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.

Request Info

View Tuition

Apply Now

Program Facts

Degree Type

Master of Education (MEd) in Higher Education

Credits

36

Format

Hybrid

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.

High-Impact Learning Experiences

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 through courses that explore the cultural, social, and political dynamics of student affairs. 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.

Flexible and Convenient Format

Hybrid program combining in-person and online asynchronous instruction via the required, core courses.
Best of both worlds with each course delivering approximately 50% of its content through in-person classroom and learning experiences and the remaining 50% through online modules.
Online asynchronous learning may include course readings, completing interactive modules, participating in team projects, contributing to online discussions, viewing lecture videos at your own pace, and other similar learning activities.
Courses meet every other week during convenient after-work hours, typically from 5:00 to 7:40 PM, making it accessible for working professionals.
While the core program can be completed entirely in this hybrid format, students also have the opportunity to enroll in electives, which may be offered fully in-person or fully online, allowing for a further personalized learning experience.

Fall application deadline, Early Consideration: December 1*
Fall application deadline, priority #2: February 1*
Fall application deadline: June 1

Applications received after June 1 will be considered for admission on a rolling, space-available basis.

Benefits of Priority Applications

Admitted students applying to these priority deadlines will also receive an invitation to our Panther Welcome, a virtual event in the spring term, to learn more about life at Pitt as well as interact with faculty and current students.

In addition, applications submitted by these deadlines receive consideration for individualized program internship advice and support.

We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible to maximize internship advising and program engagement

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.

Lynnea Lombardi, a student from the program, standing in a classroom

"With the social justice-based curriculum and internship component, the MEd in Higher Education program has the perfect combination of theory and practice to support me as a higher education professional."
Lynnea Lombardi - Student

"I would not trade the opportunity to attend another program or institution. The school's commitment to student development has sharpened my skills for how I will show up for my students as a professional."
Isaac Anaya - Student

Take the Next Step

Apply Now Learn About Tuition Request Info

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.

Curriculum

Loading…

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