Applications open in September for a Fall 2024 start date. Click here to begin.

Adult and Higher Education Ed.D. Program

Effective leadership is a combination of management, vision and commitment to the mission of higher education institutions. The EdD in Adult and Higher Education, offered by Oregon State University’s College of Education and delivered through OSU’s Ecampus, is grounded in OSU’s commitment to developing tomorrow’s leaders guided by the principle that equity-centered leadership can be learned and enhanced.

The Ed.D. degree has a newly updated curriculum designed for students interested in advancing in leadership positions in higher education. The Ed.D. program's purpose is to educate students wanting to apply research to practice and develop practitioner knowledge. The curriculum has been updated to better meet the current needs of leaders at technical colleges, community colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities. 

The Ed.D. program  is offered in a hybrid format for the first two years with a learning cohort both in-person and online. Classes are held two weekends each term at the OSU Portland Center. Cohort meetings are half-day Thursday, all day Friday, and half-day Saturday.  As a member of an active learning community, students collaborate with working professionals in higher education settings from throughout the Pacific Northwest. Sharing real-world experiences and insights are integral to degree excellence and will help to build lasting relationships that continue throughout your career.

Adult and Higher Education Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. in Adult and Higher Education trains equity-minded researchers in the field of higher education. This degree is designed for students interested in pursuing research and policy positions in higher education. The Ph.D. allows students to work closely with a faculty advisor with similar, equity-driven research interests.

Classes are offered at our locations in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon. The program is full-time and students engage in class sessions throughout the week, taught by program faculty and higher education leaders with content expertise related to the subject matter.

All AHE programs are rooted in equity and social justice. Rather than having a single course focused on social issues, equity is intentionally embedded throughout all of the coursework in the Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs. Additionally, the research interests of the AHE faculty are focused on equity and social justice.


The AHE program offers two doctoral degrees: EdD and PhD, which have different purposes. The following table is intended to assist with differentiating the two AHE doctoral degrees.

Work directly with program lead Lindsay Andrews to decide which degree is best for you. Contact Lindsay at 541-737-3574 or [email protected].

 

EdD 

PhD


Program Purpose
To apply research to current practice and institution; develop practitioner knowledge. To generate new knowledge in the field of higher education.
Career Outcomes Designed for students interested in advancing in leadership positions in higher education. Designed for students interested in pursuing research and policy positions in higher education.
Program Length and Cost*

3-4 years
Estimated cost: $46,000

4-5 years
Estimated cost*: $50,000

Program Format
Hybrid, part-time (cohort meets both in-person 2 weekends in Portland and online)  In-person and hybrid, full-time (courses meet in Corvallis and Portland)
Internship Required? Yes No
Anticipated Cohort Size 12-15 3-6

*Tuition estimates based on 2023-2024 academic year tuition rates.

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Contact

Lindsay Andrews
Adult & Higher Education Program Lead
[email protected] 
(541) 737-3574


Student highlight

Phillip Mitchell - EdD, Leadership in Higher Education student

What is your field of study and why did you choose it?

"Adult and Higher Education. I chose this program primarily because it provided education in all areas of higher education that are needed for a successful, effective career. I am working in the field but relatively new to it and I wanted to accelerate my understanding so I could make a greater contribution."

Read the story