The Program of Study

The PhD Program in Community College Leadership is comprised of a minimum of 48 academic credit hours beyond the master's degree. The typical program of study includes:

Students entering the doctoral program in Community College Leadership may also need to complete prerequisite courses if they have not had required courses at the master's degree level. Students who enter the PhD program with a master's degree in an academic field that is not directly related to the community college or higher education or who do not have sufficient senior administrative experience at the community college may be required to take additional courses.

Coursework in the Doctoral Program in Community College Leadership typically includes:

Core Courses - 18 credit hours

CCL 820 - Community College Leadership
CCL 824 - Community College Finance
CCL 826 - Community College Curriculum & Program Development
CCL 830 - Community College Politics and Policy Development
CCL 866 - The Modern Community College
(OTED 865) SEPS 865 - Trends and Issues of Economic and Workforce Development

Research Courses - 15 credit hours

(ELS 732) FOUN 722 - Introduction to Applied Statistics & Data Analysis
(ELS 832) FOUN 822 - Applied Linear Models
(ELS 833) FOUN 812 - Advanced Research Design & Analysis
(HIED 877) FOUN 813 - Advanced Program Assessment & Evaluation
(ECI 890) FOUN 814 - Qualitative Research

Dissertation Seminar - 3 credits
CCL 881 - Dissertation Seminar

Experiential Requirement - 6 credit hours

CCL 868 - Community College Leadership Internship

Electives - 6 credit hours

COUN 807 - Adult and Student Development
HIED 808 - Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
HIED 862 - Development and Fundraising

Dissertation - 9-12 credit hours

CCL 899 - Dissertation

Miscellaneous
CCL 999 - Continuous Enrollment for Candidacy Exam

Note: All students are required to complete one internship/experiential learning course (CCL 868). Students who do not have a minimum of three years of senior administrative experience in a community college will also be required to take a second internship/experiential learning course. It is expected that each student completing an internship will work with a senior level community college administrator or an educational leader who works with community colleges or adult learning organizations.

The following is a typical program sequence for students in the Community College Leadership Program:

Summer #1
CCL 826 - Community College Curriculum & Program Development
HIED 808 - Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
FOUN 812 (ELS 833) - Advanced Research Design & Analysis

Fall #1
FOUN 722 (ELS 732) - Introduction to Applied Statistics & Data Analysis
CCL 824 - Community College Finance

Spring #1
FOUN 822 (ELS 832) - Applied Linear Models
CCL 820 - Community College Leadership

Summer #2
SEPS 865 (OTED 865) - Trends and Issues of Economic & Workforce Development
FOUN 813 (HIED 877) - Advanced Program Assessment & Evaluation
COUN 807 - Adult & Student Development

Fall #2
FOUN 814 (ECI 890) - Qualitative Research
CCL 830 - Community College Politics and Policy Development
CCL 868 - Internship

Spring #2
CCL 866 - Modern Community College
CCL 881 - Dissertation Seminar
CCL 868 - Internship

Summer #3
CCL 999 - Candidacy Exam

CCL 899 - Dissertation (must be continuously enrolled for at least 9 credits)

Note: Students enroll in CCL 999 (1 credit) to maintain continuous enrollment while preparing to take the candidacy exam. Additionally, after passing the candidacy exam, students enroll in variable credit hours of CCL 899 (Dissertation) every semester until the dissertation is finished.