51 hours minimum

Apply to the UGA Graduate School and include the following: a) Three letters of recommendation, specifically: one letter from a professional colleague, one letter from a current or former faculty member who can attest to your academic readiness and strengths, and one letter from a chief student affairs officer or the leadership equivalent. b) CV or resume. Two to three years of full-time work experience (post-master’s degree) in student affairs or student services-related roles is required. Preference is given to those currently employed in the field of student affairs or in a student services-related role. c) Statement of Purpose (emphasizing relationship between this Ed.D. degree and your career goals and objectives, and salient professional experiences in student affairs). d) Unofficial transcripts from each institution attended, undergraduate and graduate (if admitted, official transcripts required prior to enrollment).

e) A master’s degree is required. Master’s degrees in fields other than student affairs will be considered. f) International students: For students whose primary language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required. Students need to submit official university documents according to the UGA Graduate School requirements. Students will also have to show certificate of finances upon acceptance to the program. g) Application deadline is January 3 for the upcoming summer.

The minimum three-year program (with an optional fourth year, if needed, for dissertation completion) takes place primarily on UGA’s Griffin campus, with one-week of intensive classes on UGA’s Athens campus each year. Students are required to complete two courses each term (Fall, Spring, and Summer) for three years. The coursework is delivered in a blended format using online education (including weekly online classes) with in-person meetings several times during the semester at UGA’s Griffin campus and for one week each year at UGA’s Athens campus.

Core Courses

ECHD 9400

Seminar in Student Affairs Administration

3

ECHD 9410

Organizational Development and Consultation in Higher Education

3

ECHD 9420

Advanced Theories of College Student Development

3

ECHD 9430

Environmental Assessment and Milieu Management

3

ECHD 9440

Leadership and Policy Development in Student Affairs

3

ECHD 9445

Legal Issues in Student Affairs Leadership

3

ECHD 9450

Staffing Practices in Student Affairs

3

ECHD 9455E

Student Affairs Leadership Development

1-3

ECHD 9480

The College Student

3

ECHD 9490

College Student Outcome Assessment and Accreditation

3

Research Sequence Courses

ECHD 9405

Introduction to Research Methods in Student Affairs Leadership

3

ECHD 9415

Applied Quantitative Methods in Student Affairs

3

ECHD 9425

Applied Qualitative Methods in Student Affairs Leadership

3

ECHD 9435

Application of Research Methods in Student Affairs Leadership

3

Supervised Internship

ECHD 9830

Administrative Internship in Student Affairs Administration

1-6

Dissertation

ECHD 9300

Doctoral Dissertation

1-12

This is a prescribed course sequence program where students take every course with their cohort; as such, there are no electives.

This program is exempt from the GradFIRST requirement. Students must pass both written and oral exams, often called “preliminary” or “comprehensive” exams. Students must complete a dissertation and successfully defend it. Students are expected to maintain a high grade point average (3.0 or better on the 4-point scale); this is considered the benchmark for satisfactory progress with respect to coursework. Students who earn grades of B- (2.7) or lower in a course will need to retake the course to earn a grade of B (3.0) or higher on their second attempt. Students are required to demonstrate proof of student liability insurance prior to beginning internship. Students are required to follow all guidelines and requirements of the Graduate School, including submitting all forms and documents within the Graduate School’s deadlines.

Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.

Most program graduates have gone on to leadership positions in higher education or related settings.

Students working at USG institutions may utilize the University System of Georgia (USG) Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). This doctoral program is TAP eligible.

One main feature of this program is supervised internships. These can include special projects within a current job, special university projects, or work in an office other than the student’s own. Students are expected to complete 6 hours of ECHD 9830 Internship (spans two semesters).

The College Student Affairs Administration Graduation Association (CSAAGA) is a student-led organization that serves as a social and educational group for student affairs students, staff, and faculty at UGA (Athens and Griffin campuses). Social and educational events (such as brown bag lunches with speakers from the student affairs professional staff) will be coordinated by CSAAGA throughout the year and are held virtually and in-person (at the Athens campus). CSAAGA’s leadership is made up of mostly master’s level student affairs students; however, CSAAGA provides a unique opportunity for doctoral students to assist in the education and professional development of these master’s level students and to further their own education. Because doctoral students have the advantage of more experience in the field, they can make valuable contributions to enhancing the quality and depth of the learning environment in the student affairs programs.

Other programs in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services, include: M.Ed. in Professional Counseling with an emphasis in Mental Health Counseling (Athens Campus only) M.Ed. and Ed.S. (students graduate with 2 degrees) in Professional Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling (M.Ed.) and Professional School Counseling (Ed.S.) (Athens Campus only) M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Administration (Athens Campus only) Ed.S. in Professional Counseling (Gwinnett Campus only) Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (Athens Campus only) Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Counselor Education and Supervision (Gwinnett Campus only) Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in College Student Affairs Administration (Athens Campus only)