Higher Education Management, EdD
Peerless in our focus on the unique strengths and challenges of senior-level leaders in higher education, the Executive Doctorate reaches far beyond a standard doctoral program, as it brings together cohorts of current senior leaders to challenge each other and engage with world-renown faculty— all without career interruption. The Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management trains an emerging generation of top higher education leaders from campuses, government, and affiliated organizations to manage resources strategically, leverage evidence-based decision-making, create entrepreneurial opportunities, challenge practices critically, and conquer the dynamics of complex organizations. The program redefines academic inquiry: we focus on using sound analytic principles to tackle relevant, practical questions of strategy for governing broad segments of the higher education enterprise. Our alumni form a growing and influential network of college presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other leaders who overwhelmingly report that the program propelled their careers and increased their impact.
For more information: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/programs/executive-doctorate-higher-education-management
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2026 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDHE 5010 | Introduction to Doctoral Studies | 1 |
| EDHE 5020 | Contemporary Issues | 1 |
| EDHE 5040 | Proseminar I | .67 |
| EDHE 5050 | Proseminar II | 0.67 |
| EDHE 5070A & EDHE 5070B | Quantitative Methods and Quantitative Methods | 1 |
| or EDHE 5070 | Quantitative Methods | |
| EDHE 5080A & EDHE 5080B | Qualitative Methods and Qualitative Methods | 1 |
| or EDHE 5080 | Qualitative Methods | |
| EDHE 5090A & EDHE 5090B | Public Policy and Public Policy | .5 |
| or EDHE 5090 | Public Policy | |
| EDHE 5120 | Proseminar III | .67 |
| EDHE 5210A & EDHE 5210B & EDHE 5210C | Leadership, Governance, and Strategy and Leadership, Governance, and Strategy and Leadership, Governance, and Strategy | 1 |
| or EDHE 5210 | Leadership, Governance, and Strategy | |
| EDHE 5260A & EDHE 5260B | Leading Change in Higher Education I and Leading Change in Higher Education I | 1 |
| or EDHE 5260 | Leading Change in Higher Education I | |
| EDHE 5270 | Leading Change in Higher Education II | 1 |
| EDHE 5909 | Public Policy II | 1 |
| EDHE 5960 | Access and "Choice" in Higher Education | .66 |
| EDHE 6010A & EDHE 6010B & EDHE 6010C | International Context and International Context and International Context | 1 |
| or EDHE 6010 | International Context | |
| EDHE 6060 | Dissertation Workshop I 1 | 2.5 |
| EDHE 6090 | Capstone Seminar | 0.33 |
| EDHE 6130 | Dissertation Workshop II | 2 |
| EDUC 9950 | Dissertation 2 | 3 |
| Students will take at least 6 CU's from the following: | 6 | |
| Strategic Management Research I | ||
| Leadership and Change | ||
| Leading Small Colleges | ||
| Strategic Management Research II | ||
| Quantitative Methods II | ||
| Qualitative Methods II | ||
| Higher Education Finance II and Higher Education Finance II | ||
or EDHE 5160 | Higher Education Finance | |
| Equity And Diversity and Equity And Diversity | ||
or EDHE 5170 | Equity & Diversity | |
| Managing Intercollegiate Athletics | ||
| The University and its Community | ||
| University And Community and University And Community | ||
| Globalization | ||
| Globalization and Globalization | ||
| Geography of Opportunity | ||
| Introduction to Causality | ||
| The Academic Deanship: Leading from the Middle | ||
| Navigating Leadership Transition and Navigating Leadership Transition | ||
| Student and Campus Services | ||
| Higher Education Law | ||
| Enrollment Management | ||
| Advancement | ||
| Teaching and Learning | ||
| Current Issues in the Leadership of Change | ||
| Ethics and Leadership | ||
| Seeking Effective Presidential Leadership: The President and the Presidency | ||
| Seeking Effective Presidential Leadership: The President and the Presidency and Seeking Effective Presidential Leadership: The President and the Presidency | ||
| Advanced Topics in Higher Education Management III | ||
| Community Colleges | ||
| Community Colleges and Community Colleges | ||
| Quality/Risk Management | ||
| Total Course Units | 26 | |
Course Requirements
Admission to the Executive Doctorate requires a master’s degree (M.S. or M.A.) or professional degree (M.B.A., J.D., M.S.W., M.P.A., M.Ed.).
