Higher Education Administration Program (HEAP) Doctoral Concentration

The objective of the Higher Education Administration Program (HEAP) doctoral concentration is to prepare, train and educate students to become leaders in the administration of postsecondary institutions, scholars who can bring about greater understanding of postsecondary education through research, and teachers who can pass on knowledge of the past and equip students with the ability to work with an ever-changing postsecondary education environment.

Students in the program receive a thorough grounding in the functioning of postsecondary institutions and in the skills of administration, decision-making and leadership. They develop an understanding of the particular role of postsecondary institutions in society as both distributors and creators of knowledge, the historical context from which those institutions have emerged, and the ethical considerations that must surround and guide the enterprise. Finally, the program prepares doctoral students to be consumers and producers of postsecondary research and scholarship and socializes students towards possible careers in academia.

Programs leading to this degree emphasize preparation for a research career in which the graduate will add to the core of knowledge that is the basis for informed practice. The curriculum is oriented toward the development of theory and research skills in a variety of methodologies and includes a strong secondary emphasis in a cognate field of study.

Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration

Doctor of Education (PHD) Concentration Plan Worksheet	Doctor of Education (EDD) Concentration Plan Worksheet

Upon satisfactory completion of at least 30 semester credit hours of the required and elective coursework, preparation begins for Advancement to Candidacy. Upon advancement, the student is authorized by the Department and the Graduate School to proceed with the dissertation. Advancement required the following:

Higher Education Comprehensive and Specialization Qualifying Examination

The Departmental Comprehensive (Core) Examination and the Higher Education Specialization Qualifying Examination (SQE) are required.

Advancement

When the student and the mentor are satisfied that the above requirements have been met, the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee is presented with the coursework completed or planned, the results of the examinations, an abstract of the proposed dissertation, and the proposed chair and membership of the dissertation committee. Upon final approval by the Committee, a recommendation is forwarded to the Graduate School that the student be advanced to candidacy and permitted to proceed with the dissertation.

Doctoral Degree Program Assessment

Contact the Program

For more information, please write, email, or telephone:

The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Educational Administration
1 University Station D5400
Austin, Texas 78712-0374

Email:heap@austin.utexas.edu
Telephone: (512) 471-7551
Fax: (512) 471-5975