The doctoral curriculum is organized into four levels of study. Please consult the following material and doctoral curriculum diagram for precise course numbers and titles. Students choose a program of study in consultation with their academic advisor. These include:

Click here to view a diagram of the program requirements.

Level 1: Core

Since the field of higher education is multidisciplinary, it is critical that all students share a common foundation of studies. Thus, all graduate students in the Higher Education Program are required to take the following courses taught by the core program faculty:

Level 2: Foundational Studies in Higher Education

Students may choose from among a set of courses that cover higher education from the perspective of different foundational disciplines: organizational sociology, law and policy, psychology, comparative studies, history, and philosophy. In consultation with their advisors, students must choose 3 of the following 5 courses to fulfill this requirement. (Additional courses from the list may be taken as electives.)

Level 3: Methodology Requirements and Dissertation

To ensure that all doctoral students have the skills necessary to design and conduct research for the dissertation, all doctoral students in the School of Education are required to take the following methodological courses:

In addition, students with little or no background in quantitative methods must take the following course before ED 469 (beyond the 54 minimum credits for graduation):

Doctoral Research Seminar in K-16 Administration (ED 973)

The Seminar in Research and K-16 Administration is an advanced doctoral course that combines readings and activities related to the conduct of social science inquiry and individual student research related to upcoming dissertation work. The goal of the seminar will be to aid students in completing the first steps in their dissertation process: a literature review in their field of specialization, the qualifying paper required for Ph.D. candidacy, research question development, and the dissertation proposal intent. Class members will read and discuss issues related to research process and methodology. (Students whose research interests lie outside the instructor’s field will work closely with her to define their project and involve as readers other faculty as appropriate.) As advanced students and adult learners, students will be responsible for developing and carrying out a seminar contract specific to their individual research goals.

Doctoral Dissertation Direction (ED 988)

After completing their coursework, comprehensive exams, and qualifying paper, students must register for ED 988 Doctoral Dissertation for at least two semesters. (NOTE: For financial aid purposes, students taking ED988 are considered full-time students even though only registered for 3 credits.) Students work directly with a faculty member (ideally the dissertation director) to develop their dissertation topic, and to complete their Intent and Proposal. Students may continue registering for Dissertation Direction until they complete their dissertation. However, after 2 semesters they may register for ED 999 Doctoral Continuation which has reduced tuition charges. (NOTE: For financial aid purposes, students registered for ED 999 are still considered full-time students.) Whichever course s/he chooses, the student must continue to register every semester until the dissertation is completed, defended, and accepted by Boston College. Students may choose to take the dissertation seminar, ED 982, in place of one 3-credit dissertation direction.

Level 4: Specialized Electives in Higher Education and Related Studies

To complement the core studies and design an individualized program, doctoral students may also take 6-8 elective courses with a substantive focus in higher education or related studies. Generally, these electives are selected from the following specialized courses taught by core and adjunct faculty in the higher education program:

Electives may also be taken outside of the Higher Education Program. With their faculty advisor's approval, students may also select electives from the human development, counseling, curriculum and instruction, or evaluation programs in the School of Education, the Sociology Department, the School of Management, or elsewhere at Boston College. In addition, electives may be taken at one of The Consortium institutions (Brandeis, B.U., or Tufts). It is also possible for students to conduct an Independent Study to pursue their own area of interest. (With special permission, up to 2 courses can be transferred from another university.) Doctoral students who lack sufficient administrative experience in higher education or those who would like to broaden their experience can opt to take a supervised internship for one semester. Interns will register for ED 975 and will be required to work 8-10 hours per week at a postsecondary institution or agency and to attend a biweekly seminar and complete assignments such as a journal of their experiences. Many program alumni have been able to secure jobs in specific fields and make career transitions in large part due to their internship experiences. With rare exceptions, internships are unpaid.

Among the electives offered outside of the higher education area are the following: