Master's in Higher Education Administration

Transforming Student Communities

For today’s diverse student population, institutions need strong leaders to become the next generation of change agents determined to transform campus communities nationwide. Whether it is through an emphasis on the demographic variables that are predictors of student borrowing, the historical analysis of the contributions of the black power movement to higher education, changes in Greek life policy and practice, or the foundations of college student development, college student personnel professionals are prepared to take on this work.

GW's Master's degree in Higher Education Administration equips students with effective leadership and administration capabilities by combining coursework with professional practice in a multitude of settings in the DC Metro area through internship and fellowship opportunities. You will become immersed in innovative work to ensure that colleges are using inclusive and multicultural student affairs practices focused on promoting social justice, civic engagement, and equity. Higher Education Administration students deepen their expertise by selecting a concentration in Student Affairs Administration, General Administration, Higher Education Policy and Finance, and International Higher Education. Students in the HEA program focus on study abroad and international exchange policies and programs; enrollment management, admissions and recruiting strategies; academic advising best practices; intercollegiate athletics and club sports management; student engagement, event programming, and residential life; career services and development; Greek life policies and practice; and much more. In the final semester of the program, students complete a capstone project on a topic of their choosing related to a problem of professional practice. This provides a living portfolio of work directly related to their intended career path.

Students enrolled in the Higher Education Administration Masters program may pursue a joint degree with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Juris Doctorate. Courses can be applied toward earning the Master's degree and certificates.

Upon completion of the degree, students will be prepared for professional positions in student affairs, academic affairs, university relations, study abroad and international exchange programs, and more.

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Why a GW Master in Higher Education Administration?

• Location: GW’s location in Washington, DC- the epicenter of policy, practice, and research - provides students with the distinct advantage of being a neighbor to national organizations including The Department of Education, American Council on Education, ACPA and NASPA, American Educational Research Association, and a variation of colleges/universities in size and affiliation.
• Diverse Student Body: From across the country and around the globe, bringing a wide range of professional experience, skills, and enriching knowledge.
• Convenient Schedule: Courses are scheduled once a week in late afternoons and evenings (Monday-Thursday) to accommodate the schedules of working professionals and for internship experiences.
• Study Abroad: Students in the Higher Education Administration program may have the opportunity to participate in short term study abroad trips for course credit. These opportunities allow students to further their work as scholar-practitioners through exposure to and research of other international perspectives.

Curriculum

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 30 credits, including 12 credits in required core courses, 12 to 15 credits in one concentration, and 3 to 6 credits in elective courses.

Core Courses

• EDUC 6112: Foundations of Assessment, Testing, and Measurement in Education
• or EDUC 6116: Introduction to Educational Statistics
• EDUC 6500: Introduction to Student Affairs & Higher Ed
• EDUC 6510: Administration of Higher Education
• EDUC 6585: Master’s Internship in Higher Education Administration
• EDUC 6590: Capstone in Higher Education Administration (0 credit course)

General Administration Concentration

• EDUC 6540: Group and Organizational Theories
• EDUC 6560: Legal Problems in Higher Education
• EDUC 6555: Higher Education Policy
• or EDUC 6565: Financing Higher Education
• EDUC 8560: Case Studies in Higher Education Administration
• Electives: 6 credits in elective courses to be selected in consultation with the advisor.

International Education Concentration

• EDUC 6602: Regional Studies in International Education
• or EDUC 6615: Internationalizing U.S. Schools
• or EDUC 6630: International Experiences
• EDUC 6610: Programs and Policies in International Education
• EDUC 6620: Strategies and Analysis in International Education
• EDUC 8560: Case Studies in Higher Education Administration
• Electives: 6 credits in elective courses to be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Student Affairs Administration Concentration

• EDUC 6520: Foundations of College Student Development
• EDUC 6525: Managing College Student Services Programs
• EDUC 6530: Intercultural Campus Leadership
• EDUC 6540: Group and Organizational Theories
• EDUC 6585: Master’s Internship in Higher Education Administration
• Electives: 3 credits in elective courses to be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Higher Education Policy and Finance Concentration

• EDUC 6555: Higher Education Policy
• EDUC 6565: Financing Higher Education
• EDUC 6560: Legal Problems in Higher Education
• EDUC 8540: History of Higher Education
• Electives: 6 credits in elective courses to be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the Higher Education program are transforming campus communities across the nation. We work as the:

• Director of Admissions, The Citadel
• Director of Student Affairs & Community Service Learning, University of Virginia
• Director of Residence Life, Christendom College
• Director of Student Services, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, GW
• Assistant Director of Admissions, Bucknell University
• Assistant Director of Student Life and Activities & Coordinator of Greek Affairs, American University
• Assistant Director of Programming, University of Wisconsin
• Leadership Coordinator, University of California, Davis
• Assistant Director of Campus Programming and Greek Life, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Director of Career Services, University of Washington
• Assistant Director of Campus Assault Resources and Education, UC Irvine

Admissions

• Program Entry: Summer, Fall
• Prerequisites: Bachelors Degree
• Campus: Main Campus

Application Requirements

• Online Application
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• GRE or MAT (Submission of scores is optional if undergraduate GPA is 3.3 or higher)
• Transcripts (unofficial)
• Application Fee

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants