EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (Griffin Campus)

This primarily online program provides doctoral-level education for student affairs professionals in Georgia and nationally who are employed full-time and need a part-time doctoral program.

Students who complete the program will lead their institutions in creating enhanced and effective environments conducive to student learning and development. This program aims to:

• Educate scholar practitioners who will lead their institutions in creating enhanced and effective environments conducive to student learning and development
• Create a doctoral-level educational opportunity for student affairs professionals at institutions in more rural settings or at institutions that do not offer post-master’s education

The Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership program is eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) . The TAP program supports the professional growth of University System of Georgia employees by providing educational assistance.

Highlights

1. Perfect for full-time professionals
2. Three-year online program with occasional on-campus meetings
3. Candidates with master’s degrees also need at least two to three years of full-time employment to apply

Curriculum

The three-year program (with an optional fourth year, if needed, for dissertation completion) takes place primarily on the University of Georgia’s (UGA’s) Griffin campus with a one-week intensive program in June on the Athens campus. Students are required to complete two courses each term (fall, spring, and summer).

Most of the coursework is delivered in a blended format using online education (including weekly classes) with face-to-face meetings several times during the semester in Griffin. The program has multiple full-time and adjunct faculty members. All are scholars who have worked or are still working in the field of student affairs.

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 will complete a total of 60 credit hours, which breaks down into six hours per semester, plus an additional six for in the last year as preparation for a dissertation. The first-year coursework includes:

• Seminar in student affairs administration
• The college student
• Advanced theories of college student development
• Staffing practices in student affairs
• Legal issues in student affairs
• Educational research in counseling and human development services – Emphasis on research methods

During the second year, coursework includes:

• Campus environments
• College student outcomes, assessment, and accreditation
• Organizational development and consultation in higher education
• Applied quantitative methods in student affairs
• Leadership and policy development in student affairs
• Educational research in counseling and human development services – Emphasis on qualitative traditions

The third year includes:

• Dissertation prospectus
• Internship in student affairs administration
• Dissertation *may require additional year(s)

Downloads

• Curriculum
• Student handbooks

How to Apply

Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia

The Graduate School handles admission for all graduate programs at the University of Georgia (UGA), including those in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. The Graduate School website contains important details about the application process, their graduate school application deadline, orientation, and many other useful links to guide prospective students through the process of attending UGA at the graduate level.

Start A Graduate School Application

Login to Existing Application

Part 2: Apply to the EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (Griffin Campus)

Applicants should have experience and be employed in the field of student affairs or have experience with student services-related roles. This includes two-three years of full-time work experience in student affairs, post-master’s degree.

To apply, submit the following:

• Graduate School application
• Official transcripts from each institution attended (undergraduate and graduate)
• Statement of purpose and goals (relationship between this degree and your career goals)
• Curriculum vita/Resume
• 3 letters of recommendation:
• one from a professional colleague,
• one from a faculty member who can attest to your academic readiness and strengths,
• and one from a chief student affairs officer or the leadership equivalent

Deadline to Apply