The Master of Arts degree in higher education is offered on the Tuscaloosa campus and online. The Master of Arts is a 36-hour degree program designed for students seeking to enter into a range of professional careers in postsecondary education. The program follows standards and guidelines taken from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, and provides courses in foundational studies, professional studies, supervised practice, research methodology and elective study.
The campus program partners with staff in Student Life and Academic Affairs to provide professional development opportunities inside and outside of the classroom experience. An internship is required for students in the campus program. The online program offers courses in grant writing, technology, and higher education assessment.
Admission Requirements
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Admission Requirements for Higher Education Administration, MA (Main Campus)
Application deadline: January 15
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- three letters of recommendation
- a one-page statement of purpose for pursuing the degree
- updated vita or résumé
- a five-page writing sample describing a problem that faces higher education today (nationally), analyzing salient points of the issue, and evaluating potential solutions. The sample should demonstrate formal writing and should include appropriate citations. Applicants may submit an academic paper in lieu of the five-page essay, preferably on a recent topic related to higher education.
Admission Requirements for Higher Education Administration, MA (Distance Learning - Online)
Application Deadlines:
- July 15 - fall admission
- April 15 - summer admission
- November 1 - spring admission
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- three letters of recommendation
- a one-page statement of purpose for pursuing the degree
- updated vita or résumé
- a five-page writing sample describing a problem that faces higher education today (nationally), analyzing salient points of the issue, and evaluating potential solutions. The sample should demonstrate formal writing and should include appropriate citations. Applicants may submit an academic paper in lieu of the five-page essay, preferably on a recent topic related to higher education.
Curriculum Requirements
Higher Education Administration, MA (Main Campus)
One plan is offered for the master’s degree. Candidates for the master’s degree must earn a minimum of 36 total semester hours of credit. The Capstone Seminar in Higher Education (AHE 593 Student Affairs Capstone Sem ) is the required culminating experience for the program. The 36-hour degree program is designed for students seeking to enter a range of professional careers in postsecondary education. The program includes courses in foundational studies, professional studies, supervised practice, and research methods. As a rule, all master’s students are required to complete an internship and a capstone seminar.
Unless substitutions are approved by the student’s faculty advisor, all of the following courses are required for the award of the MA in Higher Education Administration.
All candidates will be required to participate successfully in a seminar or problem course that will give them an acquaintance with the methods of research and an appreciation of the place and function of original investigation in the field.
| Higher Education Administration, MA (Main Campus) | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AHE 500 | Perspect High Educ Admin | 3 |
| AHE 507 | Student Development Theory I | 3 |
| AHE 520 | Student In Higher Eductn | 3 |
| AHE 521 | Student Affairs | 3 |
| AHE 540 | Org and Governance | 3 |
| AHE 592 | Internship in Higher Education | 3 |
| AHE 593 | Student Affairs Capstone Sem | 3 |
| AHE 645 | Higher Ed/SA Assessment | 3 |
| AHE 680 | Readings in HE | 3 |
| AHE 685 | Div Issues Higher Ed Pract | 3 |
| BER 540 | Statistical Methods In Educ | 3 |
| Advisor approved elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Higher Education Administration, MA (Distance Learning - Online)
| Higher Education Administration, MA (Distance Learning) | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AHE 500 | Perspect High Educ Admin | 3 |
| AHE 503 | Learning w/ Tech in Higher Ed | 3 |
| AHE 507 | Student Development Theory I | 3 |
| AHE 520 | Student In Higher Eductn | 3 |
| AHE 540 | Org and Governance | 3 |
| AHE 550 | Financing Higher Eductn | 3 |
| AHE 593 | Student Affairs Capstone Sem | 3 |
| AHE 645 | Higher Ed/SA Assessment | 3 |
| AHE 680 | Readings in HE | 3 |
| AHE 685 | Div Issues Higher Ed Pract | 3 |
| BER 540 | Statistical Methods In Educ | 3 |
| Select ONE of the following electives: | 3 | |
| Grant/Project/Res in HigherED | ||
| College & University Teaching | ||
| Sem Acad Progrm Dev Eval | ||
| Higher Education Policy | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Transfer Credit
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Comprehensive Exam
Students take AHE 593 Student Affairs Capstone Sem as the culminating experience/course for the degree.
Graduate School information on Comprehensive Exams.
Time Limits for Degree Completion
Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Academic Misconduct
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence.
Academic Grievances
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.
Graduate School Deadlines
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation
Information on the Application for Graduation.
While a GRE score is not required for admission, preference for a limited number of college-funded assistantships is given to applicants for full-time study who take the GRE and achieve a composite score of 300 or better. Other competitive assistantship, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities may be available for applicants without GRE scores.
Students are encouraged to apply for College of Education scholarships (https://education.ua.edu/students/scholarships/) and scholarships offered through UA Online (https://online.ua.edu/tuition-financial-aid-scholarships/scholarships/).
Graduate School information on Financial Assistance.