COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership is a 30-unit graduate program designed to prepare students for leadership roles in colleges and universities through an equity-minded and socially transformative approach. The program emphasizes understanding how historical and structural systems of power—such as racism, classism, sexism, and other forms of oppression—have shaped inequities in higher education, and it trains students to actively engage in practices that promote justice, inclusion, and institutional change. The curriculum is structured across four terms, beginning in summer with 6 units that include EDLD 210 (Socio-Cultural Foundations of U.S. Higher Education) and EDLD 211 (Higher Education Leadership), which introduce students to the structure, history, and leadership principles of higher education institutions. In the fall semester, students complete 9 units, including EDLD 212 (Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Higher Education, GWAR), EDLD 213 (Policy and Ethics of Higher Education Governance and Finance), and EDLD 214 (Critical Data Analysis in Higher Education), which together build analytical, ethical, and equity-focused decision-making skills. The spring semester includes another 9 units with EDLD 215 (Contemporary Issues in Higher Education), EDLD 216 (Law, Policy, and Ethics in Higher Education), and EDLD 217A (Equity-Minded Leadership in Higher Education: Practices, Policies, and Pedagogies), focusing on current challenges and leadership strategies in academic institutions. The final summer includes 6 units consisting of EDLD 217B (Equity-Minded Leadership in Higher Education as Praxis) and EDLD 298 (Master’s Capstone/Culminating Experience Course), where students integrate theory and practice through applied leadership work. Students may also substitute select courses with approved EdD-level coursework if admitted to the doctoral program. Overall, the program develops reflective, equity-driven leaders equipped to address systemic challenges and improve student success and institutional effectiveness in higher education settings.