The primary purpose of the Ed.D. in higher education is to provide experienced and practicing educators with a broad and systematic understanding of higher education, a definitive knowledge of selected aspects of educational theory and practice, and an ability to apply research in an informed and critical manner to educational practice and problems.<br>Ed.D. students in higher education complete a program of study consisting of at least 57 hours of coursework (excluding capstone credits), including a required higher education core (21 credits), a minor in research methods (15 credits), a content minor organized around a theme or set of questions of the student's choice (12 credits), and elective courses in higher education (9 credits). Students choose their content minor with the advice and consent of their advisors. Courses for the content minor may be taken outside of the program and the Curry School. Typical content minor areas include student affairs, higher education policy, the organization and governance of higher education, the economics of higher education, and the social foundations of higher education.