Emphasis Area: Higher Education

Student programs of study at the master’s level are developed to reflect required core courses that provide all master’s level students with fundamental understandings of higher education, student development, organizational leadership and diversity. In addition, the program offers a range of cognate courses that are tailored to meet specific student interests or learning goals in administrative leadership or student affairs administration. Advising materials and meetings with faculty enable students to create academic programs that meet their unique learning needs. Unless indicated, all courses are available to non-degree seeking students for professional development.

All master’s level students will design a full-term internship in collaboration with an on-site supervisor and the instructor of the fieldwork course. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with guided opportunities to enhance skills, expand their professional experience base, and apply course learning in new settings.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

1. Full admission to the Higher Education Program requires:
   • Completion of the UMKC graduate admission application.
   • An undergraduate 3.0 GPA or higher.
   • GRE (Verbal/Quantitative/Essay) Scores.
   • Two Letters of Reference.
   • A written statement of purpose (500 words maximum) that outlines the student’s rationale for application to the program and learning goals.
2. Students who do not meet the undergraduate grade-point average or who have not taken the GRE can receive conditional admission to the program. The GRE must be taken during the first semester of enrollment and students must complete a minimum of six hours of core requirements with a grade of "B" or better within the first two semesters of enrollment.
3. Application deadlines are as follows:
   • Apr. 1 for summer term
   • July 1 for fall term
   • Nov. 1 for spring term

Required Core Courses (18 credit hours)            Hours  
 EDUL 5550   Organization and Administration
               of Higher Education                     3
 EDUL 5556   The College Student                       3
 EDUL 5560   Leadership in Higher Education            3
 EDUL 5564   History of Higher Education               3
 EDUL 5566   Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and
               Cultural Understanding                  3
 EDUL 5567   Capstone in Higher Education              3

Internship (3 credit hours) 
 EDUL 5571   Internship in Higher Education            3

Research and Statistics (3 credit hours) 
 EDRP 5508   Principles and Methods
               of Research                             3

Foundation Requirement (3 credit hours)
Select One Course: 
 EDUL 5526   Philosophical Foundations
               of Education                            3
 EDUL 5528   Sociological Foundations
               of Education                            3

Electives to Complete the Degree (9 credit hours)
Select 3 Courses: 
 EDUL 5525   Cultural Foundations of Education         3
 EDUL 5526   Philosophical Foundations
               of Education                            3
 EDUL 5528   Sociological Foundations
               of Education                            3
 EDUL 5551   Student Affairs Administration in
               Higher Education                        3
 EDUL 5552   Financial Aspects of
               Higher Education                        3
 EDUL 5555   Community College                         3
 EDUL 5557   Legal Aspects of Higher Education         3
 EDUL 5558   Student Development Theory                3
 EDUL 5559   Current Issues in Higher Education        3
 EDUL 5589SM Special Topics in Educational
               Leadership                              3
 CPCE 5505   Career Development                        3
 EDRP 5505   Statistical Methods I                     3

Note: The student may select courses from other disciplines to meet elective hours. All coursework must be approved by the adviser.