Higher Education Leadership (M.A.)
By integrating academic excellence and Christian faith, the program nurtures higher education leaders whose professional identity is rooted in a deep sense of purpose and vocation. Students gain insight into the complex breadth of higher education but also develop expertise in a focused area of professional service within higher education. This is accomplished as students complete a core set of courses alongside a set of courses specific to their concentration. In addition to coursework, real-world experience is embedded in the program through a capstone requirement. Internships and graduate assistantships allow students to put the theories, gained through classroom instruction, into practice through supervised, real-world experience. By emphasizing the connections between theoretical principles, educational practice, and intentional reflection, the curriculum equips students with the requisite knowledge and creativity to excel in the dynamic environment of higher education.
Degree Concentrations
College Athletics Leadership Concentration
Individualized Concentration
Strategic Leadership Concentration
Student Success Concentration
Program Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes:
- To equip leaders to transform various higher education contexts, including colleges/universities, professional associations, and higher education agencies;
- To prepare practitioners to make effective, strategic, and innovative decisions to assure excellence in educational programs and mission-driven initiatives;
- To develop scholars who advance the field of higher education and its contribution to society;
- To nurture leaders with a professional identity rooted in their Christian faith.
Degree Requirements (36 credits)
Program Core Requirements (27 credits)
| HIED 511 | Foundations of Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 512 | Organizational Culture and Governance in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 513 | Institutional Assessment and Effectiveness | 3 |
| HIED 514 | Equity Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 515 | Strategic Leadership in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 516 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 562 | Internship in Higher Education | 3 |
HIED 562: HIED 567 Professional Seminar serves as a substitution for students who have two or more years of professional experience upon admission and who have received approval from the program director.
College Athletics Leadership Concentration (9 credits)
The college athletics leadership concentration prepares professionals to administer successful athletic programs and to serve the unique needs of student athletes. Students are well prepared for all facets of athletic administration, including events management, sports marketing and sponsorship, and compliance and regulation. This concentration is designed for those aspiring to serve or advance in such professional roles as college coach, athletic director, sports information, facilities management, and recreational sports.
Three of the following: (9 credits)
| HIED 530 | Intercollegiate Sport Administration | 3 |
| HIED 531 | Events and Facilities Management in Intercollegiate Athletics | 3 |
| HIED 532 | Marketing and Sponsorship in Intercollegiate Athletics | 3 |
| HIED 534 | Intercollegiate Coaching | 3 |
Two of the following: (6 credits)
Individualized Concentration (9 credits)
The individualized concentration enables students to create their own area of concentration that best suits their educational and professional needs. Students pull together coursework from across content areas in order to advance their expertise in a focused area.
Three of the following:
| COUN 528 | Career Counseling Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| HIED 520 | Academic Engagement and Learning in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 525 | Curriculum Development in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 530 | Intercollegiate Sport Administration | 3 |
| HIED 531 | Events and Facilities Management in Intercollegiate Athletics | 3 |
| HIED 532 | Marketing and Sponsorship in Intercollegiate Athletics | 3 |
| HIED 550 | Student Development in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 551 | College and University Environments | 3 |
| LEAD 505 | Strategic Thinking, Planning and Organizational Change | 3 |
| LEAD 515 | Best Practices in Leadership | 3 |
| LEAD 550 | Organizational Effectiveness | 3 |
Two of the following: (6 credits)
Strategic Leadership Concentration (9 credits)
The strategic leadership concentration is designed for those aiming to advance their career and opportunities in higher education by becoming more effective at leading people and organizations. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of effective leadership, including the ethical and character-based elements of leadership, and also assess and advance their own abilities as leaders.
| LEAD 505 | Strategic Thinking, Planning and Organizational Change | 3 |
| LEAD 515 | Best Practices in Leadership | 3 |
| LEAD 550 | Organizational Effectiveness | 3 |
Two of the following: (6 credits)
Student Success Concentration (9 credits)
| HIED 520 | Academic Engagement and Learning in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 550 | Student Development in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 551 | College and University Environments | 3 |
Two of the following: (6 credits)