Four individuals are sitting around a table and sitting in tan chairs while smiling and talking with one another. Four individuals are sitting around a table and sitting in tan chairs while smiling and talking with one another. A close up of a student whom is wearing a blue tshirt and glasses, sitting in a tan chair while smiling and talking with others near.

Higher Education Administration and Social Justice
Master's

Master's degree in higher education

Do you remember the person who made a lifelong impact on you in college? Maybe an academic adviser helped you get through a hard class or a professor sparked a new passion. With a master's degree in higher education, you'll learn about leadership and best practices behind building transformative, student-focused college and university environments.

AT A GLANCE

Degree Type
Master of Art (M.A.)
Format
Online
Credit Hours
30 Credit Hours
Go To Why This Program Program HighlightsAccelerated Program Careers & Outcomes

What will I learn with a master's degree in higher education?

The MA in Higher Education and Social Justice (MAHESJ) equips you with the skills needed to lead change in higher education and make a positive impact on college students' lives. You'll learn:

  • How college students learn and develop.
  • High impact practices for learning.
  • How colleges and universities function.
  • How to create change.
  • How to best support all students, especially those with marginalized identities.

For more than 20 years, our MAHESJ program has been preparing leaders to make a difference in higher education. Our master's degree in higher education continues to lead the way with innovative teaching, delivery methods and research. 

Courses What Will Transfer Department Information

Higher education and social justice program highlights

Hands-on experience is at the core of our higher education administration program. As a student you'll:

  • Graduate faster: Complete an innovative 30-credit curriculum built around working adults and graduate assistants allowing students to graduate in less than two years.
  • Start sooner: Enjoy rolling admissions so you can apply and start classes soon.
  • See the world: Join yearly study abroad opportunities.
  • Learn from the best: Learn from four full-time professors teaching in the program, leveraging decades of administrative, teaching and research experience.
  • Meet industry standards: Our program is aligned with the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS)
  • Launch your career: Join the 98% of graduates who found jobs in higher education within on year of graduation (source: 2020 self-study).

Accelerated master's program

Get where you want to go faster with an accelerated master’s program. You may be able to double-count 12 credits, saving you time and money when you earn your bachelor's degree and master's degree in 5 years.

By double-counting all 12 credits, domestic students save up to $3,324 and international students save up to $1,248.

    • Minimum GPA at time of application: 3.0 GPA of at least 15 credits at CMU.
    • Requirements to maintain eligibility: average of 3.0 and no E's in double-counted courses.

    If your GPA is lower than a 3.0 or you have fewer than 15 credits at CMU, you can still be considered for admission if you demonstrate why you are prepared to be successful in graduate coursework.

    You must have a minimum of 60 undergraduate credit hours completed before starting coursework in the accelerated M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Social Justice program. To take full advantage of the program, make sure you apply for admission before taking any of the double-counted courses listed below.

    • Up to 12 credits of the following courses can be double-counted:
      • HED 516, HED557, HED611, HED636, HED677
    • You can earn a maximum of 12 undergraduate credits to double-count towards your graduate degree. These courses will be used towards major or general electives.

    The M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Social Justice requires 30 credits. You may double-count 12 credits before finishing your bachelor's degree, leaving 18 credits remaining to complete your master's degree. If you don't complete all 12 double-counted credits before you finish your bachelor's degree, you'll need to take more than 18 credits to reach the 30 credits required for the M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Social Justice.

    Higher education career paths

    A master's degree in higher education from CMU will prepare you for a range of roles at colleges and universities.

    Career Projected Salary
    Residential Services Administrator $85,927
    Alumni Relations Manager $103,960
    Financial Aid Director $66,462
    Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $66,990
    Three students on a bench in downtown Mt. Pleasant taking a selfie

    Student Affairs Graduate Assistantship Program 

    Members of the Student Affairs Graduate Assistantship Program work in different departments within the Division of Student Affairs and represent various graduate programs. If you're a full-time student you'll have the opportunity to apply what you learn in the classroom and practice your purpose in the field.

    Learn more about grad assistantship program

    Request Information about CMU

    Loading...

    By submitting this form, I agree to receive calls, emails and/or text messages from Central Michigan University to discuss furthering my education.

    Privacy Policy