The joint Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and Higher Education concentration within the Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development Ph.D. program offers an interdisciplinary training ground for students interested in educational issues that span the full spectrum of the education pipeline—from early childhood through postsecondary education and beyond.

• Organizational behavior and management across P-12 and higher education institutions.
• Educational effectiveness, reform, leadership, and policy from P-12 through postsecondary levels.
• Public policy development and evaluation across the education continuum.
• International and comparative perspectives on educational systems.
• Access and excellence in both P-12 schools and higher education institutions.

Students benefit from close mentorship by renowned faculty engaged in cutting-edge research across both K-12 and higher education contexts. Faculty work collaboratively with students to foster methodological expertise, support the development of individualized research agendas, and guide professional growth.

Students have access to a vibrant community of peers and opportunities to engage in internships and research partnerships with local school systems, universities, governmental agencies, and education-focused organizations.

Graduates of this concentration will be prepared for leadership roles in colleges and universities, K-12 school systems, government agencies, think tanks, and public service organizations, bringing a rare, comprehensive understanding of education policy and practice across the entire educational trajectory. 

Interested students must contact the coordinator of either the Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (EEPA) or the Higher Education (HE) doctoral concentration for more information before applying.

• Students should apply to one of the two concentrations and must be admitted to both.
• Students must complete the course requirements for both concentrations. Because the concentrations have the same requirements for College of Education core courses, this means that students must complete five required EEPA courses and two of the four restricted elective courses in HE (see below).
• Students will be assigned an advisor in the concentration to which they applied and will have a dissertation chair from that concentration. Their dissertation committee must have representation from both concentrations.
• Students must complete a dissertation on a topic that spans P-12 and postsecondary education.

Course of study (72 credit hours)

18 credit hours brought in from the Master’s degree

Research Core (15 credit hours)

• ED 710 Applied Quantitative Methods in Education I
• ED 730 Introduction to Qualitative Research in Education
• One of these two courses:
  • ED 711 Applied Quantitative Methods in Education I
  • ED 731 Advanced Qualitative Research and Data Analysis in Education
• Two research methods electives

College-Wide Scholar Leader Courses (6 credit hours)

• To be selected after consulting with the advisor

Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis required courses (15 credit hours)

• ELP 892 – Research Projects in Educational Leadership and Program Evaluation (3 hours)
• ELP 735 – Policy Research in Education
• ELP 751 – Politics of P-12 Education
• ELP 780 – Evaluation Theory & Practice in Education
• ELP 740 – Education and Civil Rights

Higher Education required courses (6 credit hours)

Choose two of these courses:

• EAC 707– Higher Education Policy
• EAC 716 – History of Higher Education
• EAC 749 – Higher Education Finance
• EAC 787 – Organizational Theory and Higher Education

One additional elective (3 credit hours)

Dissertation (9 credit hours minimum)

Faculty

• Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
• Higher Education