Program Overview

Master of Arts in Higher Education

The Master of Arts in Higher Education is a 50-credit degree program designed to prepare professionals for administrative, leadership, student-centered, and/or policy-focused careers in post-secondary institutions, private and public agencies of higher education, and other educational settings. This generalist program enables students to explore the academic and practitioner-oriented issues related to post-secondary settings and to expand their experiential awareness through practical activities in administration, policy, and research.

Program Overview

The program allows students to complete an optional emphasis in one of three areas: College Student Affairs, Diversity and Higher Learning, or Public Policy & Organizational Change. An internship experience is required, and the final degree requirement is the successful completion of an e-portfolio.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
• Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.
• An earned master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate.
• For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master's degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement.
• The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.

English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements

• Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
• Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
• Minimum CAE Score: 176
• English Conditional Admission: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission.

Degree Requirements

Coursework Requirements

• Research Requirement: 4 credits (RMS 4900 Education Research and Measurement)
• Required Courses: 22 credits
  • HED 4214 History American Higher Ed
  • HED 4219 Introduction to Higher Education
  • HED 4220 Org & Governance of Higher Ed
  • HED 4246 Issues of Access & Opportunity
  • HED 4247 Retention, Persistence, and Student Success in Postsecondary Settings
  • HED 4270 Internship in Student Affairs or HED 4295 Internship in College and University Administration or HED 4296 Internship in Public Policy or HED 4297 Internship in College Teaching
  • HED 4230 Reflective ePortfolio
• Electives: 24 credits (Mix and match across HED course offerings or choose one of the optional emphasis areas)

Optional Emphasis Areas

• College Student Affairs Emphasis
  • HED 4217 Student Affairs Administration
  • HED 4229 Student Support in College
  • HED 4260 Students and College Environments
  • HED 4201 Assessment in Higher Education
  • HED 4261 College Student Development Theory
  • HED 4294 Seminar in Higher Education (as appropriate)
• Diversity & Higher Learning Emphasis
  • HED 4281 Inclusive Excellence Programming and Development
  • HED 4284 Inclusive Excellence in Organizations
  • HED 4287 Critical Race Theory and Education
  • HED 4288 Gender & Sexuality in Higher Education
  • HED 4289 Race and Racism in Higher Education
  • HED 4294 Seminar in Higher Education (as appropriate)
• Public Policy & Organizational Change Emphasis
  • HED 4212 Introduction to Public Policy and Higher Education
  • HED 4213 Leadership and Supervision
  • HED 4221 Financing Higher Education
  • HED 4222 Legal Issues in Higher Education
  • HED 4235 Organizational Change
  • HED 4242 Educational Policy Analysis
  • HED 4294 Seminar in Higher Education (as appropriate)

Total Credits Required

The total credits required for the Master of Arts in Higher Education degree is 50.

Non-Coursework Requirement

Successful completion of an ePortfolio is required for the degree.