Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies Concentration

Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies (EdD)

Become a Catalyst for Change.

Enrolling now for the October 28th start.

Check out more of our FREE upcoming webinars for Higher Education professionals.

It’s all about leadership—getting to a place where you can have an impact and gain the skills and knowledge to make it happen. The Bay Path University online Higher Ed Leadership and Organizational Studies (HELOS) concentration builds reflective leaders—with the mindset and skillset—to create lasting change. Whether you plan to remain in your current role or are looking for that next position, the HELOS program prepares you for professional success.

The Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies (HELOS) program was designed with the input of seasoned college and university senior leaders. The cutting-edge curriculum prepares you with the skills most needed for effective leadership in a highly dynamic context. Through the coursework and faculty mentoring, you develop the mindset and the skillset to lead and manage institutional change—from wherever you reside within the institution.

Our Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies Concentration includes:

100% online coursework with annual campus-based immersion weekend (for 54 credit track students)
Accelerated and flexible schedule that allows for completion in 3 years or less
Highly personalized leadership development with faculty mentoring beginning day one
Community of Practice that ensures close peer-to-peer relationship building and mutual support
Accomplished practitioner faculty who blend practice with theory and who care about your success
Applied Dissertation in Practice, where you learn how to institute change
Small classes with ample opportunity for network building
Relevant coursework that is immediately applicable to one’s workplace

As rapid change transforms higher education, Bay Path University launches direct entry track leading to educational doctorate degree

Bay Path University’s EdD in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies (HELOS) program will offer a 60-credit direct entry HELOS track for bachelor’s degree holders looking to earn their doctoral degrees beginning in Fall 2025.

Read the Press Release

Justin Pearson G'23 shares his experience in the traditional 54-credit track.

Four Tracks Available:

54 Credit Traditional Track

54 Credit Traditional Track: For students who have earned a master’s degree (in any discipline) from a regionally-accredited post-secondary institution of learning (a GPA of 3.0 or higher). Can typically be completed in less than 3 years. Requires an annual campus-based immersive weekend.

View the degree requirements and course sequence in our Academic Catalog.

30 Credit All But Dissertation (ABD) Track

30 Credit All But Dissertation (ABD): For students who have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree, with the exception of a dissertation at a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning. Can typically be completed in less than 2 years. Immersive weekend experience is not required.

View the degree requirements and course sequence in our Academic Catalog.

36 Credit EdS/CAGS Completion Track

36 Credit EdS/CAGS Completion Option: for students who have completed the EdS or CAGS degree in addition to a master’s degree at a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning. Can typically be completed in 2 years. Immersive weekend experience is not required.

View the degree requirements and course sequence in our Academic Catalog.

60 Credit Direct Entry HELOS Track

60 Credit Direct Entry HELOS Track: for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) from a regionally-accredited post-secondary institution of learning. (a GPA of 3.0 or higher.) Can typically be completed in less than 4 years. Requires an annual campus-based immersive weekend beginning in the second year.

Courses:

MHE 500 Foundations of Higher Education Administration, Fall Semester II
MHE 631 Enrolling and Retaining College Students, Spring Semester I
MHE 620 Supporting Success of Diverse Students, Spring Semester II
MHE 610 The Role of Curriculum, Summer Semester I
MHE 630 Legal Issues and Ethics in Higher Education, Summer Semester II

Download the 60 Credit Direct Entry HELOS track course descriptions and sequence.

Upcoming Events

Apr 8

EdD in Educational Leadership - Online Information Session

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. EDT – Virtual

Event Details

Apr 24

Leading Edge Webinar: Balancing AI and Relationship-Rich Learning

12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. EDT – Virtual

Event Details

IngenioUs Podcast

Hosted by Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson. IngenioUs is the podcast where we talk about higher education, innovative practice, and leading-edge thinking. Listen Now

IngenioUs Blog

A blog series helping Higher Ed professionals stay ahead of the curve with insights and resources about best practices, industry trends, and leading-edge thinking. Ready Today

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When can I start the program?

Classes start every October.

How many credits is the program?

There are four tracks:

Traditional Track is 54 Credits
ABD Track is 30 Credits
EdS/CAGS Track is 36 Credits
Direct Entry Track is 60 Credits

Is the program offered online?

Yes. The program is made up of 100% online, cohort-based courses with 3 campus-based weekend immersion experiences (one per year). Courses are taught in a small, intimate, highly dynamic and interactive online community.

How long does it take to complete?

8 semesters for Traditional 54 Credit Track
6 semesters for ABD 30 Credit Track
6 semesters EdS/CAGS 36 Credit Track
11 semesters for Direct Entry 60 Credit HELOS Track

What will I learn?

Coursework incorporates case studies, self-assessment, and professional development workshops which are built into the weekend immersion experiences.

Who teaches the courses?

Receive one-on-one mentoring and coaching with feedback from expert faculty mentors and external resources.

What differentiates this program from others?

There are 5 distinct attributes of the program which, when taken together, differentiate our program from nearly all other offerings in this area, see program features.

What is the ePortfolio and program outcomes?

Graduate with an ePortfolio of completed projects and assignments highlighting academic endeavors and milestones, see program outcomes.

Who is this program designed for?

Designed for individuals who currently work in higher education, nonprofit organizations, or want to transition into the profession and are seeking to work in administrative, leadership, and/or management positions.

What are the dissertation details?

Bay Path’s doctoral program aims to prepare students to transform higher education institutions by creating innovative policies that solve problems of practice. Toward that end, students’ dissertations will be grounded in the “action research” that “Change and Higher Education: A Multidisciplinary Approach” explains is the foundation for contemporary organization development.

Students will apply behavioral science knowledge and data collection/analysis skills to real organizational problems through this iterative process:

1. Identify a problem;

2. Plan a change process;

3. Take action;

4. Evaluate, then repeat.

Thus, Bay Path’s students will learn how the outcomes of action research can lead to new planning or new objectives.