MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DOCTORAL PROGRAM

GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM STATEMENT

The Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education (HALE) unit of the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State University offers a Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education.

The doctoral program in HALE is a result of extensive reflective dialogue among faculty, students, alumni, and employment partners. The product is a graduate experience that is intellectually stimulating, professionally relevant, and that leads to research that supports decision making and problem solving around the key issues facing postsecondary institutions.

Student affairs is a field designed to prepare professionals to work in higher education with the skills, knowledge and attitude to promote and enhance the learning and development of college students. Student affairs units provide a variety of services that may include orientation, administration, admissions, registration, financial aid, residence life, recreation activities, student development, career placement, advising, learning support activities, fraternities and sororities, student activities, student programming, leadership development, judicial affairs, multicultural programming, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender student concerns, campus religious life, health education, counseling, and other related services.

PROGRAM MISSION

The primary mission of the HALE programs is to prepare individuals for leadership positions in a variety of postsecondary educational organizations. The doctoral (PhD) program focuses on the processes and environments emerging around the globe that are connecting learners with knowledge in new ways. The master’s programs focus on the knowledge, skills, and theory necessary to begin or continue careers in higher education. All three programs enable students to examine changing perspectives on postsecondary educational organizations, changing notions of postsecondary teaching and learning, and the changing roles of the students, teachers, researchers, and administrators who work and study within these organizations. In addition, the Student Affairs Administration program includes core coursework on student affairs in collegiate settings, college student development theory, and professional development in student affairs.

PROGRAM UNIQUENESS

The faculty of the HALE program is one of the largest higher education faculty groups in the country. In addition to specialists in college student development and student affairs administration (Drs. Enos, Helman, Renn, Wawrzynski), the HALE faculty have expertise in multicultural education, higher education policy, adult education, teaching and learning, research methods in education, international education, faculty development, and graduate preparation for faculty roles. HALE uses a community of scholars model to bring together master’s and doctoral students with faculty and professionals in an environment that supports intellectual engagement and educational development. The Student Affairs Administration program, the oldest of the three programs housed in the HALE unit, has a long tradition of preparing graduates to lead within higher education institutions and in the field of student affairs administration. The optional concentrations in leadership or multicultural issues provide a means for students to concentrate electives and practicum placements in ways that will enhance the theory to practice emphasis of the SAA program.

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• MSU Graduate School application (http://www.msu.edu/user/gradschl/apply.htm)
  Official transcripts of all previous postsecondary work
  A check or money order for $50 US, permanent residents, or international students (or $45 if applying online). Checks must be drawn on US funds and made out to Michigan State University).
  General Test of Graduate Record exam scores taken within the last 5 years.
  HALE PhD personal record form (see http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/ead/HALE/halephd/phdchecklist.htm)
  Written statement of professional goals
  Three official letters of recommendation
  Writing sample
  Evidence of appropriate work or other related experience

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Program Curriculum:

 (http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/ead/HALE/halephd/phdcurric.htm)
• Core Courses - Required of all HALE doctoral students (15 credits)
Proseminar in Postsecondary Education (3)
Organization and Administration in Postsecondary Education (3)
Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum in Postsecondary Education (3)
Policy Development and Analysis in Postsecondary Education (3)
Students in Postsecondary Education (3)

• Required Inquiry Courses (12-13 credits):
Educational Inquiry (3)
Quantitative Methods in Educational Research (3)
A 900-level course in advanced qualitative methods (3-4)
Research Practicum in Educational Administration (3)

•EAD Electives (9 credits):
Nine additional graduate credits in advanced HALE seminars that deal with issues of postsecondary education and are appropriate for the student's interests.

•Cognate (9 credits):
Courses taken in an outside department reflecting a deepening study within a particular disciplinary focus that complements the student's HALE coursework.

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Students in student affairs or higher education administration programs  (2005-2006):

PROGRAM FACULTY (Name, title, typical number of coursed taught annully, interests)

Last modified December 12, 2006
Information submitted by: Matthew Wawrzynski

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