Higher Education Leadership Ed.D.

The Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership provides participants with in-depth study of all functional areas of higher education institutions. An emphasis on mission-driven leadership, data-driven and research-informed practice and decision-making, and student-centered outcomes define the program. Designed to be completed in eleven quarters and under three years, the Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership integrates work for the doctoral capstone project beginning in the first year of study.

The Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership program is offered jointly by the College of Professional Studies and Advancement (CPSA) and the National College of Education (NCE). It is offered in both online and executive cohort formats. 

In addition to the National Louis University Graduate Admissions requirements, applicants must:

  • Submit professional resume or curriculum vitae
  • Submit a written statement responding to questions as established and periodically revised by the faculty
  • Submit assessment of writing:
    • Professional writing sample, such as master's degree thesis or final paper for a graduate course, inclusive of cover page, references, and appendices, if any; or
    • If the artifacts discussed above are not available, an alternative written artifact at the discretion of the program Chair
  • Submit a minimum of two professional letters of recommendation, addressing topics/questions as established and periodically revised by the faculty. Letters of recommendation must be written by individuals who know the candidate from an academic or professional perspective and are able to comment on the candidate’s capacity for undertaking doctoral studies.
  • Sit for a faculty interview and review

Program Details:

  • Requires 60 SH for completion

Required Courses

Gateway Courses

HED 600Higher Education in the United States

3

RES 600Introduction to Doctoral Studies and Research

3

Program Core

HED 620Leadership and Governance in Higher Education

3

HED 622Strategic Marketing and Enrollment Management

3

HED 624Finance and Budgeting in Higher Education

3

HED 626Legal Issues in Higher Education

3

HED 630Academic Affairs: Faculty, Curriculum, and Assessment

3

HED 632Student Development Theory

3

HED 634Quality Assurance in Higher Education

3

MGT 635Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy

3

OBD 633Organizational Effectiveness and Development

3

Doctoral Research

HED 650Institutional Study

3

HED 671Doctoral Research in Higher Education I

2

HED 672Doctoral Research in Higher Education II

2

HED 673Doctoral Research in Higher Education III

2

HED 674Doctoral Research in Higher Education IV

2

HED 681Doctoral Colloquium in Higher Education I

0.5

HED 682Doctoral Colloquium in Higher Education II

0.5

RES 650Data-Driven Decision Making and Research

3

RES 652Quantitative Research Method

3

RES 654Qualitative Research Methods

3

Capstone Course

HED 699Doctoral Capstone in Higher Education

3

Electives

Choose 3 semester hours from the list of courses below:

CCD 615Psychological Foundations of Teaching and Learning

3

CCD 620Epistemology of Learning, Teaching and Inquiry

3

HED 689Directed Study in Higher Education

1 TO 6

HED 690Internship in Higher Education

1 TO 6

HED 691Field Experience in Higher Education

1 TO 6

HED 695Special Topics in Higher Education

1 TO 6

HED 697Consulting Project in Higher Education

1 TO 6

LAP 693Seminar in Program Evaluation

3

OBD 650Culture of Learning Organizations

3

OBD 651Diversity and Inclusion in the Organizational Culture

3

Note: All the courses above must be taken for a total of 3 semester hours.