Higher Education Administration and Policy Program

The Higher Education Administration and Policy Program will prepare students as a reflective and dynamic leader in higher education — for colleges and universities, governmental agencies and consulting firms in postsecondary education. The program offers a variety of high-quality career and networking services, including interviewing and resume workshops, networking opportunities, salary negotiation workshops, career panels with practitioners in the field of higher education, and one-on-one career coaching. Additionally, students benefit from a network of talented colleagues that includes classmates, instructors and distinguished alumni.

Future career fields to pursue are student affairs, admissions, community relations, policy analysis, alumni relations and development, policy and institutional analysis, athletics administration and change management.

University/Institution

Northwestern University

Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Aims of the Study Program

The curriculum is designed to expose students to the full institutional and social context of the American higher education system. The course of study helps students to consider all of the important factors and stakeholders that will impact their professional practice. Experience with a wide range of careers and functions within higher education gives graduates career flexibility and helps them discover what types of positions most closely fit their interests.

Topics/Content

Students gain research and assessment skills that they will utilize continuously in their professional practice. As a result, our alumni are able to address the real-world problems that exist in higher education today through systematic study and deliberate action. The Master's Project allows students to conduct in-depth research on a current issue in higher education and contribute to the knowledge in their field.

Curriculum

The courses offer flexibility for students to examine areas of particular interest within each topic. The Master's Project and internship experience(s) give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the issues within higher education that are most important to them.

The master's degree requires fifteen courses: eight core courses, three courses taken for the master's research project, the internship course (unless waived) and three electives.

Time to complete

You can choose to study this master program full time (1 year or 1.5 years) or part time (2-3 years).

Start of studies

June or September (full-time)

Any Quarter (part-time)

Requirements and admission

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic evaluation of an applicant's academic and leadership achievements, motivation, professional performance and potential as a higher education administrator.

Previous education course work or experience is not required, but the average successful matriculated applicant has an GPA (Grade Point Average) not lower than a 3.0.The online application (externer Link) for matriculated students requires three essays and a resume. Candidates must also submit two letters of recommendation (one must be academic) and have reached official GRE test scores and official TOEFL according to international requirements..

Target Group/Students

Matriculated students are candidates for the master's degree.

Deadlines for application

January 11th 2019 (for June or September admission)

December 10th 2018 (for January admission)

February 25th 2019 (for April admission)

May 28th 2019 (for June admission)

August 19th 2019 (for September admission)

Further Information

https://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/higher-education/index.html

https://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/higher-education/register-for-program-preview.html

Contact

Carla Cortes
Senior Career Advisor, MS in Higher Education Administration & Policy Program

2120 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208-0001

Phone: 847/491-7526

carla.cortes@northwestern.edu