Student Affairs in Higher Education Doctorate

All students are required to meet the general university admission requirements.

Additional Documentation
Your application must include the following:

• Official transcripts: You must upload into the online application system a scanned copy (PDF preferred) of the official transcript(s) from each college or university where you received your bachelor's degree(s) and completed any post-baccalaureate coursework or degrees. Printouts from university student portals are not considered a copy of your official transcript. If admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript for GPA and degree conferral verification from the institution(s) where you received your degree(s) and completed any post-baccalaureate credits. If your transcripts are not in English, you must furnish a translation by an appropriate authority. Failure to list any colleges or universities attended may result in dismissal from the university.
• Statement of goals and professional experience: The statement must be 3-5 pages, double-spaced and address the following topics. The paper is to be well written and thoughtfully presented. For resources to help with writing the paper, see the Purdue Writing Lab (OWL). An additional writing sample(s) that is independently authored may be submitted as part of the application process (e.g., graduate course paper, thesis, published article).
  • Career and professional goals and aspirations, and how being accepted to the program will benefit the goals and aspirations
  • Evidence of commitment to the student affairs profession
  • Competencies and experiences related to the program (e.g., student affairs experience, interpersonal skills, teaching skills, program development experience)
  • Evidence of motivation, leadership and strong work ethic
  • Knowledge, competencies and experience related to research
  • Research interests
  • Evidence of experience with diversity and, if applicable, fluency in languages other than English
  • Professional experiences that support application

• Scholarly writing sample (replaces the GRE requirement): An important aspect of doctoral work is to advance and apply scholarship on educational issues within the context of the academic program. For the purpose of this application, please consider a complex issue related to student affairs in higher education that you find important and compelling, and develop a scholarly essay (approximately 5-8 pages) which includes:
  • Overview of the issue you’ve chosen to explore
  • Presentation of the current state of knowledge in the literature related to the issue (citing sources as appropriate)
  • Conclusion with a possible interpretation of the critical issue from at least two different perspectives, including a first stab at the potential for future research on the topic. How could you further study this issue?
  • The essay should be uploaded as a Microsoft Word document or PDF file, double-spaced, formatted in APA (7th ed.) style, and include a minimum of five scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources. The essay will be assessed according to the following elements: overview of the issue, incorporation of existing literature, interpretation of the critical issue, articulation of future research ideas and overall coherence and readability.
• Letters of recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are needed from college or university educators and/or colleagues or supervisors who are qualified to address your professional skills and your potential for success in the graduate program. Enter the names and email addresses of the recommenders into the appropriate area in the online application.
• Professional Resume or Vita: You must upload into the online application system a professional resume or vita that includes previous academic degrees, past and present employment, professional activities and roles, and other pertinent information.
• Interview: An interview with faculty members in this program may be requested before an admission decision is made (e.g., phone, video conference, on campus).
• English language proficiency: To demonstrate competence in the English language, an official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System - academic exam (IELTS) or Pearson Test of English (PTE) must be sent to Kansas State University for all applicants whose primary language is not English. Enter your scores in the online application and upload the report of your scores. Learn more about English proficiency requirements on the K-State Graduate School International Student Admissions web page.

The student affairs in higher education doctorate is designed for educators, administrators, direct service providers and leaders who seek to enhance their knowledge and professional skills to assume positions in institutions of higher education or in education-related agencies.

This program requires a minimum of 90 post-baccalaureate, graduate credit hours. With the approval of the supervisory committee, up to 30 graduate hours earned as part of the master’s degree may be used to satisfy the degree requirements.

A designated core of 6 hours of graduate credit, typically a part of the master’s degree in student affairs, is required. These courses may be part of a master’s degree or must be completed in addition to the doctoral coursework. These courses include the following:

• EDCEP 816 - Research Methods in Education (3 credits)
• EDCEP 830 - Diversity in Higher Education (3 credits)

Professional Courses (18 credits)

• EDCEP 923 - Higher Education Law (3 credits)
• EDCEP 925 - Higher Education Finance (3 credits)
• EDCEP 926 - Enrollment Management in Higher Education (3 credits)
• EDCEP 927 - Higher Education Administration (3 credits)
• EDCEP 948 - Advanced Student Development Theory in College Student Affairs (3 credits)
• EDLEA 828 - Scholarly Orientation to Graduate Studies (3 credits)

Outside Area/Specialization (9 credits)
This specialization is developed in consultation with the major professor and must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee.

Research Courses (15 credits)

• EDLEA 838 - Qualitative Research in Education (3 credits)
• EDLEA 938 - Advanced Data Analysis in Qualitative Methods (3 credits)
• EDCEP 817 - Statistical Methods in Education (3 credits)
• EDCEP 917 - Experimental Design in Educational Research (3 credits)
• A quantitative or qualitative course approved by program committee (3 credits)

Dissertation Research (18 credits)

• EDCEP 999 - Doctoral Research