Frequently Asked Questions

PhD

• Who should I contact for more information about the PhD? 
  Please email us at osu-hesa@okstate.edu or contact Dr. Tami Moore: tami.moore@okstate.edu. 
• I don’t have another degree in education. Can this program still be a fit for me? 
  Yes. Students in our PhD program come from a broad range of academic backgrounds, campus types and other environments and have a wide range of experience and career goals. Our professors will continually engage you and your peers in dialogue and challenge you to bring your own experiences to the table in meaningful ways. Our faculty promotes a learning community environment where everyone’s unique journey is valued for the lived experiences they contribute to our collective learning about leading colleges, universities and other postsecondary education environments. 
• Are test scores required for application to the degree programs in Higher Education and Student Affairs?

  Application for our graduate degrees no longer requires scores from standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT or MAT. Please note that, for international students, the OSU Graduate College requires TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic for establishing English proficiency.

• How/Where are classes offered? What is the format? 

  Courses in our PhD program are delivered through a cohort-based, hybrid model. Required courses in the PhD will be hybrid or online. Students who choose electives outside HESA coursework may encounter a variety of course delivery modes. 
   
  Hybrid classes: Hybrid classes take advantage of the best of both worlds by combining synchronous (attending together on a specific day and time) and/or asynchronous (self-paced) online learning with traditional classroom learning (occurring during three days on campus each fall and spring). You will make connections with peers and instructors, yet experience limited travel time to campus because the majority of the class is completed online. 

  
  Online classes: These classes are 100% online and don’t require any in-person meetings. Formats may be synchronous, asynchronous or a combination. Courses are designed for interaction with both instructors and peers so that you benefit from diverse experiences and perspectives, as well as a supportive learning environment. 

• Professional development is mentioned in the description of the PhD program. What does this include? 
  Higher education today is quite complex and demanding of its professionals. PhD programs also require certain skills for success. Thus, professional development activities are required in our PhD program to build or enhance scholar-practitioner development. Professional development activities that are in addition to in-person days may be completed from a distance and include observation of dissertation defenses, participation as a peer reviewer of others’ professional work, and extended participation in conducting one or more research studies under the supervision of a qualified research supervisor. 
• Does the PhD program require me to complete a dissertation? 
  Our PhD is a research degree; thus, it does require the completion of a dissertation (independent research), which comprises 15 of the minimum 63 hours required for degree completion and occurs at the end of the program. From your first semester, we prepare you to design and conduct high-quality ethical research that contributes to the field of higher education. Research courses and practical experience build knowledge across time to ready you for independent research work in the dissertation. Our dissertation committees, consisting of PhD researchers who guide your work, are chaired by a fulltime HESA faculty member. We support dissertation options in both traditional and contemporary formats. 
• Can I complete the PhD no matter where I live? 

  You can complete the program from any U.S. location as long as you are able to travel to the OSU campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma on the three designated in-person days during the fall and spring semesters. Two of the days occur together mid-semester and the third occurs near the end of the semester.

   

  OSU is home to the beautiful Atherton Hotel that has two on-site restaurants, The State Room and The Ranchers Club, where you will be within walking distance of your in-person classes. Additional fast-food outlets are available in the attached Student Union, which is the largest in the nation!

   

  Students from countries other than the U.S. can also complete our PhD. Please contact Dr. Tami Moore (tami.moore@okstate.edu) or Dr. Amber Manning-Ouellette (amber.manning- ouellette@okstate.edu) for more information. 

• What are the application deadlines and when would I start classes?

  The annual application deadline for the PhD program is February 1 (or the next business day if February 1 falls on a weekend). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Admitted students will begin coursework the following August.

• Once I’m admitted to the PhD program, how will I know how to get started? 
  Once admitted, the Graduate College at OSU will send you information about setting up your login credentials and other new student details. At a program level, we will communicate about enrollment in your first semester classes. You will attend a required online new student orientation on the Saturday prior to the start of fall classes in your first year. At the online orientation, you will meet your fulltime faculty and peers in your cohort. You will also receive an overview of the PhD program, its structure, and guidance for getting started in your first classes. During your first semester, and as a part of your in-person days on campus, you will gather with your peers and faculty to further connect with other new students, meet more advanced PhD students, and strengthen your relationships with your faculty and peers. This opportunity encourages relationships that carry into the classroom and facilitate the building of a supportive learning community.
• What types of financial aid or other assistance are available for HESA graduate students?

  General information about financial aid and scholarships at OSU is available online. The College of Education and Human Sciences also offers scholarships to support students in our programs. For fullest consideration, applicant information is due via the college scholarship application by the published deadline in early January of each year. The Higher Education and Student Affairs PhD program has additional scholarships for advanced PhD students, including the Kamm Fellowship. More information is available from program faculty members.

