Higher Education

The Higher Education Administration specialization is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in academic affairs and student affairs as administrators, faculty, researchers, and policy analysts in colleges, universities, and state and federal agencies. The program offers M.Ed. and Ed.D. degrees. The Master’s program is the equivalent of a two-year full-time program aimed at preparing students with the knowledge competencies, skills, and ethics necessary to be leaders in higher education in the 21st century. The program is approximately 80% full-time and 20% part-time students.

The doctoral program aims to prepare students to be scholars and leaders in higher-education institutions. The program operates on the cohort model in which candidates take a year-long seminar in Higher Education; a core of foundation courses; relevant specialization and elective courses; a research proposal course; a comprehensive exam and complete a dissertation. This program often attracts students who are working in leadership position regionally and complete the program part-time (60%) as well as a growing cadre of full-time (40%) students.

Program Highlights

1. A strong focus on leadership theory and practice leading to various administrative positions in higher education.
2. A strong focus on the holistic development of students leading to administrative positions specifically within the division of student affairs in postsecondary education.

Courses

Examples of Higher Education Specialization Courses

Student Life Research (EDUC 641)
History of American Higher Education (EDUC 844)
Law and Higher Education (EDUC 617)
College Student Development Theory (EDUC 601)
College Impact on Students (EDUC 615T)
Leadership in Higher Education (EDUC 674)
Management in Higher Education (EDUC 778)
Principles and Practices of Student Affairs (EDUC 642)
Race, Class and Gender in Higher Education (EDUC 615E)
Service-Learning and Engagement in Higher Education (EDUC 691U)
Assessment Practices in Higher Education (EDUC 691A)
Current Issues in Higher Education (EDUC 845)
Women in Higher Education (EDUC 697A)
Introduction to College Teaching (EDUC 595K)
The Academic Profession (EDUC 846)
Strategies for Institutional Change (EDUC 634)
Organization in Higher Education (EDUC 792J)
Higher Education Finance (EDUC 615EF)

Contact Information

Concentration Coordinator: Benita J. Barnes (Assistant Professor)
Email:

Associated Faculty

Benita J. Barnes (Assistant Professor), Joseph B. Berger (Professor), Ryan Wells (Assistant Professor), Gary Malaney (SAREO Coordinator), Elizabeth Williams (SAREO Associate Coordinator)