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Program Details

Graduate Program: Higher Education (MA)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Higher Education (MA)  
Program Description

A Distinctive Higher Education Program

Director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education: Dr. Regina Deil-Amen

Established in 1977, the Center for the Study of Higher Education offers flexible, interdisciplinary, and individualized master of arts and doctor of philosophy degree programs with concentrations in comparative higher education, organization and administration, college access, and student affairs.

Students pursuing a Master’s in Higher Education will develop knowledge, skills and awareness to prepare them to be effective and progressive professionals, researchers and academics working in a range of institutions and administrative and policy or advocacy contexts relevant to higher education. This program may be completed full- or part-time. The minimum credit requirement to complete the MA is 36 semester hours, of which not more than six credits may be transferred in from other institutions. Not less than 12 credits must be earned on the University campus in Tucson (i.e., some coursework may be taken at other locations where University of Arizona courses are offered). All work applied to the degree must be completed with 6 years, with some latitude possible by petition to the Graduate College.

 

The Center's Faculty

  • Dr. Nolan Cabrera, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Regina Deil-Amen, Professor
  • Dr. Jamaica Delmar, Assistant Professor of Practice, Director Project SOAR
  • Dr. Z Nicolazzo, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Amanda Kraus, Assistant Professor of Practice
  • Dr. Jenny Lee, Professor
  • Dr. Jameson (J.D.) Lopez, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Gary Rhoades, Professor and Center Director
  • Dr, Karina Salazar, Assistant Professor

Dr. Judy Kiyama, Professor (non teaching) & Associate Vice Provost, Faculty Development (jkiyama@arizona.edu)

The Center's work is distinguished by:

  • A commitment not just to improving practice, but also to educational changes that enhance the realization of social justice in higher education.
  • A consideration of how developments in the political economy shape and are expressed in the restructuring of higher education settings, professions, and practices.
  • An exploration of the international/global dimensions, issues, and agencies related to higher education, with particular attention devoted to the Americas.

These distinctive characteristics go beyond individual faculty; they reflect a collective synergy and orientation of our faculty to scholarship and practice.

A Diverse, Supportive, Challenging Intellectual Community

Each year we admit around ten (10) Ph.D. students and twenty (20) M.A. students. The life experience and perspectives of the 90-100 students enrolled here flavor our program. A high proportion of our students are accomplished professionals and we value the practical experience and organizational skills they bring.

Ours is a diverse, supportive, challenging intellectual community. Over half of our students are women, over 20 percent are students of color, and over 10 percent are international students. Many are first generation students. This diversity enriches our community and work.

In recognition for its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, the Center for the Study of Higher Ed has been honored with the Peter W. Likins Inclusive Excellence Award in 2010.

Faculty at the Center help foster a culture of research

We are supportive of each others' work and that of our students. Most of our students work, yet are fully engaged intellectually in a program that emphasizes a culture of research and reflective practice. Our aim is to bring theories and findings from the academic literature to bear on professional practice in ways that enhance students' abilities to understand, analyze, and act within postsecondary organizations and systems. We seek students who are deeply committed to the advancement and improvement of higher education as students, practitioners, scholars, and activists.

Most of our students advance into positions in various support professions and administration, but some also pursue faculty positions. Although most obtain positions on college and university campuses, we have also placed students in systemwide administration, policy agencies such as WICHE, and in private enterprise.

An important contributor to our intellectual community is the Higher Education Student Organization (HESO). It sponsors formal and informal annual functions and activities that are academic, professional, and social in nature and that address student needs as well as bring students and faculty together for supportive exchange.

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Educational Policy Studies and Practice

The Department of Educational Policy Studies and Practice (EPSP) includes Educational Leadership & Policy and the Center for the Study of Higher Education. The EPSP department combines the PK-12 focus with postsecondary education to create a P-20 perspective that taps into the dominant discourse of education and policymakers today.

EPSP prepares graduate students at the doctorate and master's levels. Graduate programs in HED include Ph.D. and M.A. degrees. Graduate programs in EDLP include:  Ed.D.(fully online), Ph.D., M.A. (fully online) and M.Ed. degrees. The doctoral and M.Ed. degree programs are focused on educational leadership and policy studies. The M.A. degree has a focus on policy. Through the M.Ed. program, students can earn a degree while satisfying the requirements for principal and supervisor certifications in Arizona.

Both the Center for the Study of Higher Education (HED) and Educational Leadership & Policy (EDLP) maintain their core functions and curriculum, consistent with professional career paths and state standards for certification leading to licensure. However, the combined unit more broadly facilitates and encourages research, instructional, and service and outreach initiatives consistent with a policy development and analysis focus.

