Higher Education Leadership MS
Major: Higher Education Leadership
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 13.0406
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9033
About the Program
The Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership program is designed to prepare highly skilled and knowledgeable practitioners for administrative and leadership positions and career advancement in higher education. Graduates will be qualified to pursue careers as professionals in colleges and universities, national and international organizations, foundations, associations, and corporations.
The program is designed as a part-time cohort model and can be completed in two years. View the degree requirements for more detailed information about the courses.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the School of Education's MS in Higher Education Leadership webpage.
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program requires:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA)
- Completed application form
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended. Applicants may supply official electronic transcripts issued by a post-secondary institution directly to Drexel University (send to: enroll@drexel.edu).
- Applicants must supply transcripts regardless of the number of credits earned or the type of school attended. If an applicant does not list all post-secondary institutions on the application and these are listed on transcripts received from other institutions, processing of the application will be delayed until all remaining transcripts have been submitted the remaining transcripts.
- Use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist contact with previous institutions. If a college or university offers the option to send transcripts in a secure, password-protected electronic format, have the transcript sent to enroll@drexel.edu.
- Two letters of recommendation—professional or academic
- Drexel University accepts electronic letters of recommendation. Please access the following webpage for instructions regarding their submission. If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter of recommendation, please remind the recommender that it must be signed and submitted in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender.
- Personal essay
- Resume
International students must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. Students with transcripts from non-US institutions should have such transcripts evaluated by World Education Service (WES). The TOEFL examination is required for some non-citizens. Applicants whose native language is English (who list themselves as born in or citizens of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British West Indies, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, England, Ghana, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad/Tobago, Uganda, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zimbabwe) are exempt from the TOEFL. Applicants whose native language is not English are exempt from the TOEFL if the applicant completed 4 years of high school in the United States or completed English 101 and English 102 with a grade of C or better from a US domestic accredited institution. Applicants who received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an academic institution located in the US, UK, or Canada are also exempt from the TOEFL.
Additional Information
Please refer to Drexel University Online's Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership webpage for additional information.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership is a part-time online program. Students complete nine core courses, three concentration or elective courses, and a three course capstone sequence.
| Higher Education Leadership Core Courses | ||
| EDCR 510 | Leadership in Educational Contexts and Systems | 3.0 |
| EDCR 512 | Using and Integrating Learning Technologies | 3.0 |
| EDCR 514 | Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Education | 3.0 |
| EDCR 518 | Evidence-Based Evaluation | 3.0 |
| EDHE 501 | Foundations of Higher Education and Governance | 3.0 |
| EDHE 521 | Student Development Theory and Application | 3.0 |
| EDHE 531 | Legal Issues & Ethics in Higher Education | 3.0 |
| EDHE 541 | Institutional Assessment, Accreditation and Effectiveness | 3.0 |
| EDHE 607 | Higher Education Career Development, Leadership & Application | 3.0 |
| Capstone | ||
| EDU 780 | Capstone Research | 3.0 |
| Students have the option to select from the Practitioner or Thesis capstone track. | ||
| EDUP 780 | Practitioner Capstone Course I | 3.0 |
| or EDUT 780 | Thesis Capstone Course I | |
| EDUP 781 | Practitioner Capstone Course II | 3.0-4.5 |
| or EDUT 781 | Thesis Capstone Course II | |
| Electives or Concentration (See Below) | 9.0 | |
| Students select either any three elective courses (from offerings within the School of Education) or three courses within the concentrations offered. | ||
| Total Credits | 45.0-46.5 | |
Electives or Concentration
| Concentration in Global and International Education | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDGI 503 | Global, International & Comparative Education | 3.0 |
| EDGI 506 | Comparative Higher Education Systems | 3.0 |
| EDGI 510 | Culture, Society & Education in Comparative Perspective | 3.0 |
| EDGI 512 | Globalization and Educational Change | 3.0 |
| EDGI 518 | Analysis of Policy Issues in Global & International Education | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Concentration in Educational Policy | ||
| Required: | ||
| EDPO 622 | Foundations of Education Policy | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| EDPO 624 | The Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces, Interest Groups, and Politics | 3.0 |
| EDPO 628 | American Educational Policy and U.S. Competitiveness | 3.0 |
| or EDGI 604 | Quantitative Literacy: Interpreting and reporting data for educational policy and research | |
| EDPO 632 | Ethics in Educational Policy Making | 3.0 |
| EDPO 636 | Access & Equity in Educational Policy Making | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Concentration in Learning Technologies and Instructional Design | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDLT 503 | The Learning Sciences | 3.0 |
| EDLT 504 | Learning Engineering | 3.0 |
| EDLT 543 | Play & Learning in a Participatory Culture | 3.0 |
| or EDLT 591 | Learning Analytics: Lenses on students, teaching, and curriculum enactment | |
| EDLT 551 | Instructional Design Methods | 3.0 |
| ELL 503 | Teaching and Learning Issues in E-Learning | 3.0 |
| Concentration in Student Development and Affairs | ||
| EDHE 661 | Critical Issues & Risk Management in Student Affairs | 3.0 |
| EDHE 665 | Student Success: Learning and Innovative Support Services | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Concentration in Mind, Brain, Learning & Administration | ||
| Required: | ||
| CRTV 600 | Mind, Brain and Learning | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| CRTV 604 | Neurodiversity in Education and Workforce | 3.0 |
| CRTV 608 | Neuropedagogy and Assessment | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| EDHE 661 | Critical Issues & Risk Management in Student Affairs | 3.0 |
| EDHE 665 | Student Success: Learning and Innovative Support Services | 3.0 |
| Concentration in Creativity and Innovation | ||
| Required: | ||
| CRTV 501 | Foundations in Creativity | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| CRTV 502 | Tools and Techniques in Creativity | 3.0 |
| CRTV 503 | Creativity in the Workplace | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Concentration in Human Resource Development | ||
| EHRD 500 | Foundations of Human Resources Development | 3.0 |
| EHRD 612 | Strategic Human Resource Development | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDCR 510 | 3.0 | EDCR 514 | 3.0 | EDCR 518 | 3.0 | EDHE 541 | 3.0 |
| EDHE 501 | 3.0 | EDHE 531 | 3.0 | EDHE 521 | 3.0 | Concentration course | 3.0 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDCR 512 | 3.0 | EDU 780 | 3.0 | EDUP 780 or EDUT 780 | 3.0 | EDUP 781 or EDUT 781* | 3.0-4.5 |
| EDHE 607 | 3.0 | Concentration course | 3.0 | Concentration course | 3.0 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 3-4.5 | ||||
| Total Credits 45-46.5 | |||||||
- *
Student must be enrolled for at least 4.5 credit hours each term to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Program Level Outcomes
- Breadth and Depth of Higher Education Knowledge: Identify, evaluate, and address critical and immerging issues in higher education by utilizing knowledge, research and skills within the field of higher education.;
- Social Justice, Equity, and Global Inclusiveness: Recognize and explain the value of the diversity, multiculturalism, and the global context for critical issues in higher education.
- Ethical and Collaborative Leadership: Apply ethical and collaborative leadership skills to higher education issues as a reflective and self-directed learner, team member, and active citizen .
- Experiential Learning and Professional Practice: Understand the value of integrating work and learning with reflection, using the Co-op experience, e-portfolio and capstone activities. Develop an understanding of higher education career paths and how to develop oneself and others in these careers. Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement: Demonstrate an understanding of higher education career paths and development, and create and sustain a healthy, engaged, public life in higher education and our communities
- Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement: Demonstrate an understanding of higher education career paths and development, and create and sustain a healthy, engaged, public life in higher education and our communities.