Higher Education Admin. PhD – Student Affairs Degree Navigate the Challenges Facing Modern Higher Education
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
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.
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.
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.
What Will You Study 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.
Potential Career Opportunities
- College/university administrator
- Policy analyst
- Professor
- Program coordinator
- Student affairs director
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Education.
- View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).
- View the Doctoral Advising Guide.
- Most of our PhD courses are offered in an 8-week format. However, the dissertation courses are semester-long.
Degree Completion Plan (PDF)
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
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.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
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Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the PhD in Higher Education Administration – Student Affairs Degree
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
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 toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
What title can be used after earning this degree?
Upon successful completion of this degree program, you will have earned the title of “Doctor” – a title that commands respect in academic communities.
What accreditation does Liberty University have?
Liberty University is regionally accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
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