Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies

Welcome to the University of Houston’s Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies (Ph.D. in HELPS). The Ph.D. Program is grounded in a philosophical belief in the transformational nature of higher education as an institution of social change. Our program prepares scholars and scholar practitioners to generate and apply research aimed at furthering a critical understanding of postsecondary education and its roles in society. It also aims, through its graduates, to strengthen educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, but particularly those traditionally underserved by our current local, state, national, and international systems.