Higher Education Administration (M.S.E.) Program Curriculum & Admission Requirements

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Coursework

The academic coursework is designed to develop the knowledge base necessary for effective research and scholarship development.

Assistantship

Relate relevant assistantship experiences to classroom learning. For full-time students, admission to the program is required prior to being awarded a graduate assistantship, and securing an assistantship is required for enrollment in the program. Graduate assistants receive a full tuition waiver, competitive stipend, and health insurance benefits.
Additional terms and conditions apply.

Culminating experience

Students will complete a culminating theory-to-practice capstone course as the final course in the program. The capstone course will includes assessment of the student’s knowledge of the coursework; ability to reason, evaluate and draw supportable conclusions; and knowledge of current issues and trends within the field.

Internship

As a course elective, students can choose to participate in self-designed for-credit internship experience that complements the learning process with hands-on experiences for graduate course credit.

Program Curriculum

The program consists of 36 credit hours of integrated courses and hands-on experiences - all of which can be completed in two years. Students are able to select content electives in areas such as: higher education law, diversity in higher education, and others that might complement specific professional interests. A for-credit internship experience is also an option.

Course Requirements

Please note: This is only a potential plan of study. Consult with your academic advisor before enrolling.

Additional Requirements

Elective 1 - 3 credit hours
Elective 2 - 3 credit hours
Elective 3 - 3 credit hours
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDIT HOURS = 36

KU Higher Education Administration Core Learning Domains

Foundational competencies to demonstrate an understanding of:

The organization, culture and diversity of higher education institutions
The history of higher education and how that history informs current events and issues
The primary student development theories
The theory and relevant research on how collect affects students
The profession of higher education administration, its history and related ethical principles
A greater commitment to cultural competence

Academic and professional development competencies to demonstrate:

An ability to state a position and provide relevant evidence to support the stated position both verbally and in writing
Proficient writing skills and an understanding of APA format
An ability to use the literatures to link theory and practice
An ability to relate relevant assistantship experiences to classroom learning experiences
The capacity to apply skills to promote student outcomes

Personal growth and development competencies to demonstrate an ability to:

Work effectively in a group
Solve problems, manage conflict and effectively communicate with peers and colleagues.

Fundamental Research and Assessment Skills to:

Demonstrates an understanding of program evaluation and assessment.
Apply theory to practice for the purposes of understanding college student learning, development and success.

Graduate Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution or a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor’s degree requirements. International applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process well in advance of the application deadlines in order to ensure adequate time for processing of visa-related paperwork. Meeting minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission to the program.

Application Deadlines (full-time, domestic & international applicants)

Jan. 6, 2025

Fall semester priority* deadline

May 1, 2025

Fall semester final deadline

Application Deadlines (part-time applicants)

Dec. 2, 2024

Spring application deadline

May 1, 2025

Summer semester application deadline

July 1, 2025

Fall semester application deadline

*The priority deadline is to participate in the assistantship process for full-time applicants. We are unable to guarantee availability of assistantships for students who submit for the final deadline. Individuals participating in the Oshkosh Placement Exchange (OPE) are not required to submit an academic application prior to OPE. See the Employment graduate staff page for more information. Part-time and international applicants are not required to hold an assistantship.

Application Checklist

M.S.E. in Higher Education Administration

Applicants are required to submit the following materials and meet the following requirements before the application deadline:

International Students FAQs

No, unfortunately, we are unable to offer application fee waivers.

Yes, through a competitive interview process. Generally, if admitted, the program coordinator will contact you to ask for application materials to be considered for a GA position in February of the application year. If you are not able to make it in person, a virtual interview will be accommodated.

GA positions are administrative in nature, and do not include teaching or research positions. The positions come with a tuition waiver, but do not cover fees or other educationally related expenses. Admission to the program does not guarantee a GA position.

No, but it is suggested. A graduate assistantship is suggested because they come with a tuition waiver as well as 20-hours of paid work experience in higher education. If you are funded through an external scholarship or government sponsorship, you may not want a graduate assistantship. Please see “Are there graduate assistantships available for international students?” for more information on securing an assistantship.

Not necessarily. If you are a native English speaker, you generally would not need to provide proof of English language proficiency. Options for demonstrating English language proficiency can be located on the Graduate Admissions English proficiency requirements page.

In most cases, no, KU is able to evaluate your transcript internally. This is highly dependent on the institution from which the transcript is from. We advise you to submit the official copy of your transcript, and we will reach out if further evaluation is necessary.

HEA is the study of colleges and universities. Graduates of our program generally pursue student affairs and academic support positions. The degree is not intended for those interested in primary and secondary education or research positions. Its purpose is to prepare practitioners and generally does not include teaching and funded research opportunities.

The application is anticipated to open by mid-September, 2024. The deadline will be early January 2025.

Graduate admissions information can be found on the Graduate Admissions page.
Information on international student services and visa requirements can be found on the International Support Services page.

Yes, in September, our website will contain information on information sessions.

Admission & Curriculum Resources

The online application is designed to give applicants the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form. We invite you to explore our graduate degree information, review our student resources, and learn more on our knowledgeable faculty and the vibrant community of Lawrence, Kansas.

Apply Online request info