The MA in Higher Education (MAHE) is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for careers in higher education. The MAHE program is designed to help students broaden their knowledge of higher education policy, research and practice, especially in the areas of student affairs, academic affairs, diversity and community engagement.
The professional MA program offers a supportive community and flexible coursework designed to accommodate busy professionals' schedules. An innovative collaborative effort between the School of Education and various administrative departments on campus, the program offers a dynamic combination of academic knowledge and experiential education.
Requirements
The MA in Higher Education (MAHE) program aims to develop knowledgeable, ethical, and diverse leaders in higher education. Students will broaden their knowledge of higher education in three key areas: the foundations of higher education; research and evaluation; and higher education and student affairs practice. Students complete two professional practicum experiences in higher education as well as a research-based Capstone project, a summative writing project designed around the professional and academic goals of each student, with feedback from their advisor.
Students must successfully complete 36 credit hours of approved coursework while maintaining at least a B (3.0) grade point average, and must pass their capstone course. Additionally, the master's degree must be completed within four years.
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Higher Education (9 credits) | 9 | |
| Higher Education in the United States (Required Course) | ||
| Select 6 credits from a menu of "foundations" courses, including the following: | ||
| International / Comparative Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| History of American Education | ||
| Queer(ing) Topics in Education | ||
| Education Policy and the Law | ||
| Gender Issues in Education | ||
| Latinx Education Across the Americas | ||
| Transnational Migration, Education, and Citizenship | ||
| Anthropology of Education | ||
| Philosophy of Education | ||
| Policy Issues in Education | ||
Or other appropriate Foundations courses approved by faculty advisor. | ||
| Research and Evaluation (6 credits) | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits from the following: | ||
| Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Basic Statistical Methods | ||
| Introduction to Disciplined Inquiry | ||
| Educational Evaluation | ||
Or other appropriate courses approved by faculty advisor. | ||
| Higher Education Practice | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits from the following: | ||
| Race and Equity in Higher Education | ||
| Student Affairs in Higher Education | ||
| College Student Development and Counseling Theories | ||
| Leadership in Higher Education | ||
| Required Practicum (6 Credits) | 6 | |
| Practicum in Educational Foundations Policy and Practice (Course taken as 2 credits per semester) | ||
| Electives (6 Credits) | 6 | |
| Select six credits from the following 1 cr. courses: | ||
| College Student Career Development | ||
| Higher Education Finance | ||
| Ethical Dilemmas in Higher Education | ||
| College Academic Advising | ||
| College Athletic Affairs | ||
| LGBTQ+ Topics in Higher Education | ||
| College Admissions and Enrollment | ||
| Technology in Higher Education | ||
| Institutional Advancement and Development in Higher Education | ||
| International Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs | ||
| Accessibility and Students with Disabilities in Higher Education | ||
| Institutional Research & Analytics in Higher Education | ||
| College Student Leadership Development | ||
| Special Topics in Higher Education | ||
Or other appropriate courses approved by faculty advisor. | ||
| Required Capstone Course (3 Credits) | 3 | |
| MA Capstone Seminar in Foundations of Education | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Learning Outcomes
Students in the MAHE program will:
- Understand the mission, roles, and functions of higher education in the United States, including the history and philosophy of higher education; college student development; and key factors that influence student and organizational behavior.
- Translate theoretical knowledge into meaningful practices in the profession, including in areas such as advising, instruction, supervision, program design, administration and research.
- Develop nuanced and sophisticated understandings of equity and justice, as well as the competencies necessary to engage with diverse students and staff with sensitivity, effectiveness and confidence.
- Practice skills of program assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation, as appropriate for various divisions and offices in higher education. Develop professional relationships with peers and team members in a university setting.
- Design a high-quality, research-based project that demonstrates academic skills of argument, evidence and reasoning. Students will be able to offer (and receive) critical and supportive peer feedback, and gain experience presenting work to external audiences.