Who should apply?
Students in the Higher Education Program come from varied professional backgrounds in college teaching, university administration, business, the performing arts, and government, and bring a vast spectrum of experience to their studies.
Why choose George Mason?
The Higher Education Program at Mason offers a close-knit community that includes small class sizes and hands-on research and advising opportunities with faculty. The program’s flexible timeline accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Additionally, students at Mason have access to unparalleled opportunities in research, internships, and work experience that come with being so close to the higher education organizations located within Washington D.C., including the many on One Dupont Circle. For example, the American Council on Education, the Institute for Higher Education Policy, the American Education Research Association, and American Association of Community Colleges all have headquarters in Washington, D.C., and there are conference, career, and learning opportunities that frequently occur within the city.
Requirements: 18 credits total
Core Courses (9 credits)
Three Required Courses (9 credits) Chosen From:
HE 646: Student Development Theory | 3 credits
HE 712: Assessment and Program Evaluation in Higher Education | 3 credits
HE 721: History of Higher Education | 3 credits
HE 722: Organization and Administration in Higher Education | 3 credits
Electives (9 credits)
Three Elective Courses (9 credits) Chosen From:
HE 601: The Community College | 3 credits
HE 606: Cultural Pluralism in Higher Education | 3 credits
HE 610: Research Methods in Higher Education | 3 credits
HE 624: Finance and Fiscal Management in Higher Education | 3 credits
HE 641: Introduction to Helping Skills | 3 credits
HE 644: Organization and Administration of Student Affairs | 3 credits
HE 645: The Contemporary College Student | 3 credits
HE 685: Practicum | 3 credits
Other HE courses, when relevant, with approval of director or advisor.
Please Note: Various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Please refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees.
Financial Aid
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Additionally, your current employer may provide tuition reimbursement opportunities for graduate studies. (https://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/tuition-fees/)
Careers
Students will understand and apply concepts of leadership, teaching, administration, and assessment within the context of the complex higher education enterprise. Leadership, teaching, administration, and assessment are studied through an interdisciplinary lens using emergent technologies with a focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Students will become socialized members of a community of higher education professionals where they will contribute to and lead scholarly conversations by consuming, critiquing, and creating scholarship. Students will understand and employ effective pedagogical approaches. They will value assessment, understand its role, and be skilled in enacting processes of analysis. Students will reflect on themselves as cultural beings, analyze the ways in which that influences their work in higher education, value diversity, and meet multicultural competencies. Students will use theory as a base from which they ground their practice of effective and ethical leadership, teaching, and administration. Students will be prepared to implement programs and services that support the institutional mission while adhering to oversight and accountability requirements.
3 Letters of Recommendation
Resume
Goals Statement (750-1000 words)
Writing Sample
Mason Online