Master of Science in Higher Education

Plan of Study for Accelerated and Traditional Formats 

This program is 45 credits and consists of 14 courses: 6 core courses, 4 primary concentration courses, 3 electives courses or secondary concentration courses, and 1 Capstone Course (Co-op with portfolio). Courses are taught in cohorts (groups) of 20 to 25 students. Refer to the program home page for information on program format. Click here for an overview of the curriculum.

Plan of Study – Accelerated / 24 month

Term 1

EDHE 500 Foundations of Higher Education (3 credits)
EDHE 510 Governance, Management & Administration in Higher Education (3 credits) 

Term 2

EDHE 520 Student Development & Customer Service Management (3 credits)
EDUC 705 School Law & Politics (3 credits) 

Term 3

EDHE 540 Outcomes, Assessment & Continuous Improvement (3 credits)
ORGB 631 Leading Effective Organizations (3 credits) 

Term 4

EDHE 600 Human & Organizational Performance Improvement (3 credits)
EDHE 602 Managing Campus Operations (3 credits)

Term 5

EDHE 606 Higher Education Career Development (3 credits) 
AADM 710 Strategic Planning/Evaluation (3 credits) 

Term 6

EDHE 715 Capstone: Co-op with portfolio (1.5 credits)
Elective Course 1 (3 credits)

Term 7

Term 8

Elective Course 2 (3 credits)
Elective Course 3 (3 credits)

Course Descriptions:

EDHE 500 Foundations of Higher Education (3 credits)

Study of the historical growth and advancement of colleges and universities in the United States beginning with the Colonial era up to "virtual" public and private universities. This course provides an integrated overview of contemporary issues as well as the policies and practices that characterize the operational environments of higher education institutions in the 21st century; including financial management, accreditation, curriculum, and institutional planning. The course introduces students to the six concentrations:

EDHE 510 Governance, Management & Administration in Higher Education (3 credits)

Students learn about the organizational and administrative structures connecting students, faculty, and academic and administrative units to other units within the institutional hierarchy; including the Board of Trustees, the "university system," and local, state, and national government agencies. The relationship between the university and the community it serves is explored as well as the role of outreach in the modern university. Students examine the role of faculty, staff, and students in academic operations and risk management.

EDHE 520 Student Development & Customer Service Management (3 credits)

This course examines the academic support and student life services that must be provided by the university from a customer satisfaction perspective. Units providing academic support services include admissions, orientation, advising, financial aid, student records, and registration. Units providing student life services include dining, residential life, leisure and recreation, student health and counseling services, student unions and Greek life. This course introduces students to higher education best practices in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and to policy and legislation related to admissions, international students, and student support services, including those associated with diversity and disability.

EDUC 705 School Law & Politics (3 credits)

This course is designed to assist students with their understanding of how law, politics, and power structures interact to influence the goals and operations of the schools. Students will study the roles of school boards and community organizations, state boards of education, state government agencies, special interest groups, professional organizations, and unions.

Note: This course for the MSHE program introduces students to the legal issues and legal aspects of policy development and operations in higher education institutions. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the basic legal theories and applications in higher education. Through case studies, students examine contemporary issues relating to Confidentiality, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Americans with Disability Act, Age Discrimination, Conflict of Interest, due process, employment, tenure and academic freedom, and important state and federal laws governing U.S. colleges and universities. Students also explore legal issues related to both public and private institutions as well as land grant institutions and multi- campus institutions.

EDHE 540 Outcomes, Assessment & Continuous Improvement (3 credits)

EDHE 600 Human & Organizational Performance Improvement (3 credits)

This course examines strategies for attaining continuing success in the academic marketplace. These strategies require a continuing stream of innovation that will differentiate the institution's academic programs from others, that the institution be recognized as a "best value", and/or that the institution excel in reaching and meeting students needs. Innovation concept development activities are presented and processes to succeed in their implementation are discussed. Finally, students learn the role of professional development to attain faculty and administrative performance so that these strategies become sustainable.

EDHE 606 Higher Education Career Development (3 credits)

This course provides students with an understanding of the career patterns of faculty, deans, vice presidents, provosts, and presidents. The course also explores the academic employment markets of these professions. Students examine the career development of higher education leaders from "traditional" career paths to diverse points of entry into academia. Students discuss the career development of faculty including recruitment, and training, the alternative forms of scholarship (discovery, teaching and engagement) that may be pursued to earn tenure and promotion. Students also discuss the administrative roles of managing academic units including departments, schools, colleges, and the academic affairs division. This course highlights the role of the various levels of the administration in decision making and change implementation including approaches to dealing with motivation, maintenance of morale, and conflict management.

EDHE 602 Managing Campus Operations (3 credits)

EDHE 715 Capstone: Co-op with portfolio (1.5 credits)

Students are required to participate in a part-time co-op that lasts no less than two quarters (20 weeks). The co-op is structured to provide students with real-life, hands on experience in higher education. Students work in administrative offices and incorporate the skills and tools they have garnered in the MSHE program. At the end of the co-op students are required to submit a portfolio based on a set format. This format includes copies of the following documents: current curriculum vita, samples of projects completed in the co-op position, samples of presentations and studies completed in the MSHE program related to the co-op position, and any other documentation students feel demonstrate their knowledge and development in the program. Students present and defend their portfolio submission to a panel of selected higher education faculty and administrators. Students are judged on the professionalism of their portfolio by the panel. Students who are currently working in higher education positions will receive credit for the co-op based on portfolio submission.

