EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (Griffin Campus)

This primarily online program provides doctoral-level education for currently employed student affairs professionals who have multiple years of experience in student affairs or student services-related roles, hold a master’s degree, and need a part-time doctoral program.

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

• educate student affairs professionals wanting to advance their knowledge while focusing on the practical application of research through a practitioner-scholar model, and
• create a doctoral-level, hybrid educational opportunity for student affairs professionals working full-time at institutions

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 student affairs professionals
2. Three-year primarily online program with occasional on-campus meetings
3. Access to the UGA student affairs professional network of current students, faculty, and alumni

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 one-week of intensive classes on the Athens campus each Summer. 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 Summer at UGA’s Athens campus. Students are required to attend these face-to-face class meetings, and many current students travel to these UGA campuses from other cities and even other states.

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.

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
• 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
• Qualitative traditions

The third year includes:

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

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.

Curriculum (PDF)

How to Apply

Part 1: Apply To The University Of Georgia

The Graduate School handles admission for all graduate programs at 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

Note: The Ed.D. student affairs leadership (Griffin campus) program begins in the Summer semester, which is the last semester of the current academic year; when applying, please select the current academic year for your application (not the upcoming academic year).

Login to Existing Application

Part 2: Apply To The Ed.d. In Student Affairs Leadership (griffin Campus)

Applicants should have at least two to three years of experience (post-master’s degree) in student affairs or student services-related roles and be currently employed in the field of student affairs or in a student services-related role.

To apply, submit the following:

• Graduate School application
• Official transcripts from each institution attended (undergraduate and graduate). A master’s degree is required, and master’s degrees in fields other than student affairs will be considered
• Statement of purpose and goals (relationship between this Ed.D. degree and your career goals)
• Curriculum vita/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.
• 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

Note: The GRE is not required for admission into the Ed.D. student affairs leadership (Griffin campus) program.

Costs for this program can be reviewed at the UGA Bursar’s webpage . Click on Tuition and Fees. Applicable rates are included in the “Standard Rate for Master & PhD Candidates.” Fees are calculated under the Griffin costs column for the given year.

Deadline to Apply