Colleges and Schools
During the 21st century, colleges and universities will undergo profound transformations as the student population becomes older and more diverse, and as educational methods incorporate more technological solutions and distance approaches. Building on the foundational core KAMs in the social and behavioral sciences, the Higher Education curriculum emphasizes proficiency in understanding the needs of a changing clientele and academic community; analyzing and implementing strategies to promote learning and to support development in higher education; and learning how systems and policies can be used to ensure organizational effectiveness and social change in postsecondary settings. Contexts for the study and practice of higher education include community colleges; private and public liberal arts colleges; distance-learning institutions; regional and state universities; proprietary, technical, and trade schools; state and federal agencies; and national professional associations.
Completion Requirements
- 134 total quarter credit hours
- Foundation course: SBSF 8005 (6 cr.)
- KAMs and/or courses and research sequence (98 cr.)
- Proposal, dissertation, and oral presentation (30 cr.)
- Minimum 8–10 quarters enrollment
- 20 days of residency (two 4-day and two 6-day residencies)
For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Walden offers frequent start dates so that you can begin when it’s convenient for you. Next Start Date: October 6. Admission policies vary by program. Call 1-866-492-5336 or apply now.
Core Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8005 | Foundations for Doctoral Study | 6 |
| KAM I: Principles of Social Change | ||
| SBSF 8110 | Breadth: Theories of Social Change | 5 |
| EDUC 8127 | Depth: Current Research in Higher Education, Social Change, and Development | 5 |
| EDUC 8137 | Application: Professional Practice and Emerging Trends in Higher Education | 4 |
| KAM II: Principles of Human Development | ||
| SBSF 8210 | Breadth: Theories of Human Development | 5 |
| EDUC 8227 | Depth: Current Research in Ways of Knowing and Individual Differences in Human Development | 5 |
| EDUC 8237 | Application: Professional Practice and Human Development in Higher Education | 4 |
| KAM III: Principles of Social Systems | ||
| SBSF 8310 | Breadth: Theories of Organization and Social Systems | 5 |
| EDUC 8327 | Depth: Current Research in Social Systems and Change in Higher Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8337 | Application: Professional Practice in Social Systems and Change: Higher Education | 4 |
Core Research Sequence
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8417 | Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science | 4 |
| EDUC 8428 | Research Seminar II: Design in Educational Research | 5 |
| EDUC 8438 | Research Seminar III: Quantitative Research in Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8448 | Research Seminar IV: Qualitative Research in Education | 5 |
Specialized KAMs
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| Specialized KAM V: Learning and Development in Higher Education | ||
| EDUC 8516 | Breadth: Multiple Perspectives on Learning and Development in Higher Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8526 | Depth: Current Research on Learning and Development in Higher Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8536 | Application: Application to Improve Professional Practice in Higher Education | 4 |
| Specialized KAM VI: Effectiveness of Higher Education Organizations | ||
| EDUC 8617 | Breadth: Perspectives on the Effectiveness of Higher Education Organizations | 5 |
| EDUC 8627 | Depth: Contemporary Strategies for Assuring Effectiveness in Higher Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8637 | Application: Application of Improvement Strategies in Higher Education | 4 |
Advanced Research Sequence
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 8458 | Conducting Pilot and Field Studies | 5 |
| EDUC 8468 | Communicating Knowledge in Educational Research | 4 |
Dissertation
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 9000 | Dissertation | 30 |
Course Descriptions (pdf)
