On-Campus Ph.D.

The UF Ph.D. in higher education administration and policy empowers scholars who want to make a lasting impact on colleges, universities and the systems that support them. We prepare program graduates for many possible career paths with a degree program combining concepts from economics, public policy, sociology and organizational theory.

Whether driven to produce meaningful research or to influence education policy, earning a UF Ph.D. in higher education administration develops your ability to be a changemaker.

Curious about this program? Contact us today.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in higher education administration at the University of Florida is a fully on-campus and in-person doctoral program. During their time in the program, students establish an independent research agenda, learn how to contribute to the field’s scholarly literature and form a real-world connection to policy evaluation. Students conclude the program by completing a traditional dissertation research project.

We prepare graduates for careers in academic research and higher education policy development. Some of our graduates have found employment in various policy and research roles within local, state and national education agencies, while others have teaching, research and leadership positions in colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad. Students often enter the program open to many career paths and benefit from the mentorship experience offered by our Ph.D. higher education administration faculty.

Students may enroll full-time or part-time. Full-time students can expect to complete the Ph.D. program in about 4 years. Most of our part-time students are UF or Santa Fe employees, and we’re always glad to have them in the program. If you’re joining as a part-time student, keep in mind that you’ll need to take some courses that take place during the traditional workday. Your course plan will also include more research-focused training. If you’re interested in a more practitioner-oriented leadership program, our hybrid Ed.D. might be a better fit.

Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration Core Curriculum

Students complete at least 90 graduate credits in this program to earn their doctorate. Required courses include the core curriculum, core research courses, higher education research courses, pre-candidacy and dissertation credit.

While some of our higher education Ed.D. and M.Ed. programs utilize a lock-step, cohort-based system, the Ph.D. program has more flexibility. We provide a recommended course sequence; however, doctoral students can select electives that align with their goals and interests.

Students in this program work with their advisor to choose a quantitative or qualitative research methods track based on their research interests, career plans and dissertation project design.

Take your next step—on campus, in government or wherever your vision takes you.

Contact Program Coordinator Lindsey Byron, Ed.D., for more information.