Higher Education Administration PhD Student Affairs Degree Online
0
Credit Hours
Degree SACSCOC
SACSCOC
Class Type
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
May 13, 2024
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC

Ascend to the Pinnacle of Academia with Liberty’s PhD in Higher Education Online – Student Affairs

You’ve dedicated the better part of your life to the service of younger generations. Through the years, you’ve influenced and mentored countless students – you have provided support to pupils through hard times, helped them celebrate good times, and forged quality citizens.

You may wonder how you can serve your students even better. The 21st century poses unprecedented challenges to younger generations, and professionals like you play an integral role in preparing your students for what lies before them. Education has never been as important as it is today, and with Liberty University’s 100% online PhD in Higher Education Administration – Students Affairs, you can prepare for more years of exceptional service in the field of education.

As a seasoned educator, you know that there’s more to education than teaching students. Administrative, legal, historical, and economic implications are all areas that require attention, but it isn’t always easy to navigate such issues. That’s why we’ve designed our student affairs PhD holistically – meaning that our program can help you become a standout professor, an inspiring administrative leader, and a knowledgeable student affairs authority whose expertise is preceded only by your care for students.

Don’t just improve your own career prospects — learn how to improve the career prospects of your students. By choosing Liberty for your PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs, you can earn a life-changing credential capable of helping you take your career in education to new heights.

What’s the difference between a PhD in Higher Education Administration and an EdD in Higher Education Administration?

The difference between our PhD in Higher Education Administration and our EdD in Higher Education Administration lies in the emphasis. EdDs place a heavier emphasis on practical application while PhDs focus more on theory. Another difference between our EdD in Higher Education Administration and our PhD in Higher Education Administration is that our PhD includes a dissertation while the EdD includes a capstone project.

If you’re interested in pursuing a research-based career in a collegiate setting, a PhD in Higher Education Administration may be the best fit for you. If you’re more interested in learning hands-on skills that can be applied directly to classrooms, our EdD may be a better fit.

Regardless of what your career goals are, both degree programs can be used for personal enrichment and career advancement in the field of higher education.


Why Choose Liberty’s PhD in Higher Education Administration Degree – Student Affairs?

As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create an online degree program that challenges you to grow while also respecting your commitments. We realize that your personal responsibilities don’t go away when you enroll in a degree program, which is why our PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs can be completed 100% online with no required intensives.

Liberty’s PhD program in higher education administration – student affairs can help you pursue well-paying, in-demand job opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals who hold a doctoral degree earned a median weekly wage of $1,885 in 2020.* Additionally, the median annual wage for postsecondary education administrators in 2020 was $97,500, and demand for this profession is projected to grow 8% by 2030.** Our PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs could be your ticket to similar careers.

Another advantage to Liberty’s student affairs PhD is the versatility of the degree. The field of student affairs is a broad, widely encompassing field of education. Student affairs professionals are often responsible for several academic areas, such as advising, alumni relations, campus recreation, career services, or student counseling services.

At times, student affairs professionals are the glue that binds a student body together. They oversee student activity programs, coordinate the administrative side of residence life, and spearhead the enforcement of student conduct policies. Liberty’s higher education administration PhD in student affairs can help prepare you for all of these roles — and more.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Education pays (viewed online Sept. 21, 2021). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Postsecondary Education Administrators (viewed online Sept. 21, 2021). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work towards your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession — for less.


What Will You Learn in Our PhD in Higher Education Online – Student Affairs Degree?

Our PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs degree program consists of 4 sections: higher education core courses, student affairs courses, research classes, and a dissertation sequence.

In the higher education courses, you will study effective teaching methods for college settings. You will also study college and university administration, historical perspectives of higher education, the economic impacts of higher education, and the intricacies of accreditation.

The student affairs specialization allows you to explore current issues and trends, leadership and administration, and legal implications in student affairs. Our student affairs PhD in higher education allows you to choose a free-elective course to conclude your study of student affairs. This elective course is an excellent opportunity for you to study a topic in education that you’re passionate about.

The research section of this degree is designed to help you prepare for your dissertation. Our research courses will guide you through advanced educational statistics as well as quantitative and qualitative research methods. In addition, you will complete a literature review and explore various research concepts.

The dissertation sequence allows you to research, write, and present your findings to our School of Education faculty. This provides an excellent opportunity for you to present your own findings to the academic community and conduct groundbreaking research that can inspire future research.

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Highlights
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Admission Requirements

Highlights of Our Student Affairs PhD in Higher Education Administration Degree

  • We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America. Earning your online PhD in Higher Education Administration from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
  • Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
  • Upon successful completion of this degree program, you will have earned the title of “Doctor” – a title that commands respect in academic communities.
  • Liberty University is regionally accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs Degree Information

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Potential Career Opportunities for PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs Degree Graduates

  • College/university administrator
  • Policy analyst
  • Professor
  • Program coordinator
  • Student affairs director

Admission Requirements for the PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs Degree

A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing. Please visit our admission requirements page for more detailed admissions-related information.

All applicants must submit the following:

  • Admission application
  • Application fee*
  • Official college transcripts
  • Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose native language is other than English)

*There is no upfront application fee; however, a deferred $50 application fee will be assessed during Financial Check-In. This fee is waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses — documentation verifying military status is required.