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Doctor of Education in Student Affairs Leadership

We are very pleased to announce that the University of Georgia will be offering a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program in Student Affairs Leadership beginning in May, 2013. This part-time, primarily on-line program has been developed by the College Student Affairs Administration program at UGA and the members of the Regents Administrative Committee on Student Affairs (RACSA), which includes all Chief Student Affairs Officers in the University System of Georgia.

Goals for this program are as follow:

1. Provide doctoral-level education for student affairs professionals in the state of Georgia who are employed full-time and need a part-time doctoral program.
2. Educate scholar practitioners who will lead their institutions in creating enhanced and effective environments conducive to student learning and development.
3. Create a doctoral-level educational opportunity for student affairs professionals at institutions in more rural settings or at institutions that do not offer post-master’s education.

The three-year program (with an optional fourth year, if needed, for dissertation completion) will be situated on the Griffin Campus with some summer courses taught on the Athens campus.  Students will be required to complete two courses each term (fall, spring, and summer). Most of the coursework will be delivered in a blended format using on-line education with face-to-face meetings approximately once a month.

Curriculum

• Content courses taught primarily through a blended format on the Griffin campus which has state-of-the-art technical infrastructure as well as high-end instructional space.  Intensive courses, three weeks long (one taught in May of each of the three years of the program) held at the University of Georgia Athens campus.
• Two preliminary exam/dissertation preparation courses taught by blended delivery, based on the Griffin campus.
• Two semesters of supervised internships on students’ home campuses or other campuses in close proximity.  Internships can include special projects within their current job, special university projects, or work in an office other than their own. Faculty supervision will be provided by a program faculty member who will also serve as the liaison with the on-site supervisor and as the person administratively responsible for oversight of the experience. Faculty supervisors will make periodic trips to internship sites. On-site supervisors will be recruited from senior student affairs officers holding a doctoral degree. Supervisory responsibilities will include collaborating with interns to create intended learning outcomes and to develop a plan for achieving the outcomes and meeting with interns for on-going conversations regarding the experience and the progress made toward completion of the learning outcomes.
• Completion of a dissertation. While the program design includes the third year as the time for completion of the dissertation, there may be cases in which a fourth year will be necessary for dissertation completion.
  

Admissions Criteria

Leadership Experience:  The applicant must be currently employed in a position in a Student Affairs Division at a higher education institution or organization, that is, in a role in which they can apply the knowledge and skills learned in the program to effect change in their organization. Applicants must have 2 years of full-time work experience in student affairs, post-master’s degree.

Master’s Degree:  The applicant must have successfully completed a master’s degree, from an accredited college or university, in an area relevant to this degree.

Application Materials:

1. Graduate School and Department applications
2. Transcripts: Official transcripts from each institution attended.
3. Official report of GRE scores
4. Personal Statement of Goals:  An essay explaining the applicant’s career goals and the relationship between the degree program and the applicant’s career goals.
5. Recommendations:  Three letters of reference. At least two letters should be from individuals who can describe the applicant’s academic abilities for completing a doctoral program. One letter should be from an individual who can document the applicant’s potential for executive leadership in Student Affairs or higher education.
6. Resume:  A current resume or vitae must be submitted with the application.
7. Interview:  Applicants must participate in an interview with the admissions committee.

Application Process

To apply, please complete the following, including both Graduate School and Department sections.
Failure to complete following instructions could delay the processing of your application.

Graduate School

Complete the online Graduate School Application form and submit the required documents/fees.   The major code for this program is 0301.

Department

• Complete the Departmental Application Form
• Statement of Purpose
• Vita/Resume
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • in sealed envelopes
  • Please be aware that the Online Recommendation Option is not available for our department.

Submit all the departmental materials in one packet to the following address BY FEBRUARY 22, 2013:

The University of Georgia
Ed.D. Admissions Committee
The Department of Counseling and Human Development Services
402 Aderhold Hall