESS

In addition to the GW Gelman Library electronic databases, catalog, and book request services, the library provides a special electronic search and delivery service for students at the Hampton Roads Center who cannot readily visit Gelman, located in Washington DC. Gelman Library is a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), providing an online catalog of the seven member universities to our students on and off campus.

Program Support

The HEA program is supported by two outreach series for professional and dissertation development and several centers and institutes.

Meet the Leaders speaker series brings four to six key leaders of higher education to meet informally with HEA students each semester. Recent speakers have included Judith Eaton, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Robert Birnbaum and Marcia Baxter-Margolda, scholars and authors; Gordon Davies, State Higher Education Officer for Kentucky; and many presidents of colleges and universities and key officers of higher education associations. Meet the Leaders speakers are available on CD to students who are unable to attend on campus.

Doctoral Advancement Seminar is a monthly meeting of doctoral students to provide focused information on the process and technicalities of the dissertation process, while fostering support and colleagueship for students working on their dissertations. At each meeting students share dissertation wisdom and explore a particular topic relevant to the research process.

Center for Educational Leadership and Transformation produces research on leaders and what they do to change educational organizations and manages development programs for higher education and non-profit leaders. The Center sponsors a series of presentations on cutting edge research by faculty and advanced doctoral students, and through grants often provides funding for Research Assistants.

The Higher Education Student Association
is the student, faculty, staff, and alumni organization that provides a forum for the exchange of ideas on current issues in higher education.

Other affiliated programs The Institute for Education Policy Studies, The National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform and The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs.

Admission Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education
Minimum graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.3
Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) (test scores older than 5 years are not acceptable)
At least three years of professional work experience
Two letters of recommendation from an academic advisor or colleague or from a current or most recent employer
Statement of Purpose (your professional goals and objectives; 750-1200 words)
Interview with program advisor

Contact the Hampton Roads Center at (757) 269-4949 or (804) 649-1333 for an application.

The following documents should be submitted to the Hampton Roads Center, 1 Old Oyster Point Road, Suite 200, Newport News, VA 23602:

Completed application with non-refundable $60.00 application fee
Official transcripts from each college or university attended
Official GRE or MAT scores
Two letters of recommendation
Statement of Purpose
Current resumé

ADMISSION DEPOSIT

Upon acceptance as a degree candidate, the University requires an admission deposit of $100 that serves as a confirmation of your decision to attend The George Washington University. The deposit will be applied to the tuition bill during the semester in which you are admitted. If you choose not to attend, the tuition deposit will not be refunded.

PROGRAM LOCATION

The Higher Education Administration doctoral program is also offered at GW Northern Virginia Campus in an executive weekend format. The HEA master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees are offered at the main GW campus in downtown Washington, DC, in a traditional format.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have further questions or would like an appointment to discuss your program personally, please contact:

GW Hampton Roads Center
1 Old Oyster Point Road, Suite 200
Newport News, VA 23602
Peninsula: (757) 269-4949
Richmond: (804) 649-1333
Fax: (757) 269-4992
Email: gwhrc@gwu.edu

GW Virginia Campus
44983 Knoll Square
Suite 390
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 726-8254
Fax: (703) 726-8211
Email: pzimmer@va.gwu.edu

Graduate School of Education and Human Development
2134 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-6160
Fax: (202) 994-7207
Email: gsehdapp@gwu.edu

GW Student Financial Assistance
(202) 994-6620 or (800) 222-6242

Veterans Benefits
(757) 269-4949

The GW Graduate Bulletin states official academic policy governing degrees. The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. GW is certified to operate in Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

Financial Aid
Thinking about applying for Stafford or alternative educational loans to finance graduate school? Check out the Graduate Financial Aid loan information on the web at http://gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-g/.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
For more information regarding the GRE and testing dates, call or go to:
(800) 473-2255, (609) 771-7670, or www.gre.org.

Miller Analogies Test
For more information regarding the MAT, call or go to:
(800) 622-3231 or www.milleranalogies.com.

For the next scheduled date of the MAT test at GWU's Hampton Roads Center, please call (757) 269-4949.

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