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Higher Education Administration - Master's and Doctorate

Availability: Hattiesburg and Online Options

Love College? Make Higher Education Your Career Choice!

The Higher Education Administration programs prepare individuals for success in professional staff and administrative roles within post-secondary institutions. Growth in complexity and size of college and university administration has prompted a need for professionally trained administrators who are knowledgeable of the structure, financing, legal issues, staffing, and administration of higher education organizations. The Student Affairs emphasis prepares individuals in the field of college student affairs including numerous student service areas.

These online synchronous courses are offered in the evenings, perfect for working professionals who want a cohort-like experience while maintaining their current residence and employment.

September 2021 update: The instructions for Statement of Purpose for both EdD and PhD degree plans now include more detailed information. These instructions can be found in the Graduate School's application portal.

Application deadlines for the EdD/PhD in Higher Education are:

Admit Term Priority Deadline Final Deadline
Fall 2023 April 15, 2023 August 9, 2023
Spring 2024 September 1, 2023 January 5, 2024

Application deadlines for the MEd in Higher Education are:

Admit Term Priority Deadline Final Deadline
Fall 2023 -- August 1, 2023
Spring 2024 -- December 1, 2023

 

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3Degree Options
2Programs Designed for Working Professionals
3years to Doctorate

What Will I Learn?

Students enrolled in Higher Education programs will learn how to work in a variety of areas in higher education including both student affairs and academic affairs. Whether you desire to become a student affairs professional, an administrator, or faculty, you will want to consider a degree in Higher Education.

  • M.Ed. Higher Education (Student Affairs Administration)
  • Ed.D. Higher Education Administration
  • Ph.D. Higher Education Administration

 

Experienced Faculty Who Enjoy Teaching and Mentoring Emerging Professionals

Higher Education faculty are skilled practitioners and productive researchers in the areas of higher education and student affairs. Their research interests include health literacy and education, cultural competence, professional practice, student life – historical and current, social justice in higher education, and the history of higher education. Faculty work collaboratively with students to publish articles and co-present research at numerous national conferences.

USM is also a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Consortium, joining more than 125 national and international institutions working together to redesign professional practice preparation in education for the improvement of individuals and communities. CPED is a grassroots effort of faculty, administrators and practitioners collaborating to strengthen the doctorate in education (Ed.D.) degree. Learn More

Availability

Degree Plan Availability
Higher Education Administration EdDHattiesburg, Online 100%
Higher Education Administration PhDHattiesburg
Higher Education (Student Affairs Administration) MEdHattiesburg, Online 100%
  • Dean of Admissions
  • Residence Life Director
  • Director for Multicultural Education
  • Career Services Director
  • University Professor/Researcher
  • Joseph Odenwald, 2015, 
    Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, LSU College of Engineering
  • Elizabeth Cobbins, 2017, 
    Program Coordinator of the Multicultural Center, Western State Colorado University
  • Jena Hawk, 2014, 
     Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
  • Tammy Franks, 2017, 
    Vice President, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College—Jackson County Campus
  • Stephanie Schroeder, 2018,
    Coordinator of Greek Life, Birmingham-Southern University