Higher Education Administration, Ph.D.

Saint Louis University's Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration emphasizes the integration of theory, research, and practice in higher education, preparing scholar-practitioners for leadership, policy, and faculty roles grounded in social justice and evidence-based decision-making.

Curriculum Overview

The 46-credit-hour Ph.D. program prepares future scholars, administrators, and faculty for leadership roles in colleges and universities. Through coursework and intensive study, students develop advanced competencies in higher education research, organizational leadership, and institutional analysis.

Courses focus on examining issues related to college students and higher education administration, applying discipline-based literature to professional practice, and developing research and analytical skills. The curriculum is grounded in principles of social justice, inclusion, and evidence-based decision-making.

Social Justice Framework

Our programs are grounded in a social justice framework. Social justice has been a significant lens for Jesuit institutions since 1965 and remains central to higher education, student affairs and educational leadership. Although definitions of social justice vary, David Hollenbach, S.J., wrote that “social justice concerns institutionalized patterns of mutual action and interdependence that are necessary to bring about the realization of distributive justice.”

In educational contexts, distributive justice affirms that all individuals should have access to the public good of education. Accordingly, we seek to address systemic injustice by challenging and transforming oppressive structures into systems that promote equity and human dignity for all.

As educators, we recognize our responsibility to prepare higher education leaders who can critically examine and dismantle systems of oppression while shaping colleges and universities into inclusive, life-giving educational communities, particularly for those historically marginalized by bias and injustice. Our program is informed by the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of social justice and guided by the Universal Apostolic Preferences adopted by the Society of Jesus in 2019.

Two of these Preferences especially inform our work: Walking with the Excluded and Journeying with Youth (Society of Jesus, 2019).

Walking with the Excluded shapes our program’s framework by challenging students — personally and professionally — to confront systemic inequities in higher education and society through a commitment to reconciliation and justice.

Journeying with Youth calls the Jesuit community, including Saint Louis University and the School of Education, to remain open to mutual formation with those who are new to our community and with younger generations, including students, faculty and staff.

As scholars and educators, we strive to co-create a learning environment in which students are holistically prepared to:

1. Identify and analyze processes that dehumanize individuals and work collaboratively to dismantle oppression
2. Reflect critically on the socialization that shapes their identities and professional practice
3. Elevate and honor the lived experiences of diverse communities
4. Contextualize individual and collective experiences within broader sociopolitical histories
5. Critically examine the systems, structures and impact of higher education

Careers

SLU's Ph.D. in higher education administration program prepares graduates for careers in higher education research, teaching, and administration in colleges, universities, and related organizations.

Admission Requirements

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• Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.

Review Process

A committee reviews each application holistically.

Application Deadlines

Domestic applicants should apply by August 1 for fall entry, January 1 for spring entry, and May 1 for summer entry. International applicants should apply by May 1 for fall entry, October 1 for spring entry, and February 1 for summer entry.

Tuition 

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will be prepared to address systemic injustices in higher education and society.
2. Graduates will demonstrate critical reflection as they use discipline-based literature to inform ethical decisions in higher education leadership.
3. Graduates will contribute to new knowledge through the creation of original research related to higher education administration practices.

Non-Course Requirements

• Students must pass a comprehensive written examination.
• Students must pass an oral examination/proposal defense.
• Students must pass a public presentation and defense of their dissertation.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact:
Saint Louis University School of Education
314-977-3292
slued@slu.edu