Academic and Administrative Benchmarks for M.Ed. in Higher Education

Our 36 credit hour M.Ed. curriculum adheres to recommendations for higher education graduate programs as outlined by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) and the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).

This curriculum, we believe, best positions our students to effectively address the complex challenges facing today’s colleges and universities. The key content areas covered in each course are outlined in our M.Ed. in Higher Education Course Competencies.

Each student completes a semester-long internship, and this experience is attached to a three credit hour course (ELCS 6393). Please visit the internship page to learn more this important experiential learning activity and the types of internships available to our students. 

Please view courses in the Course Catalog.

Students will take thirty-six (36) credit hours of coursework to complete the degree:

• CUST 6370: Cultural Foundations of American Education
• ELCS 6322: Student Support Services
• ELCS 6332: Student Development Theory
• ELCS 6334: Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education
• ELCS 6338: American Higher Education
• ELCS 6342: Critical Issues in Higher Education
• ELCS 6370: Research for Educational Leaders
• ELCS 6380: Educational Policy
• ELCS 6393: Internship
• ELCS 7330: Administration of Higher Education
• ELCS 7354: Leadership for Change
• Elective of choice

In addition to completing required coursework, students have two choices to complete the program core requirements: the Comprehensive Exam Option or the Master’s Thesis Option.

Each student takes one elective course that supports their academic interests and career goals. This document outlines the M.Ed. in Higher Education Approved Electives.

Full-time students in the master’s program engage in a cohort-based, on-campus learning environment and typically hold a graduate assistantship within a university student or academic affairs office. The full-time curriculum is typically completed in two (2) academic years (fall and spring semesters).

Part-time students in the master’s program are typically working professionals who will complete the program in six (6) successive semesters, including summer terms, as members of the face-to-face cohort. Part-time students are expected to enroll in two academic courses per academic term including summer terms. During the summer semesters, all courses are delivered in an online format.

Online students in the master’s program participate in a cohort model that enables students to earn their master’s degree in six successive semesters (approximately two years). In the online cohort, students are expected to enroll in two courses per academic term including summer terms. The online format makes earning a master’s degree in Higher Education possible for students who are place-bound, or who have existing family or work obligations that make it difficult to regularly attend face-to-face class meetings.