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Higher Education

Master of Education

The M.Ed. in Higher Education (MHE) is designed for individuals who currently work in higher education but do not hold a master’s degree, who plan to transition to working in higher education, or who plan to teach at the college level within their discipline.

The program provides a foundation of the past and present landscapes of higher education. Beyond the Foundations Core, candidates will choose one of three concentrations: Administration in Higher Education, Student Affairs in Higher Education or Teaching in Higher Education.

Through the degree program, students gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. All candidates earn120 hours of field experience, create a professional portfolio, and complete a capstone project.


Program Competencies

Students in the MHE Program will demonstrate the foundational levels of the following :

 

  • Advising and Supporting
  • Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
  • Law, Policy, and Governance
  • Leadership
  • Organizational and Human Resource
  • Personal & Ethical Foundations
  • Social Justice and Inclusion
  • Student Learning and Development
  • Technology
  • Values, Philosophy, and History

 

Formats

The program is offered fully online.

 

Core

The Core Requirements (Foundations) are designed to provide candidates with an overview of the field and systems of higher education. Candidates will learn effective leadership, approaches, and administrative structures. They will also gain knowledge about historical events, equity, funding, and data driven decision making practices.  Additionally, the Core Requirements provide candidates with skills in academic writing, research, and oral presentation.

 

Concentrations

Administration in Higher Education

The Administration in Higher Education concentration is designed for those interested in transitioning to or advancing their career in higher education administration. This concentration focuses on law, budgeting, human resource management, and data-driven decision-making.

Student Affairs in Higher Education

The Student Affairs in Higher Education concentration is designed for those interested in transitioning to or advancing their career in student service areas within higher education. This concentration focuses on student development, assessment of student learning, student engagement, and student success.

 

Teaching in Higher Education

The Teaching in Higher Education concentration is designed for individuals interested in learning how to teach at the college level within their disciplines. Candidates will learn about best practices related to andragogy and pedagogy, teaching strategies for the adult learner, curriculum development, assessments, and evaluations.

 

Field Experience

As part of each concentration, candidates will engage in a minimum of 120 hours of field experience and activities at a institution of higher education.  

 

Capstone

The program culminates with MHE 7600, Action Research, in which candidates will complete a capstone project. Candidates will develop a scholarly paper and presentation focused on solving a specific problem or challenge facing a specific institution of higher education.

 

Portfolio Requirements

Throughout the program, candidates will develop an academic portfolio and a professional portfolio. The academic portfolio will be used to measure candidate’s course and graduation competencies. The professional portfolio will be a tool that candidates use to showcase work from courses, field experience, and the capstone project.

 

 


Required Courses

MED 6102 is required for all candidates. E-Folio is an electronic portfolio system used for documenting and tracking student mastery of program competencies.

Core Requirements

The following core courses (18 credits) are required for all candidates.  Candidates must also select ONE of the concentrations (15 credits) below to complete the degree.    

E-Folio

Academic Research and Writing

History of American Higher Education

Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education

Leadership and Ethical Decision Making in Higher Education

Current Issues and Financial Trends in Higher Education

Action Research Project

Concentration: Student Affairs in Higher Education

Introduction to Student Affairs

Student Development Theory and Contemporary College Students

Law and Policy in Higher Education

Assessment of Student Learning Outside of the Classroom

Field Experience

Concentration: Teacher in Higher Education

Teaching and Learning Theories in Higher Education

Teaching Strategies and the Adult Learner

Assessment and Evaluation

Curriculum Development

Field Experience

Concentration: Administration in Higher Education

Introduction to Administration in Higher Education

Law and Policy in Higher Education

Seminar in Human Resource Management

Data Driven Strategic Planning

Field Experience

 

Please note that all concentrations are also offered as stand-alone graduate certificates. 

Qualifications for the Degree

To qualify for the M.Ed. in Higher Education degree, candidates must complete all course work (33 credits), field experience, capstone project, and portfolio requirements. Candidates must hold a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for the degree. In addition, candidates must earn a "C" or higher in each course for it to count towards the degree requirements. Candidates should carefully monitor their academic progress to ensure their cumulative GPA is a 3.0 or higher. 


This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.