Students are admitted to the Executive Doctorate as a cohort. The program consists of a prescribed curriculum that students take as a single cohort offered over six consecutive semesters of enrollment—there are no elective courses or distribution requirements. Students begin in August, and complete coursework over the next five terms. Dissertations are completed during the sixth and final semester of the program. All degree students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least “B” (3.0 GPA) in order to graduate.
CU count
The program is designed as an integrated twenty-two month experience where all classes are predetermined and continue across terms. Students are considered full time and pay a flat tuition/program fee rate regardless of the number of course units they are registered for each term.
Elective courses
The course load per term for Executive Doctorate students is prescribed; students may not take additional courses, either at Penn or elsewhere, nor may students drop or add courses, during the period of their enrollment.
Required Milestones:
Qualifications Evaluation (Also known as Program Candidacy)
The purpose of program candidacy is to provide rigorous review and feedback to Ed.D. students regarding their academic progress within the first two years of study. Program candidacy is a prerequisite to doctoral candidacy.
Preliminary Examinations (Also known as Doctoral Candidacy)
The preliminary examination is a test of knowledge in the candidate’s area of specialization. The examination requires students to demonstrate knowledge and reasoning in the key content areas in their specialization as specified by the academic division. The format of the examination varies from program to program, but must include at least six hours of examination, at least three hours of which must be written.
Oral Proposal
All doctoral candidates must present their dissertation proposals orally and in person to the dissertation committee.
Final Defense of the Dissertation
The final dissertation defense is approximately two hours in length and is based upon the candidate’s dissertation.
Dissertation Supervision Registration
For students registered after the sixth semester of the program, registration for consecutive semesters is required in the form of dissertation supervision (EDUC 9950). Applicable Penn tuition and fees will apply.
Registering for dissertation supervision does not necessarily mean that a student is on dissertation status. Dissertation status is attained once a student completes all coursework and passes the preliminary examination.
- 1
Course is taken twice for a total of 2.5 CU's.
- 2
Attempted each term after completing coursework to finish EdD milestones. Students will earn 3 CU's in the term they upload their dissertation and complete all requirements for the degree. Graded Satisfactory Complete/Unsatisfactory Progress. If student is uploading their dissertation in the final spring term of coursework they will be enrolled in EDUC 9950. Students will be assessed the cost of attendance for coursework. If students need to continue to be enrolled in EDUC 9950 after attempting all their courses then the standard GSE EdD dissertation rate will apply.
Required Milestones:
Qualifications Evaluation (Also known as Program Candidacy)
The purpose of program candidacy is to provide rigorous review and feedback to Ed.D. students regarding their academic progress within the first two years of study. Program candidacy is a prerequisite to doctoral candidacy.
Preliminary Examinations (Also known as Doctoral Candidacy)
The preliminary examination is a test of knowledge in the candidate’s area of specialization. The examination requires students to demonstrate knowledge and reasoning in the key content areas in their specialization as specified by the academic division. The format of the examination varies from program to program, but must include at least six hours of examination, at least three hours of which must be written.
Oral Proposal
All doctoral candidates must present their dissertation proposals orally and in person to the dissertation committee.
Final Defense of the Dissertation
The final dissertation defense is approximately two hours in length and is based upon the candidate’s dissertation.
Dissertation Supervision Registration
For students registered after the sixth semester of the program, registration for consecutive semesters is required in the form of dissertation supervision (EDUC 9950). Applicable Penn tuition and fees will apply.