Essential Information
Master of Higher Education Administration (MHEA) programs typically integrate educational administration theories with realistic case study scenarios in order to bolster the students' leadership skills, organizational aptitudes, and funding and budget management capabilities.
Successful completion of approximately 48 credit hours of classroom instruction, research projects and internships are generally required for graduation. Online programs are available at some schools.
Aside from a bachelor's degree, there are no education prerequisites specific to master's degree programs in higher education administration. Some programs require that interested students have some professional experience in higher education, even at a basic administrative level.
Master of Higher Education Administration Degree
Master's programs in this field may cover methods and techniques for career mapping, college catalog analysis and mediating asynchronous online discussions. Beyond traditional classroom instruction, a capstone research project is the focal point for many MHEA degree programs. These projects usually involve independent study in a particular field of interest to the student, such as fundraising or technology trends. Capstone projects typically culminate with a written report and a group presentation of the research results. Common course titles include:
- Organization and administration of higher education
- College and university student personnel management
- History of higher education
- Legal issues in higher education
- Higher education business management
Career Information
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment for postsecondary education administrators to increase 7% between 2018 and 2028, faster than the average for all occupations, most likely because of enrollment increases at colleges and universities. The BLS also reported that as of 2018, these professionals held 192,600 jobs, and the median yearly wage was approximately $94,340 in 2018 (www.bls.gov).
Continuing Education Information
The majority of doctorate degree programs in this field take the form of either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Administration. Also, continuing education opportunities can be found through professional organizations, such as the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (www.aacrao.org) and NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (www.naspa.org).
Master's programs in higher education administration often include traditional coursework and culminate in research projects tailored to students' career goals. Graduates are prepared to hold administrative positions at colleges and universities or go on to pursue doctoral degrees in the field.
