Higher Education Administration, PhD
The Higher Education Administration PhD program offers advanced graduate study to those students aspiring to enhance their leadership knowledge and skills for service in their current positions; to establish knowledge and skill bases for more responsible and executive leadership appointments; and to build the capacity and inclination for active participation in policy for service in administrative, faculty, and policy scholar roles.
Program overview
The program builds on three assumptions about leadership: leadership is a conceptual, moral, and performing art form based on (a) the power of theory and ideas, (b) the influence of thoughtfully considered values, and (c) the development of skill that derives from the traffic between theory and practice.
Leadership in college and university settings requires: (a) an awareness of heritage and distinction in the complex mission of colleges and universities and (b) appreciation of the mission tension reflected in the call to simultaneously conserve heritage, critique current policy and practice, and create the future through the unimpeded pursuit and application of truth.
Why study Higher Education Administration?
The Higher Education Administration degree is for leaders who want to shape the future of colleges and universities from the inside out. It is designed for those who believe higher education is a powerful vehicle for social mobility and human potential.
Higher Education Administration equips students with the knowledge and skills to lead complex academic institutions, support student success, manage organizational change, and navigate the evolving landscape of college administration. You will develop expertise in areas like legal issues, student affairs, academic policy, budgeting, and institutional strategy.
What can you do with a PhD in Higher Education Administration after graduation?
University Executive & Senior Leadership
Academic Affairs & Faculty
Consulting & Entrepreneurship
Higher Education Researcher
Featured Courses
Values and Ethics in Educational Leadership
Examination of the moral and ethical dimensions of the work of educational leaders.
Administration and Governance of Higher Education
Trends, structure, and process of collegiate governance. Development of understanding of administrative theory and practice in higher education.
Research Design
The foundations of designing, conducting, and evaluating quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research and the philosophical assumptions underlying these approaches.
Advanced Seminar in Administrative Theory
A doctoral seminar designed for students pursuing careers in higher education leadership positions. Focus will be on current-day “best practices” for leading and managing within the higher education environment.
Looking for online programs?
If you’re interested in learning more about UT’s online programs, visit volsonline.utk.edu.
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