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Online Master's in Higher Education Leadership
Taking lessons from the past while turning an eye to the future, Drexel University’s online MS in Higher Education Leadership provides a comprehensive overview of higher education, with an emphasis on meeting the diverse needs of traditional and nontraditional students, as well as stakeholders. Courses prepare you to navigate the entirety of the higher education field, from management to student development to recruitment. You will examine the ever-changing pressures, limitations and opportunities higher education professionals face every day in areas such as policies and practices, diversity and globalization, equity and access, legal and ethical issues, technological advancements, and risk management, and graduate ready to meet those challenges head-on. Whether you currently work in higher education and are looking to advance, or wish to transition into the field, this degree will prepare you to successfully lead in a higher education environment.
Master's in Higher Education Leadership Program Features
- 100% online program
- Interdisciplinary core courses
- Customizable assignments and capstone project
- Diverse faculty and practitioners with extensive experience in higher education leadership
- Innovative instruction that optimizes technology, active learning, and transfer of learning
- Access to the Higher Education Leadership speaker series, mentoring and professional networking
Concentrations
- Education Policy
Acquire the tools to analyze, craft, and implement educational policy effectively. - Global and International Education
Review the complex economic, political, cultural, and social structures that shape learning in different parts of the world. For a deeper dive, check out our MS in Global and International Education program. - Learning Technologies and Instructional Design
Explore new learning technologies and trends, applying them toward solving problems in the ever-evolving technical landscape of education. - Mind, Brain, and Learning
Learn and expand knowledge, skills, and experience based on current/emerging research related to teaching, instructional design, and professional development across dynamic educational and training environments. - Student Development and Affairs
Learn how to make colleges supportive, learning rich environments for all students ranging from traditional to adult students.
Archived Webinars
- Online Open House: MS in Higher Education Leadership
- Pivotal Pedagogy: Higher Education Teaching and Instructional Design in the New Normal
- Student Experience: MS in Higher Education Leadership
- Supporting International Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
What Can I Do With a Master's Degree in Higher Education Leadership?
The MS in Higher Education Leadership program prepares you for entry to mid-level leadership positions within higher education administration and management as well as to pursue doctoral studies. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to lead within:
- Higher education four-year and two-years institutions
- Executive search firms
- Government agencies
- International organizations
- National, state, and regional associations
- Non-government organizations
- Non-profit and for-profit organizations/corporations
- Policy-related sectors
How Long Does it Take to Earn a Master's in Higher Education Leadership?
Drexel’s online MS in Higher Education Leadership is a 45-credit program designed to be completed in two years. However, should you need to pursue this degree over a longer period of time, you can customize your plan of study to accommodate your schedule.
Drexel University runs on an academic quarter system, which allows you to take more courses per year and complete your degree sooner. Learn more about the quarter system.
Related Programs
- EdD in Educational Leadership and Management
- Graduate Certificate in Mind, Brain, and Learning
- MS in Global and International Education
- MS in Learning Technologies
This program is also available as a Graduate Minor.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.
Courses
This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.
