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Higher education faces more challenges today than ever before. Leaders in the field must have expertise in managing the financial and educational aspects of running a school, while also understanding the laws and regulations that affect institutions of higher learning. Earning a doctorate in education leadership prepares graduates to become valued experts in this field.
The online EdD, Leadership: Higher Education Specialization and PhD, Leadership: Higher Education Specialization programs from Concordia University Chicago offer innovative degree options from a university of distinction. Both doctorate programs focus on producing ethical experts in higher education who are ready to assume the top jobs in university administration.
- Monica Brotons Davila
Puerto Rico
DBA ’23
Experts in higher education leadership and administration are in greater demand than ever before as colleges and universities face increasing financial constraints and more competition. They also must guide schools and students into the distance-learning era as online courses and degree programs continue to grow. Earning an EdD or PhD, Leadership in higher education prepares you to advance into top administration positions in this challenging and rewarding field.
Concordia University Chicago offers a variety of specialized degrees in many industries, including healthcare, business, education and human services. The PhD in Higher Education and EdD in Higher Education degree programs are designed to prepare graduates with the latest knowledge and skills needed to develop expertise in running a post-secondary academic institution.
Among the topics covered in the leadership doctorate in higher education program are:
The PhD, Leadership: Higher Education Specialization requires 67 credit hours of online coursework, including a comprehensive exam and dissertation. The EdD, Leadership: Higher Education Specialization has two less research courses and a total of 61 credit hours. All online courses are eight weeks in duration.
Those who work in higher education leadership oversee student services, faculty research and academics at colleges and universities. They may lead large departments such as the registrar’s office, student life or admissions.
Demand is high for qualified professionals in this field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 7% increase in employment of postsecondary education administrators between 2021 and 2031.
Earning an EdD or PhD, Leadership in Higher Education Specialization prepares graduates for many jobs, including:
Salaries vary depending on the exact position and location. According to BLS data from May 2021, the median salary for postsecondary education administrators was $96,910 per year. The top 10% of postsecondary administrators earned over $190,770 annually.
Quality higher education leadership betters the lives of students, prepares tomorrow’s leaders and ensures that academic institutions operate efficiently, effectively and ethically. Earning an EdD, Leadership in Higher Education or PhD, Leadership in Higher Education prepares graduates to take on critical leadership roles in higher education.
| ID | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LDR 7000 | Leadership Theories and Professional Practice | 3 |
| EDL 7141 | Organizational Change (non-K12) | 3 |
| EDL 7211 | Policy Analysis (non-K12) | 3 |
| EDL 7121 | Research Based Decision-Making (non-K12) | 3 |
| OLDR 6820 | Leadership: Politics, Power and Applied Ethics | 3 |
| RES 7605 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| HLDR 6830 | Governance and Leadership in Higher Education | 3 |
| FPR 7300 | Philosophy of Scientific Knowledge | 3 |
| LDR 7010 | Developing the Organization’s Human Capital | 3 |
| LDR 7030 | Promoting and Leading Change | 3 |
| HLDR 6820 | Historical and Societal Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| RES 7700 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| HLDR 6800 | Law and Higher Education | 3 |
| HLDR 6810 | Institutional Advancement | 3 |
| HLDR 6840 | Fiscal and Social Responsibility in Higher Education | 3 |
| LDR 7040 | Leading the Learning Organization | 3 |
| RES 7800 | Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
| RES 7620 | Advanced Topics in Statistics | 3 |
| – OR – | ||
| RES 7710 | Advanced Topics in Qualitative Analysis | 3 |
| RES 7900 | Research Design | 4 |
| COMP 7000 | Comprehensive Exam (fee associated) | |
| DISS 7010 | Dissertation I | 3 |
| DISS 7020 | Dissertation II | 3 |
| DISS 7030 | Dissertation III | 3 |
| DISS 8000 | Dissertation Supervision (as needed; fee associated) |
| ID | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LDR 7000 | Leadership Theories and Professional Practice | 3 |
| EDL 7141 | Organizational Change (non-K12) | 3 |
| EDL 7211 | Policy Analysis (non-K12) | 3 |
| EDL 7120 | Research Based Decision-Making | 3 |
| OLDR 6820 | Leadership: Politics, Power and Applied Ethics | 3 |
| RES 7605 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| HLDR 6830 | Governance and Leadership in Higher Education | 3 |
| FPR 7011 | Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership | 3 |
| LDR 7010 | Developing the Organization’s Human Capital | 3 |
| LDR 7030 | Promoting and Leading Change | 3 |
| HLDR 6820 | Historical and Societal Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| RES 7700 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| HLDR 6800 | Law and Higher Education | 3 |
| HLDR 6810 | Institutional Advancement | 3 |
| HLDR 6840 | Fiscal and Social Responsibility in Higher Education | 3 |
| LDR 7040 | Leading the Learning Organization | 3 |
| RES 7900 | Research Design | 4 |
| COMP 7000 | Comprehensive Exam (fee associated) | |
| DISS 7010 | Dissertation I | 3 |
| DISS 7020 | Dissertation II | 3 |
| DISS 7030 | Dissertation III | 3 |
| DISS 8000 | Dissertation Supervision (as needed; fee associated) |
If there is no interruption in your course of study at Concordia University Chicago, you are guaranteed there will be no increase in tuition rates. Contact us to confirm the current tuition and fees for the PhD or EdD, Leadership: Higher Education Specialization program. Students who enroll in the online program as a degree candidate are eligible to apply for federal financial aid.
Active-duty military service members, veterans and eligible dependents can take advantage of financial programs available to assist in paying for a college education. For more information, please visit our website.
To be considered for admission into the PhD or EdD, Leadership in Higher Education Specialization programs at Concordia University Chicago, students must have earned a master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Prospective students must complete the free online application and submit all required admission materials:
International applicants may be required to submit additional supporting materials, such as proof of English language proficiency, a copy of their passport and a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved credentialing service. For full requirements, visit the Admission & Tuition page.
There is no application fee to apply for the online EdD or PhD, Leadership: Higher Education Specialization program at Concordia University Chicago.
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Steadfast in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, Concordia University Chicago promotes academic rigor in its liberal arts and professional programs; grounds students in objective truth, integrity, and excellence; and practices faithfulness to the Confessional teachings of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, as it forms students for vocations in church, family, and the world.
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