EDHE 624 Capital Financing, Business Development & Asset Management (3 credits)

Students examine the operations related to the capital financial structure of colleges and universities, including asset management, capital budgeting, and fund raising and development. Students also examine the concept of business development in traditional higher education institutions compared to private for profit and non-profit ventures.

EDHE 626 Public-Private Funding & Legal Issues (3 credits)

This course introduces contemporary issues related to financial management of public and private institutions. Students are acquainted with legislative processes, state-level planning, compliance issues (i.e., Sarbanes Oxley), appropriations and budgeting, as well as the granting of bonding authority to institutions of higher learning. This course also examines legislative differences between public and private institutions regarding financial aid, program development, and hiring processes.

EDHE 634 Proposal Writing & Sponsored Project Management (3 credits)

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to acquire and manage sponsored projects from a variety of sources. Students will learn and practice the process of writing successful grant proposals, including responding to the Request for Proposal, letter proposals, defining needs, methodology, time lines and the budget. Students learn the elements of preparing a winning proposal that can secure funding for major public sector initiatives. Students will prepare and submit a full grant proposal benefiting their organizations. The course also emphasizes refinement of writing skills, development of an organizational vision, goal setting, political realities, and public relations techniques. Budget development with software options as well as audit protocol is explored. Presentation and team building skills are covered as a critical dimension to successful grant funding and implementation. Students also learn how to manage a sponsored budget including compliance management and reporting.

EDHE 640 Foundations of Institutional Research (3 credits)

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of institutional research and the roles and responsibilities associated with this area. Through individual and group projects, students hone their skills using Microsoft Office products and are introduced to database systems such as Sungard-SCT Banner and PeopleSoft and to statistical software including SAS, SPSS, Excel, and Access. Students explore the multifaceted links of institutional research to key divisions within higher education institutions. Students are acquainted with research methods used in institutional research and assessment, evaluation of program effectiveness, and measuring student outcomes. This course also examines how data garnered from research is evaluated and the results are integrated into programmatic and institutional planning.

EDHE 644 Student Assessments & Academic Program Evaluation (3 credits)

This course acquaints students with research tools and theoretical models related to assessing student outcomes and measuring student "success". Students are introduced to benchmarking practices that assist in measuring institutional and program effectiveness. This course also examines the importance of evaluating academic programs and curricula to proactively respond to institutional reporting requirements and accreditation. This course prepares students to design, implement, and interpret higher education assessments and evaluations for continuous improvement.

EDHE 650 Introduction to Enrollment Management (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the history of enrollment management and how it fits into the university structure. This course provides students with a strong understanding of the enrollment process and the four stages related to enrollment management: 1. Marketing, Admissions, and Enrollment; 2. Student Success: Orientation, Advising, and Student Support Services; 3. Overall Student Experience: Retention, Time to Degree Completion, and Graduation Rates; and 4. Optimizing Enrollment: Aligning Anticipated Revenues and Student Quality. This course also examines the organizational structure of enrollment offices and divisions, highlights federal and legislative issues affecting public and private institutions, and explores contemporary legal issues in enrollment management. Strategies to achieve a diverse student body will also be discussed as an integral and pervasive objective of enrollment management.

EDHE 652 Enrollment Marketing, Recruitment & Retention (3 credits)

This course provides a comprehensive overview of principles and practices of a strategic process that begins with marketing and recruitment continuing through graduation. Appropriate market segmentation for the university's educational products (programs) will be discussed and targeted marketing campaigns developed including appropriate media mixture. Internet based marketing and admissions procedures are studied as they relate to the recruitment of traditional and nontraditional students. Students are introduced to research, contemporary issues, and legal problems in enrollment management. This course examines state and federal legislation, admission and financial aid policies, and highlights similarities and differences between public and private institutions as well as large and small institutions.

EDHE 654 Financial Aid & Enrollment Management (3 credits)

This course examines the strategic relationship between financial aid and enrollment management in order to secure desired student mix in institutions of higher education. Students examine student financial aid policies, guidelines, and procedures. Students also explore and discuss innovative strategies led by student financial aid and career management offices that integrate traditional student financial aid, discounting through merit scholarships, work-study programs, internships, co-ops, and summer and part-time employment so as to develop comprehensive student income packages that will allow students to sustain their studies through graduation. This course focuses on the impact of federal, state, and college regulations and statutes on the development of such packages and students discuss leading issues related to new diversity rulings, scholarships, student aid forms, etc.

EDUC 524 Current Research in Curriculum & Instruction (3 credits)

Examines the relationship of curricula and instruction to current research in learning and knowledge construction, developing higher-order thinking in specific disciplines and content areas, and the role of understanding and metacognition in learning. Complex problems of pedagogy are identified and analyzed (e.g., interdisciplinary curricula, team teaching, collaborative learning), with attention to designing learning goals and outcomes with effective instructional strategies.

EDUC 530 Advance Techniques in Instruction & Assessment (3 credits)

Major professional and educational issues associated with college teaching are addressed. Provides multiple opportunities to develop and enhance teaching skills, as well as exposure to alternative assessment.

EDUC 803 Educational Research Design (3 credits)

Introduces students to research design paradigms and the assumptions behind them, use of the literature, developing research questions, qualitative and quantitative procedures, and research study formats.

BUSN 501 Measuring/Maximizing Financial Performance (3 credits)

This course if an introduction to the concepts of financial accounting and financial management. The content of this course includes preparation and analysis of financial statements. Also covered are the time value of money, risk and return, and corporate financing choices.