   

  OSU graduate students may also be eligible for need based, non-need based, and other loans. These loans are available federally or privately. More information about graduate student loans at OSU can be found here.

• What is a graduate assistant?

  A graduate assistant serves in a support role for OSU faculty or administrators while completing a post-graduate education. A graduate assistant can assist with instructional responsibilities as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or with research responsibilities as a graduate research assistant (GRA). Graduate assistants can also aid coaches with an athletic team, or be employed by other university departments across campus (such as residence life or academic advising) in an entry-level capacity. Assistantships provide practical experience for graduate students, thus increasing their future employment options.

   

  OSU graduate assistantships are available for students at the master’s and doctoral levels. All graduate assistantships provide a monthly stipend as well as tuition and health insurance. Students on a graduate assistantship are responsible for paying all student fees.

   

  Please note: Many departments who hire graduate assistants from our master’s programs interview their top applicants during an Interview Days Event each spring. To receive fullest consideration for these positions, please submit your application before January 31 and follow all deadlines posted by hiring departments. For more information, please contact Dr. Amber Manning-Ouellette.

   

  Click here for more information about graduate assistantships in OSU Student Affairs.

• I have additional questions not addressed here

  We are happy to answer additional questions particular to your circumstances and/or interests. Please email us at osu-hesa@okstate.edu to connect with the appropriate individual.

MS & Graduate Certificate Programs

• Who should I contact for more information about master’s degrees and graduate certificates in Higher Education and Student Affairs at OSU? 
  • MS Higher Education (online): lisa.will@okstate.edu
  • MS College Student Development: amber.manning-ouellette@okstate.edu
  • Graduate Certificates: lisa.will@okstate.edu
• Are test scores required for application to the degree programs in Higher Education and Student Affairs?

  Application for our graduate degrees no longer requires exam scores. Our faculty use a holistic admissions process that considers all of the application elements as a whole and that has been shown to be predictive of student success in our programs.

• How are classes offered? What is the format? 

  Courses are taught in a variety of modes depending upon the course content and the degree/certificate program. Possible formats include hybrid (combination of face-to-face instruction and online instruction), online and traditional face-to-face courses. Courses may also be offered in five-week, eight-week, 16-week, weekend or other alternative delivery modes. 

• Where are courses offered?
  Students in the college student development program take courses at the Stillwater campus and occasionally online. Master’s students in higher education take courses 100% online, although some courses have face-to-face sections available. Both of our graduate certificates are offered fully online, although students may choose some elective coursework that is delivered in other ways. 
• Can I complete any of the degrees in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the OSU-Tulsa campus?

  Higher Education and Student Affairs degrees are not currently admitting students at the OSU-Tulsa campus. However, Tulsa-area students may be admitted to any of our programs. Students may also choose to take courses in other locations; consultation with a faculty advisor is recommended.

• What are the application deadlines?
  The master’s degree and certificate programs admit students on a rolling basis throughout the year, however, February 1 is the priority deadline for Graduate Assistantship opportunities for those in master’s programs. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 
• What types of financial aid or other assistance are available for HESA graduate students?

  General information about financial aid and scholarships at OSU is available online. The College of Education and Human Sciences also offers scholarships to support students in our programs. For fullest consideration, applicant information is due via the college scholarship application by January 4. The Higher Education and Student Affairs PhD program has additional scholarships for advanced PhD students, including the Kamm Fellowship. More information is available from program faculty members.

   

  OSU graduate students may also be eligible for need based, non-need based, and other loans. These loans are available federally or privately. More information about graduate student loans at OSU can be found here.

• What is a graduate assistant?

  A graduate assistant serves in a support role for OSU faculty or administrators while completing a post-graduate education. A graduate assistant can assist with instructional responsibilities as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or with research responsibilities as a graduate research assistant (GRA). Graduate assistants can also aid coaches with an athletic team, or be employed by other university departments across campus (such as residence life or academic advising) in an entry-level capacity. Assistantships provide practical experience for graduate students, thus increasing their future employment options.

   

  OSU graduate assistantships are available for students at the master’s and doctoral levels. All graduate assistantships provide a monthly stipend as well as tuition and health insurance. Students on a graduate assistantship are responsible for paying all student fees.

   

  Please note: Many departments who hire graduate assistants from our master’s programs interview their top applicants during an Interview Days Event each spring. To receive fullest consideration for these positions, please submit your application before January 31 and follow all deadlines posted by hiring departments. For more information, please contact Dr. Amber Manning-Ouellette.

   

  Click here for more information about graduate assistantships in OSU Student Affairs.

• I have additional questions not addressed here

  We are happy to answer additional questions particular to your circumstances and/or interests. Please email us at osu-hesa@okstate.edu to connect with the appropriate individual.