Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education

Established in 1957, the Florida State University Higher Education program boasts a long tradition of preparing students for successful careers. Faculty members and students regularly disseminate research on higher education policy issues at the national, state, and institutional level. Our program, which is currently ranked #13 in the nation, focuses on three central pillars: student success, leadership, and social justice. As they progress through the program, students will gain opportunities for advancement and career mobility. They can also expect to enhance expertise and renew motivation. Florida State offers master's (M.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) programs in higher education.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is designed for individuals interested in higher education research and/or policy analysis. Students choose one of two tracks of study: student affairs or public policy. The curriculum prepares graduates for research, faculty, and administrative positions through the comprehensive core, track-specific, elective, and research coursework. Ultimately, graduates conduct independent research of a quality required by the field's major associations and academic publications. Graduates work in a variety of service, research, and teaching programs throughout the United States and abroad. The application deadline for this program is June 1, 2024.

Statement of purpose (1 required) Describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in higher education, including your preparation for this field of study and your future career goals. Please be specific about why Florida State University would be a good intellectual and professional fit for you. If there are any specific details of your academic, professional, or personal history you feel should be considered during admissions or you would like to put into context, please do so within the statement of purpose. Prospective doctoral students: Please also discuss research interests and/or a problem of practice you are interested in investigating during doctoral study.
You should touch on your personal background and experiences that have led you to pursue a graduate degree, but are reminded the faculty will have a copy of your resume/C.V. Personal statements are generally two pages long, 12-point font, double-spaced.
Letters of recommendation (3 required) Letters should be written by persons who are in a position to comment on the likelihood of your success within the department, specifically faculty members or supervisors. At least one letter must be from a faculty member. We do not accept letters from co-workers or friends.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae (1 required)
Unofficial Transcripts Include transcripts from all colleges attended. Uploading a copy will expedite the review process, though you must still send official copies to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Writing Sample (doctoral applicants only: 1 required) As an applicant to our doctoral program, we ask you to reflect and respond to the following prompt. Three-page maximum length, double-spaced. References are permissible but not expected.
FSU's Higher Education program is organized around three pillars: Student Success, Leadership, and Social Justice. We would like to give you a brief but focused opportunity to share your scholarly voice in writing as it applies to our program's aims and strengths.
Identify and focus on one of the three pillars.
Define this pillar in your own words.
Briefly discuss the pillar's impact on students, higher education institutions, OR higher education policy, and,
Identify any connection to the pillar you see in your life at present and/or potential work as a Higher Education doctoral student.
Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. The following are the minimum scores required for admission to the University, although some departments require higher scores at the graduate level:
Internet based TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 80
Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 550
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5
A bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree, or
A graduate degree with at least a 3.5 GPA A graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, and
GRE test scores* Official test results are required from the Graduate Record Examination revised General Test (GRE). These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency.