Master of Science in Higher Education
About the Program
Master of Science: 45.0 quarter credits
The MS in Higher Education is designed specifically to prepare highly skilled and knowledgeable practitioners for administrative and management careers in higher education in the United States and abroad. Graduates will be qualified to pursue careers as professionals in university and college offices as well as careers in national and international organizations, foundations, associations, and corporations.
Program Objectives
Students graduating with an MS in Higher Education will possess outstanding leadership, organizational, interpersonal and advocacy skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external groups. Students will be provided with in-depth knowledge regarding both public and private (non-profit and for-profit) institutions, as well as small and large institutions and multi-campus institutions.
About the Curriculum
The curriculum for the MS in Higher Education incorporates an interdisciplinary approach, with courses offered through the Goodwin College of Professional Studies School of Education and The LeBow College of Business. The program integrates leading learning strategies and instructional technologies into the course delivery. Courses introduce students to best practices, current research, software applications and database management systems. Students demonstrate knowledge and skills through both individual and group projects.
This program is 45 credits and consists of 14 courses: 6 core courses, 4 primary concentration courses, 3 elective courses or secondary concentration courses, and 1 capstone course (co-op with portfolio).
Primary concentration areas include:
- Administration and Organizational Management
Secondary areas of concentration include:
- Academic Development, Technology and Instruction
- Community College Administration and Leadership
- Enrollment Management
- Financial Management in Higher Education
- Institutional Advancement
- Institutional Research and Planning
- Student Development and Affairs
The program is designed as a part-time cohort model, and can be completed in two years.
Additional Information
For additional information, visit Drexel University's Higher Education, Administration and Leadership page.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the program will follow the university standards for admission to graduate study. In addition, the admissions committee will evaluate the applicant's potential and commitment to succeed in graduate study in higher education and at least one of the two program delivery formats. The applicant's potential to contribute to the overall quality of the program of study will also be considered.
Prospective students are required to submit the following:
- Completed Application Form
- Transcripts (must be provided for every institution attended)
- Referrals (two letters are required)
- Personal Essay
Prospective s tudents must apply through Drexel eLearning using the online application. Additional information about how to apply is available on the Graduate Admissions at Drexel University website.
Degree Requirements
This Master of Science in Higher Education program consists of 14 courses: 6 core courses, 4 primary concentration courses, 3 elective courses or secondary concentration courses, and 1 capstone course (co-op with portfolio).
| Core Courses | ||
| EDHE 500 | Foundations of Higher Education | 3.0 |
| EDHE 510 | Governance, Management & Administration in Higher Education | 3.0 |
| EDHE 520 | Student Development & Customer Service Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 602 | Managing Campus Operations | 3.0 |
| EDUC 705 | School Law and Politics | 3.0 |
| EDHE 714 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3.0 |
| Capstone | ||
| EDHE 715 | Higher Education Co-op I with Portfolio | 1.5 |
| EDHE 716 | Higher Education Co-op II | 4.5 |
| Primary Concentration | ||
| Students complete the four required courses for the primary concentration: | ||
| EDHE 540 | Outcomes, Assessments & Continuous Improvement | 3.0 |
| EDHE 601 | Strategic Planning & Evaluation | 3.0 |
| EDHE 606 | Higher Education Career Development | 3.0 |
| ORGB 631 | Leading Effective Organizations | 3.0 |
| Electives or Secondary Concentration (See Below) | 9.0 | |
| Students select either any three elective courses (from offerings within the School of Education) or three courses within the secondary concentrations offered. Courses within a student’s primary concentration do not count as electives. | ||
| Total Credits | 45.0 | |
Electives or Secondary Concentration
| Secondary Concentration in Adult Education | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDAE 601 | Foundations of Adult Education | 3.0 |
| EDAE 602 | Adult Learning and Development | 3.0 |
| EDAE 603 | Program Planning: Assessment & Evaluation of Adult Education | 3.0 |
| EDAE 604 | Instructional Design and Delivery Strategies | 3.0 |
| EDAE 605 | Instructional Skills for Teaching Adults Online | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Global and International Education | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDGI 500 | Introduction to Global, International & Comparative Education | 3.0 |
| EDGI 506 | Comparative Higher Education Systems | 3.0 |
| EDGI 508 | Understanding Research in International & Comparative Education | 3.0 |
| EDGI 510 | Culture, Society & Education in Comparative Perspective | 3.0 |
| EDGI 512 | Globalization and Educational Change | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Higher Education Educational Policy | ||
| Required | ||
| EDPO 620 | Education Policy: Concepts, Issues, and Applications | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| EDPO 624 | Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces | 3.0 |
| EDPO 632 | Ethics in Educational Policy Making * | 3.0 |
| EDPO 636 | Access & Equity in Educational Policy Making | 3.0 |
| EDPO 640 | Educational Policy-Making Tactics & Influence | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Community College Administration and Leadership | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDHE 634 | Proposal Writing & Sponsored Project Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 664 | Strategies for Educational Success | 3.0 |
| EDHE 668 | Transformational Leadership | 3.0 |
| EDHE 669 | Diversity in Higher Education | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Institutional Development and University Relations | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDHE 610 | Institutional Advancement | 3.0 |
| EDHE 614 | Alumni Relations | 3.0 |
| EDHE 616 | Institutional Communications, Marketing & Public Relations | 3.0 |
| AADM 650 | Fund Development for the Arts | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Financial Management | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| BUSN 501 | Measuring and Maximizing Financial Performance | 3.0 |
| EDHE 602 | Managing Campus Operations | 3.0 |
| EDHE 624 | Capital Financing, Business Development & Asset Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 626 | Public-Private Funding and Legal Issues | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Institutional Research | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDHE 640 | Foundations of Institutional Research | 3.0 |
| EDHE 644 | Student Assessments & Academic Program Evaluation | 3.0 |
| EDHE 646 | Survey Tools, Statistical Software & Effective Reporting | 3.0 |
| EDHE 680 | Foundations of Evaluation | 3.0 |
| EDUC 803 | Educational Research Design I | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Enrollment Management | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDHE 650 | Introduction to Enrollment Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 652 | Enrollment Marketing, Recruitment & Retention | 3.0 |
| EDHE 654 | Financial Aid & Enrollment Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 656 | Enrollment Management Database Systems & Management | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Learning Technologies and Instructional Design | ||
| Select 3 of the following: | ||
| EDLT 536 | Learning Sciences and Instructional Design | 3.0 |
| EDLT 537 | Technologies for Performance Support | 3.0 |
| EDLT 550 | Introduction to Instructional Design | 3.0 |
| ELL 502 | E-Learning Technologies | 3.0 |
| ELL 504 | Learning Technologies & Disabilities | 3.0 |
| Secondary Concentration in Student Development and Affairs | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDHE 652 | Enrollment Marketing, Recruitment & Retention | 3.0 |
| EDHE 662 | Critical Issues in Student Affairs | 3.0 |
| EDHE 663 | Safety and Crisis Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 664 | Strategies for Educational Success | 3.0 |
| EDHE 669 | Diversity in Higher Education | 3.0 |
| * | If students have completed EDPO 632 as part of the primary concentration, it may not be used for the secondary concentration. In this case, students must select another EDPO course from the list. |






