Higher Education, M.S.

Three Pillars

• Serve as leaders and change agents who think critically and sensitively in the context of a diverse and evolving society
• Respond reflectively to emerging trends in light of the purposes, ideals and operation of the higher education community
• Apply skills, knowledge and attitudes effectively and ethically in the spectrum of higher education administrative roles

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the program will be able to:

• Understand factors influencing and supporting higher education, its purpose and its practices
• Evaluate and respond to current administrative issues and trends in higher education
• Recognize social and cultural systems in the context of the environment and through an historical lens
• Articulate leadership values and styles in the context of ethical decision making
• Use research, knowledge of human dimensions, and interpersonal dynamics to inform practice

Where Can I Work?

Graduates of the master’s program may serve in roles across the spectrum of institutional types (community colleges, private institutions, and public regional universities). Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate a master’s degree as the preferred entry level education for these types of positions.

• Affordable tuition—Just $500 per credit; $15,000 total for the degree.
• Convenient online classes—All courses are offered online. The four interdisciplinary core courses are asynchronous, allowing you to work at your own pace to complete assignments. The six concentration and capstone courses incorporate synchronous, live instruction, allowing you to interact with your professor and classmates.
• Swift degree completion—Earn the 30 required credits in five semesters or less than two years. Take one class at a time in accelerated, seven-week sessions.
• Professional network—Study with a cohort of the same classmates throughout the program, allowing you to build a close network with peers.
• Capstone project—Complete a capstone project through which you explore a framework for conducting action research while also participating in an immersion experience within the field. This culminating experience helps you develop your professional voice through the exploration of significant issues in the collegiate educational setting.
• Learning community—Participate in a broader community of practitioners in higher education, encompassing both master’s and doctoral students. Faculty and students from a wide range of institutions have participated in this learning community, contributing to the growing body of research and leadership in the field.
• Leadership Certificate—Choose to pursue a graduate certificate in strategic leadership while earning your M.S. degree.
• Option to continue to the doctoral program—You have the option to continue your studies in Immaculata’s Ed.D. in Higher Education program without repeating any course content. If you meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the Ed.D. and enroll within five years of completing your M.S., four of your doctoral course requirements will be waived. Graduates of our M.S. in Higher Education who enroll in the Ed.D. in Higher Education receive a 20% tuition discount.

• Core courses in educational leadership (asynchronous online classes)
  • GEN 501 Human Development
  • GEN 502 Methods of Research
  • GEN 503 Interpersonal Relations
  • EDL 615 Contemporary Professional Ethics
• Concentration courses in higher education (synchronous online classes)
  • HED 605 Foundations of American Higher Education
  • HED 612 Higher Education Administration and Leadership
  • HED 621 Diversity and Multiculturalism in Higher Education
  • HED 632 Assessment of Student Learning
• Applied capstone courses (synchronous online sessions coupled with field experience and independent research)
  • HED 637 Professional Seminar, Part I
  • HED 638 Professional Seminar, Part II

To apply, you must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Complete the application
• Provide official undergraduate transcripts demonstrating a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Submit a current resume (work experience in the higher education setting is not required)
• Submit a one-page essay discussing professional goals connected to a career in higher education
• Provide one professional/academic letter of recommendation