COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration is offered through both a Main Campus format and a Distance Learning (online) format, providing flexibility for students with different academic and professional needs. This 36-credit-hour graduate program is designed to prepare individuals for a wide range of careers within postsecondary education institutions, including roles in student affairs, academic support services, enrollment management, academic advising, and institutional administration. The program is grounded in established standards from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), ensuring that students receive training aligned with current professional expectations in the field. The curriculum integrates foundational studies in higher education, professional practice courses, research methodology, supervised experiential learning, and elective coursework that allows students to tailor their academic experience to specific career interests and goals.Students in the Main Campus program benefit from close partnerships with university units such as Student Life and Academic Affairs, which provide structured professional development opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. A required internship component gives campus-based students direct, hands-on experience in higher education settings, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in real administrative and student-focused environments. In contrast, the online program is designed to emphasize applied professional skills through coursework in areas such as grant writing, educational technology, and higher education assessment, making it especially suitable for working professionals seeking career advancement or transition into higher education roles.Both program formats maintain the same academic rigor and credit requirements and are designed to develop competencies in leadership, policy analysis, student development theory, and program evaluation. Transfer credit policies allow eligible graduate-level coursework completed at other accredited institutions to be considered toward degree requirements, subject to departmental and Graduate School approval. Overall, the MA in Higher Education Administration prepares graduates to function effectively as reflective practitioners and emerging leaders in colleges and universities while offering flexible pathways that accommodate different learning preferences and career trajectories.