MEd in Higher Education

Begin or advance your career in higher education and student affairs with the MEd in Higher Education at the University of Pittsburgh.

This program provides students with the professional competencies, experiential learning, and personal development needed to serve in entry-level positions in a variety of offices and departments that serve students in higher education.

Our 36-credit curriculum centers equity and justice through practitioner-oriented coursework.

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Program Facts

Degree Type

Master of Education (MEd) in Higher Education

Credits

36

Format

In-Person

Time Commitment

Full-time or part-time

Duration

Full-time students - 2 years
Part-time students - 3 years

Term of Enrollment

Full-time students - Fall
Part-time students - Fall or Spring

Application Deadline

Varies

Admissions Requirements

GRE exam not required

Program Overview

The Master of Education (MEd) in Higher Education provides students with the knowledge and experience to work across student affairs and higher education administration.

  • Pursue academic excellence through coursework based on the  ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies  that prepare you for real-world work with today’s college students in a range of postsecondary settings.
  • Translate classroom learning to practice through internship/assistantship experiences that prepare you for your first professional position post-degree.
  • Grow alongside a supportive cohort and enhance your professional network by co-constructing knowledge through a prescribed sequence of core courses with similarly-situated scholar-learners who become your first colleagues in the profession.
  • Engage and personally connect with faculty experienced in the field of higher education and student affairs through personalized advising and receive guided support throughout your first job search.
  • Gain broad foundational knowledge and take core courses that explore the cultural, social, and political dynamics of student affairs. The courses include the politics and history of higher education, higher education administration, student development theory, research methods, student services program assessment, professional development seminar, and the higher education capstone seminar.

  • Fall application deadline, Early Consideration: December 1*
  • Fall application deadline, priority #2: February 1*
  • Fall application deadline, priority #3: May 8*
  • *To be considered for a paid internship or graduate student assistantship, you must submit all application materials by the priority #1 or #2 deadlines. Internship interviews will take place during our annual Panther Preview Days (March) and positions will begin in the fall semester. Priority for paid internship and assistantship positions is given to students who pursue in full-time study. Positions remaining after Panther Preview Days will be offered to students who do not meet the priority #1 and #2 deadlines or to part-time students.

  • Spring application deadline: November 1*
  • Fall application deadline, Early Consideration: December 1
  • Fall application deadline, priority #2: February 1
  • Fall application deadline, priority #3: June 1*
  • *Applications received after the November 1 (spring) and June 1 (fall) deadlines will be considered for admission on a rolling, space-available basis. Otherwise, applications will be considered in the next admissions cycle.

Curriculum

Students must take all of these courses:

  • EFOP 2051 – M.ED RESEARCH METHODS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2052 – M. ED INTERNSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2055 – STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THEORY (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2056 – PROGRAM ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2131 – HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2135 – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR IN HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2140 – HIGHER EDUCATION CAPSTONE SEMINAR (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2307 – POLITICS AND HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)

Students must select four courses from the approved electives:

  • EFOP 2057 – CULTURE, INNOVATION & ORGANIZATION PERFORMANCE (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2058 – LEGAL ISSUES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2059 – ADVISING AND SUPPORTING SKILLS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2128 – LEADERSHIP (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2129 – SOCIAL JUSTICE IN HIGHER EDUCATION SETTINGS (3 credits)
  • EFOP 2132 – PROGRAM DESIGN AND DELIVERY IN COLLEGE STUDENT AFFAIRS (3 credits)
  • EFOP 3015 – ETHICAL ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 3131 – STUDENT, CAMPUS, AND SOCIETY (3 credits)
  • EFOP 3132 – ADVANCED STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THEORY (3 credits)
  • EFOP 3134 – CONTEMPORARY LATINX ISSUES IN US HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 3136 – COMPARATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)
  • EFOP 3138 – WOMEN, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION (3 credits)

Degree Requirements

The MEd in Higher Education program is 36 credits and consists of required courses and electives.

The program requires an approved plan of studies, an internship, and a capstone project.

VIEW Plan of studiEs (PDF)

Internship Overview

  • The internship requirement adds breadth and depth to the master’s-level training by offering rich experiential learning within higher education and student affairs settings.
  • Students work on student development and program planning; benchmarking and assessment; and training, advising, and supervising
  • Priority for paid internships is given to students who pursue full-time study through the annual Panther Preview Days, a two-day visitation program

Hours for Full-Time Students

  • Full-time students must complete a 300-hour internship experience

Hours for Part-Time Students

  • Part-time students must complete either a 300-hour or 150-hour internship experience
  • To be eligible for reduced hours, part-time students must have at least three years of full-time work experience in higher education
  • All part-time students working in higher education typically complete an internship embedded in their workplace

Serves as the culminating experience

Prerequisites

  • Candidates pursuing this degree must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary institution by the time they start the M.Ed. program.
  • Prospective students should also ensure that they meet the application requirements for this program.

Upcoming Info Sessions

General Info Session (Virtual)

April 1, 2024 | Noon-1 PM

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General Info Session (Virtual)

April 15, 2024 | Noon-1 PM

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General Info Session (Virtual)

April 29, 2024 | Noon-1 PM

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Career Pathways

Program graduates pursue careers in a wide range of higher education and student affairs functional areas, including:

  • Academic advising
  • Admissions and financial aid
  • Alumni relations
  • Athletics
  • Career development
  • Civic and community engagement
  • Disability resources
  • Diversity and inclusion centers
  • Facilities management
  • First-year experience and new student orientation
  • Fraternity and sorority life
  • Institutional advancement
  • Parent and family resources
  • Residence life
  • Service learning
  • Student activities
  • Student conduct
  • Student leadership programs
  • Student support services.

Recent graduates hold titles such as:

  • Academic Advisor
  • Assistant Director of Career Services
  • Assistant Director of Residence Life
  • Experiential Learning Coordinator
  • Financial Aid Counselor
  • Internships and Diversity Advisor
  • New Student Programming Coordinator
  • Resident Director
  • Residential Assignments Coordinator
  • Student Activities Coordinator
  • Student Success Coach