Higher Education

Program Overview

Iowa State University has a rich tradition of preparing scholars and leaders in the field of higher education. The School of Education (SOE) offers a Ph.D. in Education with a focus in Higher Education (HGED). Our aim is to create and support an intellectual climate that fosters collective engagement with the research, scholarship, policies, and practices that shape postsecondary education in the United States and abroad. Through formal academic courses and other opportunities in the field, we encourage deep understanding of and active participation in various higher education contexts. These contexts include doctoral research universities, master’s and baccalaureate colleges, community colleges, and other postsecondary specialized institutions and organizations – both public and private. 

Our graduates hold numerous leadership positions, such as presidents of community colleges and research universities, directors of student support centers and research centers, and policy advocates and researchers in non-profit and other private sector organizations in addition to local, state, and federal agencies. Alumni from our program have gone on to faculty positions at a range of institutions across the country, including Clemson University, Colorado State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  

Curriculum

The Ph.D. program is designed to offer students both the rigorous methodological preparation required to undertake educational inquiry at the highest levels and the flexibility to pursue coursework and experiences that support the students’ individual research interests and professional paths. The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 72 credits.  

Students will create an Academic Plan (AP) with their major professor and Academic Plan Committee (APC) based on Graduate College and SOE policies and requirements. Transfer credits, substitutions, and customization of the AP are allowed when approved by a student’s APC.

Affiliated Faculty

Application Information  

This program has the following application deadlines: 

Complete the online graduate application. Applications require:  

For more information, visit our Graduate Application Information and Frequently Asked Questions page.