Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership
Designed for Higher Ed Changemakers
Program Overview
Our program has a leadership, social change, and research-themed curriculum. It is designed to prepare graduates to explore, analyze, and integrate knowledge into a professional and personal leadership philosophy to lead and serve in an array of higher education settings.
Each graduate student is exposed to a series of courses in strategic planning, finance, legal issues, successful community, state and federal partnerships, accountability, assessment, multicultural theory, student development theory, ethics, governance, administration leadership styles, and future considerations in higher education.
Cohort Model Built for Working Professionals
This cohort-based, 60-credit-hour Ph.D. program is designed for working professionals and delivered primarily online through asynchronous coursework, allowing students to progress through the program together as a cohort while balancing professional responsibilities. One on-campus intensive weekend provides opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and engagement with faculty and peers.
Complete Coursework in Three Years
Coursework is completed in three years with two courses per semester, and the dissertation is typically completed in the fourth year. Students also study Thomas Merton’s teachings and philosophies as part of their development as scholars, teachers, and leaders in higher education.
60
Credit hours
100%
Online Course Delivery
2
Courses Per Semester
Program Highlights
This cohort-based, 60-credit-hour Ph.D. program is designed for working professionals. Classes are held on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Students meet six weekends each semester. Coursework is completed in three years (two courses per semester). The dissertation is typically completed in the fourth year.
Students will study Thomas Merton’s teachings and philosophies during their own quest for self-discovery and development as educators and administrators in higher education. Finding one’s gifts and potential and committing to a lifetime exploration of seeking one’s true self is an important part of the journey as scholars, teachers, and leaders in higher education.
Admission Requirements
- Earned baccalaureate and master’s degree in any discipline
- Advanced degrees in other fields (e.g., JD, MBA) are accepted
- Minimum 3.5 GPA in all graduate coursework completed at the time of application
- For the full list of requirements, visit the Admission page
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How would this program benefit me in the workplace?
The graduate will be prepared to assume a variety of administrative roles in all aspects
of higher education, including academic affairs, student services, enrollment management,
administration and finance, athletics, development and fundraising, local, state,
and federal government agencies, educational nonprofit leadership roles, and executive
duties.
Q: When does the program start?
A new cohort will start each fall semester, generally in late August.
Q: When do classes meet?
For the first three years of the program classes meet Friday evenings from 5:00 to
9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. for six weekends a semester. The fourth
program year will be the dissertation year.
Q: How much time would I need to spend outside of class to be prepared for class?
On average, we recommend three hours outside of class to prepare for each hour of
instruction. However, this will vary with the content of the courses(s) you are taking
each semester.
For more frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQ page.
Career Prospects
Graduates will be prepared to assume leadership roles and teach in higher education areas including the more traditional undergraduate and graduate settings, community and technical colleges, nonprofit educational services, and government and community agencies.
Students will:
- Acquire a strong foundation in the history, current best practices, and future trends in higher education leadership in an array of educational settings.
- Gain an understanding and application of management theory and organizational development in higher education administration.
- Learn research skills in assessment, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, statistics, and research design.
- Learn student development theory and how to apply theory to practice in a variety of institutional settings with students from a wide spectrum of socioeconomic and multicultural environments.
- Learn to identify personal and professional traits, skills, and competencies that foster leadership strategies for leading in higher education administration.
- Learn social justice principles and change theory in higher education and how these theories impact access, opportunity, and success for students in diverse higher education environments.
Faculty
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| James G. Archibald, Ph.D., LPC | Associate Professor; Higher Education Department Chair | jarchibald@bellarmine.edu |
James G. Archibald, Ph.D., LPC is an Associate Professor and the Higher Education Department Chair. Before coming
to Bellarmine University, Dr. Archibald was an Associate Professor at Valdosta State
University. He previously served as the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean
of Students at Valdosta State University where he provided strategic vision, leadership,
organization, and supervision for the Division of Student Affairs.
Dr. Archibald is a licensed professional counselor and earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Ohio University. He has a Master of Science degree in Guidance and Counseling from Austin Peay State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Morehouse College. Dr. Archibald was the recipient of the 2014 NASPA Region III Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs through Teaching Award as well as ACPA’s 2018 Outstanding Contribution to Recreation Award.
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