 
College

College of Education

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Diana L Peel
520-626-8964
Graduate Program Coordinator
Diana L Peel
520-626-8964
Director of Graduate Studies
Regina J Deil-Amen
520-621-8468
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Hayley Jean Kral
520-621-3484
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements
  • Undergraduate degree
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Preferred GPA of 3.5
  • Preferred experience in Student Affairs or Leadership
 
Standardized Tests

 

The GRE is no longer a requirement.

For International Students ONLY:

Minimum TOEFL: 79
Minimum IELTS: 7

 
Funding Opportunities

Funding Your Degree The program does not provide any guaranteed funding, however, there are a variety of resources to help students’ degrees. If students are the recipient of departmental funding, they will receive an award letter with an acceptance letter. It is highly recommended to first apply for the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://fafsa.ed.gov/. The UA Scholarship Universe portal and the New and Current Student page from the Graduate College are two great resources as well. A breakdown of federal aid eligibility and aid types can be found at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.

Internships The department does not directly offer internships, though it does have resources for students to find internships and fully supports students in acquiring internships. Advisors and professors can serve as a reference and provide letters of recommendation upon request.

Graduate Assistantships Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions are neither required nor guaranteed by the Higher Education department, but are encouraged for those students who are not already working and need funding resources. Students can apply to any department with open assistantship positions. It is recommended to search Handshake or speak to the department directly to see what openings are available and ask about their application processes. GA assignments offer an in-state tuition benefit rate as well as professional experienc

 

Scholarship Universe

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Graduate Access Fellowship

 
Admissions Deadlines

**Applications for admissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in December. 

You may also be interested in attending one of our 2022 virtual info sessions:

 

Fall Info Sessions:

September 7th at 9AM

October 7th at 12PM

November 7th at 3PM

December 7th at 4PM

*please note that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings.

RSVP (for any session) at: https://arizona.zoom.us/.../tZMlduqtqzsiH9SZC0KuGiu33asXU...

 

  • September 7, 2022, at 9:00AM
  • October 7, 2022, at 12:00PM
  • November 7, 2022, at 3:00PM
  • December 7, 2022, at 4:00PMM

Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/87813550850

 

Each session will cover the same content, and they are designed to share a brief overview of the programs as well as information related to applying, admission, and the assistantship process. Please note that Arizona does not observe daylight savings time.

 

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall ONLY: December 1st (Priority for funding and Graduate Assistantships)
  • Deadline: January 15 (After this deadline the application will not be accepted)

International Applicants:

  • Fall ONLY: December 1st (Priority for funding and Graduate Assistantships)
  • Deadline: January 15 (After this deadline the application will not be accepted)
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

36 

Core Coursework Requirements

First Semester:

  • HED 601 (HED in the United States), 3 units
  • HED 617 (Intro Student Services), 3 units
  • HED Methods Course (most take HED 611-Statistical Methods), 3 units

Second Semester:

  • HED 608 (College Student), 3 units
  • HED 609 (Organization and Administration), 3 units
  • Elective

Third Semester:

  • HED 693 (Internship & Course), 3 units
  • Elective
  • Elective

Fourth Semester:

  • HED 627 (Capstone), 3 units
  • Elective, 3 units
  • Elective, 3 units
 
Elective Coursework

You are encouraged to take electives in Higher Education, but you may certainly enroll in courses outside of Higher Education. All courses must be at the 500- or 600-level. If you wish to take more than six credits outside the College of Education, please consult with your academic advisor.

Six units of elective credit may be taken outside the College of Education. Additional credits must be approved by academic advisor.

18 credits or more, which can be taken in Higher Education, or in other programs and departments in the College of Education or the University of Arizona. Below are eligible HED elective courses that students might enroll:

HED 612 (8563) Introduction to Multivariate Regression and Quantitative Program Evaluation, 3 units

HED 613 (93913) Survey Research Methods, 3 units

HED 630 (75389) Values, Consciousness and Professional Practice, 3 units

HED 633 (64208) Introduction to Critical Race Theory in Education, 3 units

HED 634 (59638) Sociology of Community College, 3 units

HED 642 (59794) Gender and Education, 3 units

 
Additional Requirements

Comprehensive Exams or Thesis Option A student must successfully pass comprehensive exams or defend a thesis in order to satisfy the requirements of the MA in Higher Education. You may choose to complete either the exam or thesis

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 87.5%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) 2.16
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 32.31%
Enrollment Percent Female 67.69%
Enrollment Percent International 7.69%
Enrollment Percent URM 41.54%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2022.
  • Average Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2018-2022) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/HEDMA
Last revised 01 Sep 2022
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