The M.Ed. in Higher Education (MHE) is designed for individuals who currently work in higher education but do not hold a master’s degree, who plan to transition to working in higher education, or who plan to teach at the college level within their discipline.
The program provides a foundation of the past and present landscapes of higher education. Beyond the Foundations Core, candidates will choose one of three concentrations: Administration in Higher Education, Student Affairs in Higher Education or Teaching in Higher Education.
Through the degree program, students gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. All candidates earn120 hours of field experience, create a professional portfolio, and complete a capstone project.
Admission
Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information.
Admission to the Higher Education degree program requires the following:
- Complete and submit the Graduate Application for Admission, accompanied by a non-refundable application fee. The application can be downloaded here.
- Submit an official transcript or transcripts verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Transcripts and all application documents should be sent to Wilmington University Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Submit a current resume.
- Program Planning Conference with your Program Chair or Adjunct Program Coordinator is required for admission
***In addition to general admissions requirements, admission to this program/certificate requires applicants to have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for Undergraduate Degree.
Program Competencies
Students in the MHE Program will demonstrate the foundational levels of the following ACPA/NASPA competencies:
- Advising and Supporting
- Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
- Law, Policy, and Governance
- Leadership
- Organizational and Human Resource
- Personal & Ethical Foundations
- Social Justice and Inclusion
- Student Learning and Development
- Technology
- Values, Philosophy, and History
Formats
The program is offered fully online.
Core
The Core Requirements (Foundations) are designed to provide candidates with an overview of the field and systems of higher education. Candidates will learn effective leadership, approaches, and administrative structures. They will also gain knowledge about historical events, equity, funding, and data driven decision making practices. Additionally, the Core Requirements provide candidates with skills in academic writing, research, and oral presentation.
Concentrations
Administration in Higher Education
The Administration in Higher Education concentration is designed for those interested in transitioning to or advancing their career in higher education administration. This concentration focuses on law, budgeting, human resource management, and data-driven decision-making.
Student Affairs in Higher Education
The Student Affairs in Higher Education concentration is designed for those interested in transitioning to or advancing their career in student service areas within higher education. This concentration focuses on student development, assessment of student learning, student engagement, and student success.
Teaching in Higher Education
The Teaching in Higher Education concentration is designed for individuals interested in learning how to teach at the college level within their disciplines. Candidates will learn about best practices related to andragogy and pedagogy, teaching strategies for the adult learner, curriculum development, assessments, and evaluations.
Field Experience
As part of each concentration, candidates will engage in a minimum of 120 hours of field experience and activities at a institution of higher education.
Capstone
The program culminates with MHE 7600, Action Research, in which candidates will complete a capstone project. Candidates will develop a scholarly paper and presentation focused on solving a specific problem or challenge facing a specific institution of higher education.
Portfolio Requirements
Throughout the program, candidates will develop an academic portfolio and a professional portfolio. The academic portfolio will be used to measure candidate’s course and graduation competencies. The professional portfolio will be a tool that candidates use to showcase work from courses, field experience, and the capstone project.
Required Courses
MED 6102 is required for all candidates. E-Folio is an electronic portfolio system used for documenting and tracking student mastery of program competencies.
Core Requirements
The following core courses (18 credits) are required for all candidates. Candidates must also select ONE of the concentrations (15 credits) below to complete the degree.
| MED 6102 | E-Folio | 0 |
| MHE 7001 | Academic Research and Writing | 3 |
| MHE 7100 | History of American Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7101 | Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7102 | Leadership and Ethical Decision Making in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7103 | Current Issues and Financial Trends in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7600 | Action Research Project | 3 |
Concentration: Student Affairs in Higher Education
| MHE 7300 | Introduction to Student Affairs | 3 |
| MHE 7301 | Student Development Theory and Contemporary College Students | 3 |
| MHE 7201 | Law and Policy in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7302 | Assessment of Student Learning Outside of the Classroom | 3 |
| MHE 7500 | Field Experience | 3 |
Concentration: Teacher in Higher Education
| MHE 7400 | Teaching and Learning Theories in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7401 | Teaching Strategies and the Adult Learner | 3 |
| MHE 7402 | Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| MHE 7403 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| MHE 7500 | Field Experience | 3 |
Concentration: Administration in Higher Education
| MHE 7200 | Introduction to Administration in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHE 7201 | Law and Policy in Higher Education | 3 |
| MHR 7800 | Seminar in Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MHE 7202 | Data Driven Strategic Planning | 3 |
| MHE 7500 | Field Experience | 3 |
Please note that all concentrations are also offered as stand-alone graduate certificates.
To qualify for the M.Ed. in Higher Education degree, candidates must complete all course work (33 credits), field experience, capstone project, and portfolio requirements. Candidates must hold a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for the degree. In addition, candidates must earn a "C" or higher in each course for it to count towards the degree requirements. Candidates should carefully monitor their academic progress to ensure their cumulative GPA is a 3.0 or higher.