| Core Courses | ||
| EDCR 510 | Leadership in Educational Contexts and Systems | 3.0 |
| EDCR 512 | Using and Integrating Learning Technologies | 3.0 |
| EDCR 514 | Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Education | 3.0 |
| EDCR 518 | Evidence-Based Evaluation | 3.0 |
| EDHE 501 | Foundations of Higher Education and Governance | 3.0 |
| EDHE 521 | Student Development Theory and Application | 3.0 |
| EDHE 531 | Legal Issues and Ethics in Higher Education | 3.0 |
| EDHE 541 | Institutional Assessment, Accreditation, and Effectiveness | 3.0 |
| EDHE 607 | Higher Education Career Development, Leadership, and Application | 3.0 |
| Electives or Concentration Courses (See Below) | 9.0 | |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| EDU 780 | Capstone Research | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following capstone tracks: | 6.0-7.5 | |
| Thesis | ||
| EDUT 780 | Thesis Capstone Course I | |
| EDUT 781 | Thesis Capstone Course II | |
| Practitioner | ||
| EDUP 780 | Practitioner Capstone Course I | |
| EDUP 781 | Practitioner Capstone Course II | |
| Total Credits | 45.0-46.6 | |
Concentrations
| Creativity and Innovation | ||
| CRTV 501 | Foundations in Creativity | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| CRTV 502 | Tools and Techniques in Creativity | 3.0 |
| CRTV 503 | Creativity in the Workplace | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Educational Policy | ||
| EDPO 620 | Education Policy: Concepts, Issues, and Applications | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| EDPO 624 | The Shaping of American Education Policy: Global Forces, Interest Groups, and Politics | 3.0 |
| EDPO 628 | American Educational Policy and U.S. Competitiveness | 3.0 |
| EDPO 632 | Ethics in Educational Policy Making | 3.0 |
| EDPO 636 | Access & Equity in Educational Policy Making | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Enrollment Management | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDHE 651 | Strategic Enrollment Management | 3.0 |
| EDHE 653 | Marketing, Recruitment, & Financial Aid | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Global and International Education | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDGI 503 | Global, International, & Comparative Education | 3.0 |
| EDGI 506 | Comparative Higher Education Systems | 3.0 |
| EDGI 510 | Culture, Society, & Education in Comparative Perspective | 3.0 |
| EDGI 512 | Globalization and Educational Change | 3.0 |
| EDGI 518 | Analysis of Policy Issues in Global & International Education | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Human Resource Development | ||
| EDRD 500 | Foundations in Human Resources Development | 3.0 |
| EDRD 612 | Strategic Human Resource Development | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Learning Technologies and Instructional Design | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| EDLT 503 | The Learning Sciences | 3.0 |
| EDLT 537 | Technologies for Performance Support | 3.0 |
| EDLT 551 | Instructional Design Methods | 3.0 |
| ELL 501 | The Purpose and Business of E-Learning | 3.0 |
| ELL 504 | Learning Technologies & Disabilities | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Mind, Brain, and Learning | ||
| EDHE 620 | Mind, Brain, and Learning | 3.0 |
| EDHE 621 or EDHE 622 |
Neuropedagogy and Assessment Neurodiversity in Education and Workforce |
3.0 |
| EDHE 653 or EDHE 655 or EDHE 665 |
Marketing, Recruitment, & Financial Aid or Civic Engagement in Higher Education or Student Success: Learning and Innovative Support Services |
3.0 |
| Student Development and Affairs | ||
| EDHE 661 | Critical Issues & Risk Management in Student Affairs | 3.0 |
| EDHE 665 | Student Success: Learning and Innovative Support Services | 3.0 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
Admissions Criteria
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPA will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA)
- Provisional admission may be granted with a GPA between 2.80 to 2.99
Required Documents
With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide.
- A completed application
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
- Two professional letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement (500 - 750 words) describing your interest in the program. Specifically:
- How the program relates to your previous educational and professional activities
- If changing course, why you're moving in this new direction with your educational goals
- How the program relates to your current line of work
- How you plan to apply the program to your future goals
- Resume
- Additional requirements for International Students
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Tuition
The tuition rate for the academic year 2022-2023 is $1047 per credit. (A 25% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1396 per credit)
- This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
- Special tuition rates available for Drexel University Alumni, Military members, and members of our Partner Organizations
- These rates apply only to new online students and students being readmitted.
- These rates apply only to fully online courses. Hybrid or on-campus courses may have different rates.
- Tuition rates are subject to increase with the start of each academic year in the fall term.
- All students must contact applyDUonline@drexel.edu within the first two weeks of the term to request tuition savings for which they qualify.
- Special rates cannot be combined. If you qualify for more than one special rate, you'll be given the one with the largest savings.
