Higher Education Administration, MS

Program Description

The online 33 SCH Master of Science in Higher Education Administration (HEAD) program focuses on the principles and practice of administration in two-year and four-year colleges, universities, and higher education systems, as well as the study of higher education as an object of applied research. The program strives to prepare socially just leaders to function as administrators in such settings. The program offers instruction in higher education finance and economics, policy and higher education law, faculty and labor relations, college student services, as well as research on higher education and institutional research which includes evaluation, accountability, and philosophy.

It is designed for working professionals pursuing careers in mid-level administrative and academic leadership positions at postsecondary institutions and will expand opportunities for their career advancement. The program will advance knowledge and understanding of student development, as well as the structure, governance, and operations within diverse types of institutes of higher education via a critical social justice lens. This degree can be used as a stepping-stone to doctoral degrees in educational leadership and student affairs.

The program utilizes the Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctorate (CPED) design concepts of scholar-practitioner, signature pedagogy, inquiry laboratory, and mentoring practices. These design concepts offer graduate students the opportunity to frame their knowledge and practice around questions of equity, ethics, and critical social justice to bring about solutions to complex problems of practice through field-based opportunities, as well as professional knowledge and practice. The curriculum is designed around the CPED framework that supports creating quality, rigorous practitioner preparation while honoring the local context.

Student Learning Goals (Educational Objectives)

Students will demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles and practices common to the functional areas of higher education administration.

Students will:

• Obtain a broad background in higher education administration to prepare them to work in a variety of institutions of higher education settings.
• Demonstrate an understanding and application of knowledge of organization, culture, diversity, and history of institutions of higher education.
• Incorporate a professional expression of ethics, inclusion, and social justice; and,
• Understand and apply relevant research on higher education administration and conduct programmatic assessments on complex problems of practice.

For Additional Information

Website:

Campus Address:
Faculty Center, Room 213
Phone (361) 825-2992
kevin.bazner@tamucc.edu

Mailing Address:
Department of Educational Administration and Research, Unit 5818
College of Education and Human Development
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5818

Admission Requirements

New and transfer graduate students who wish to pursue the proposed master’s degree in higher education administration must be formally admitted to the University. While the university requires a minimum last 60 hours GPA of 2.5 for a graduate program, the HEAD program requires a 3.0. Applicants must complete a one-to-two-page statement of purpose that provides (1) the reasons for pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration, (2) an explanation of leadership experiences, and (3) career plans. No test scores (GRE or MAT) are required.

Program Requirements

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Online offering