PhD in Higher Education program offering scholarships for Purdue employees

January 31, 2022

Purdue University employees interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education can receive a 50% tuition scholarship to help offset the cost of the degree program. The Ph.D. in Higher Education in the College of Education is designed for post-master’s degree students who are interested in preparing for service and leadership in a broad range of roles in colleges and universities.

Graduates of the program will gain an understanding of the administrative, political, financial, legal, and socio-cultural aspects of higher education. The degree prepares students to be change agents in 21st-century institutions of post-secondary education, such as community colleges, four-year degree granting institutions, and comprehensive graduate and professional degree granting universities.

The PhD program is a four-year, year-round program that allows students to complete their degree while continuing to work full time.  Classes are held from 6-9 p.m. EST two nights per week in real-time and allow for maximum student-faculty interaction.  In addition to the weekly classes, students meet with faculty for directed research and, together with classmates in the program from around the country, meet for one intensive Saturday class each semester on the West Lafayette campus. 

This program includes both a 10-day study abroad program to Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and a project-based internship.  Throughout their time in the program, students co-author at least three peer-reviewed scholarly publications with program faculty as part of their dissertation.

The PhD in Higher Education admits one cohort each Fall semester and limits the total number of students to no more than 6-8 students to allow for maximum faculty-student interaction.  Admission is highly competitive.

Program requirements for admission include:

  • A master’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume or CV
  • GRE (or other standardized exam) scores from within the past five years
  • Official transcripts
  • Diversity statement
  • Application fee

The deadline for consideration for Fall 2022 admission is March 30, 2022. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Contact program director, Dr. Christine Kiracofe, ckiracofe@purdue.edu with questions or inquire at educationonline@purdue.edu for more information.

Learn more about the PhD in Educational Studies in Higher Education program at this link: https://education.purdue.edu//graduate-students/prospective-students/graduate-programs/educational-leadership/higher-education-doctoral-program/

See a list of Frequently Asked Question in the FAQ tab at this link: https://education.purdue.edu//graduate-students/prospective-students/graduate-programs/educational-leadership/higher-education-doctoral-program/

For more information, inquire at educationonline@purdue.edu

Writers: Dr. Christine Kiracofe, ckiracofe@purdue.edu, (765) 496-6068

Katie Cockerill, kcockeri@purdue.edu

Source: Robin Cunningham, rebell@purdue.edu