Go to University of Southern Mississippi

PhD in Higher Education Administration at University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

United States of America, West Hattiesburg

The Higher Education Administration at University of Southern Mississippi is a PhD program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus across its Hattiesburg and Online campuses in United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 4 years to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on August 21, 2027.

About PhD in Higher Education Administration

Love College? Make Higher Education Your Career Choice!

The Higher Education Administration programs prepare individuals for success in professional staff and administrative roles within post-secondary institutions. Growth in complexity and size of college and university administration has prompted a need for professionally trained administrators who are knowledgeable of the structure, financing, legal issues, staffing, and administration of higher education organizations. The Student Affairs emphasis prepares individuals in the field of college student affairs including numerous student service areas.

These online synchronous courses are offered in the evenings, perfect for working professionals who want a cohort-like experience while maintaining their current residence and employment.

September 2021 update: The instructions for Statement of Purpose for both EdD and PhD degree plans now include more detailed information. These instructions can be found in the Graduate School's application portal.

Application deadlines for the EdD/PhD in Higher Education are:

Admit Term	Priority Deadline	Final Deadline
Fall 2023	April 15, 2023	August 9, 2023
Spring 2024	September 1, 2023	January 5, 2024

Application deadlines for the MEd in Higher Education are:

Admit Term	Priority Deadline	Final Deadline
Fall 2023	--	August 1, 2023
Spring 2024	--	December 1, 2023

Students enrolled in Higher Education programs will learn how to work in a variety of areas in higher education including both student affairs and academic affairs. Whether you desire to become a student affairs professional, an administrator, or faculty, you will want to consider a degree in Higher Education.

M.Ed. Higher Education (Student Affairs Administration)
Ed.D. Higher Education Administration
Ph.D. Higher Education Administration

Experienced Faculty Who Enjoy Teaching and Mentoring Emerging Professionals

Higher Education faculty are skilled practitioners and productive researchers in the areas of higher education and student affairs. Their research interests include health literacy and education, cultural competence, professional practice, student life – historical and current, social justice in higher education, and the history of higher education. Faculty work collaboratively with students to publish articles and co-present research at numerous national conferences.

USM is also a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Consortium, joining more than 125 national and international institutions working together to redesign professional practice preparation in education for the improvement of individuals and communities. CPED is a grassroots effort of faculty, administrators and practitioners collaborating to strengthen the doctorate in education (Ed.D.) degree. Learn More

Disciplines

School of Education

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Higher Education Administration at University of Southern Mississippi

Entry Requirements

Graduate application materials for international applicants are collected by the International Admissions office. Admission to a graduate program must first be approved by the chair of the department in which the student plans to study. After approval by the department, admission decisions are approved by the college dean and The Graduate School.

Prospective international students must provide proof of English proficiency through a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or iTEP exam. Some departments may require GRE, GMAT, or MAT. You should check your particular department to find out which exam is required for admission to your proposed program.

Applications will be forwarded to the academic department for review when all required application materials have been submitted. These items should be received before the deadline date of the semester for which the student is applying.

Admission is competitive and based on a holistic review of the applicant’s credentials by departments. The University sets minimum requirements for regular admission into graduate school, including:

Online Application
$60 non-refundable application fee
Minimum GPA of 2.75/4.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
Good standing at last university attended
Official transcripts and degree certificates or diplomas from all previous colleges or universities attended
Official TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English, PTE, or iTEP scores (The ETS code used for test reporting to The University of Southern Mississippi is 1479)
Official copy of GRE, GMAT, or MAT score from testing service (not required for all programs, Graduate School also maintains a list under the Test Requirements dropdown. It is best to check with your academic department for the most up to date information.)
Three letters of recommendation (upload to application file)
Statement of Purpose or writing sample (according to departmental requirements)
Immunization records (required prior to enrolling in classes if admitted)

Individual graduate programs may have additional or more stringent requirements. Departmental websites should be consulted for more details about program-specific expectations for admission.

Please mail official transcripts to:

If using a courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL (FedEx and UPS are preferred):

Elizabeth Shoemake
The University of Southern Mississippi
International Admissions #5135
2609 West 4th Street
Hattiesburg MS 39401-5876

If mailing form within the United States:

The University of Southern Mississippi 
Office of International Admissions
118 College Drive # 5135
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001  USA

English Requirements

PTEMin 54
IELTSMin 6
TOEFLMin 71

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Higher Education Administration at University of Southern Mississippi

Application Fee 60

How to Apply for PhD in Higher Education Administration at University of Southern Mississippi

Create your application account or sign-in using your previously created account information. Once you have verified your account, begin your application. Please be aware that you are completing an application for admission to a specific program for a specific entry term. If you wish to apply to more than one program, you will need to complete multiple applications.

As you complete your application, make note of the required application materials and prompts. You may upload required materials before submitting your application or after paying your application fee.

After submitting your application, log back into your application portal to upload your resume, statement of purpose and other program-specific required documents and to track the progress of your application and other outstanding application materials. Please be aware that application materials will not be returned to the applicant nor forwarded to other institutions.

Your application must be submitted and the $60 application fee must be paid before the application deadline. Application waivers are available for active members, reservists, and veterans of the U.S. armed forces, current or former participants in the McNair Scholars program, recipients of a Fulbright Student Scholar award, and full-time permanent employees of The University of Southern Mississippi.

PhD in Higher Education Administration at University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

United States of America, West Hattiesburg