- When receiving special tuition plans with Drexel University Online, you may not combine them with other tuition benefits that may be available from Drexel University.
Career Outlook
Drexel's MS in Higher Education program provides a strong foundation for entry/mid-level career placement, executive and senior level advancement, and future doctoral studies. We've established close relationships with national associations and organizations and strongly encourage students to become involved in these entities as “student members” (e.g., attending conference, presenting papers, and networking.) Through these affiliations, as well as through the co-op experience, students will have unique opportunities to meet leaders within higher education and acquire new skills that will ultimately assist with career placement and advancement.
In addition to the preparation students receive in the program, Drexel’s Steinbright Career Development Center provides many resources and services for current students and alumni. The center assists with career exploration, resume-writing and interviewing skills, and co-op and job placement assistance. The Higher Education program also maintains an online "career resource link" that allows students to search for available positions within and outside of academia, nationally and internationally.
Types of Careers our Current Students and Graduates Pursue
- Executive Search Firms: Spellman & Johnson Group; Academics360.com; Academic Careers Online
- Government Agencies' Educational and Training Divisions/Programs: U.S. Department of Education; Departments of Education across all 50 states; Office of Personnel Management-OPM; U.S. General Services Administration-GSA; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-HHS; National Center for Education Statistics-NCES; Federal TRIO Programs/Council for Opportunity in Education-COE
- International Organizations: World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank-IADB; United States Agency for International Development-USAID; United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization-UNESCO; International Association of Universities-Affiliate of UNESCO; Institute of International Education-IIE; Council for International Educational Exchange-CIEE; Association of International Education Administrators-AIEA
- Military Education, Research and Training Divisions/Programs: Department of Defense; Military-affiliated training institution/facilities; Army Installation Management Agency; U.S. Military Branches
- National Associations: Council for Higher Education Accreditation-CHEA; Association for Institutional Research-AIR; National Association of College and University Business Officers-NACUBO; Council for Advancement and Support of Education-CASE; Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers-APPA; National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators-NASFAA; National Council for Higher Education-NCHE; American Council on Education-ACE
- Non-Profit and For-Profit Organizations/Corporations: College Board, Blackboard, ACT, ETS, Peterson’s; Follet Corporation; Agresso Americas; SAS; E-Reference Desk
- Politics: Political consultant, lobbyist, advisor
- Publications: Chronicle of Higher Education; Campus Technology; Education Resource Information Center-ERIC; Educational journals/magazines; Association journals/magazines
Places of Employment and Job Titles of our Current Students and Graduates
- Dean of Development at a Community College
- Assistant Director, Multicultural Student Affairs at a four-year State University
- Director of Enrollment Management, University System
- Assistant Director, Enrollment Services and Operations at private, four-year University
- Manager, Career Services at higher education alumni association
- Director of Student Records and Academic Evaluation at a College of Podiatric Medicine
- University Registrar
- Director of Retention, at a four-year private university
- Assistant Director of Operations, Career Development Center at a 4-year private university
- Special Events Manager at a non-profit organization
- Senior Survey Data Collector at a non-profit higher education testing organization
- Program Manager for Eastern Studies Program at an ivy league 4-year university
- Group Director at a large North American financial services company
- Associate Director of Alumni Relations at a private 4-year university
- Institutional Research Analyst at a community college
- Assistant Vice President of Industry Relations at a non-profit higher education-focused company
- Director of Undergraduate Admissions at a Catholic, 4-year liberal arts college
Academic Calendar
2022-2023 Academic Year
Term
Classes Begin
Classes End
Exams Begin
Exams End
Fall 2022
September 19, 2022
December 3, 2022
December 5, 2022
December 10, 2022
Winter 2023
January 9, 2023
March 18, 2023
March 20, 2023
March 25, 2023
Spring 2023
April 3, 2023
June 10, 2023
June 12, 2023
June 17, 2023
Summer 2023
June 26, 2023
September 2, 2023
September 4, 2023
September 9, 2023
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