Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education online

Apply by: 4/14/23
Start Class: 5/8/23

Program Overview

Why our Online M.A. Educational Leadership - Higher Education stands out

As low as $13,428* Tuition
As few as 12 months Program Duration
36 Credit Hours

The transformative Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education online program from Florida Gulf Coast University is built for those who work in post-secondary and higher education and aspire to meet professional goals in college, university and technical school settings.

The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education is FGCU’s flagship program, and for good reason. It immerses you into the nature and function of governing structures and decision-making processes in higher education. You will focus on the elements of academic advising, student affairs, financial aid, strategic planning, career services, curriculum development and more.

In addition to our vigorous core curriculum, you will participate in two innovative internships meant to facilitate field experiences for identifying and analyzing challenges and solutions within higher education. The online higher education master’s program from Florida Golf Coast University exposes you to all facets of postsecondary administration, so you graduate prepared for leadership roles that offer increased responsibility.

Graduates of this online higher education master’s program will be able to:

  • Expertly navigate all facets of higher education: strategic planning, financing of higher education, law and policy, curriculum development, student affairs, advising, career services, and program review
  • Recognize the various organizational structures and classification of higher education institutions in the United States
  • Employ a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission and improvement using facts and data
  • Serve in various administrative management positions within an institution recognizing the need for collaboration, efficient and effective decision making
  • Act with professionalism, integrity, fairness, and honesty in an ethical manner
  • Work with community partners and stakeholders to respond to diverse community interests and needs
  • Understand, respond to, and influence the personal, political, social, economic, legal, and cultural relationships in the classroom, institution, and community at large
  • Expertly navigate all facets of higher education: strategic planning, financing of higher education, law and policy, curriculum development, student affairs, advising, career services, and program review
  • Recognize the various organizational structures and classification of higher education institutions in the United States
  • Employ a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission and improvement using facts and data
  • Serve in various administrative management positions within an institution recognizing the need for collaboration, efficient and effective decision making
  • Act with professionalism, integrity, fairness, and honesty in an ethical manner
  • Work with community partners and stakeholders to respond to diverse community interests and needs
  • Understand, respond to, and influence the personal, political, social, economic, legal, and cultural relationships in the classroom, institution, and community at large
  • Expertly navigate all facets of higher education: strategic planning, financing of higher education, law and policy, curriculum development, student affairs, advising, career services, and program review
  • Recognize the various organizational structures and classification of higher education institutions in the United States
  • Employ a decision-making process that is based on vision, mission and improvement using facts and data
  • Serve in various administrative management positions within an institution recognizing the need for collaboration, efficient and effective decision making
  • Act with professionalism, integrity, fairness, and honesty in an ethical manner
  • Work with community partners and stakeholders to respond to diverse community interests and needs
  • Understand, respond to, and influence the personal, political, social, economic, legal, and cultural relationships in the classroom, institution, and community at large

This program prepares you for roles in areas of higher education leadership such as:

  • Administrative leadership
  • Admissions
  • Enrollment management
  • Student services
  • Student financial aid
  • Alumni relations
  • Advising
  • Administrative leadership
  • Admissions
  • Enrollment management
  • Student services
  • Student financial aid
  • Alumni relations
  • Advising

Also available

FGCU offers a variety of specialized education degrees. Check out all of our online education programs.

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Tuition

Our budget-friendly tuition can be paid as you go

The M.A. Educational Leadership, Higher Education concentration online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.

Tuition breakdown:

$373 Per Credit Hour
As low as $13,428* Total Tuition
Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program
M.A. Ed. Leadership – Higher Education $373 $1,119 $13,428

*Tuition is as low as $13,428. Waiver available for out-of-state tuition. Prices subject to change at any time.

Calendar

Milestones to guide your student journey

FGCU online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Get started today!

Now enrolling:

4/14/23 Next Application Deadline
5/8/23 Start Classes
First StartsProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineDrop/Add DeadlineLast Class Day
Spring 23/13/232/13/232/27/233/12/233/17/233/15/234/29/23
Summer 15/8/234/14/234/24/235/7/235/12/235/10/236/24/23
Summer 26/26/236/2/236/12/236/25/236/30/236/28/238/12/23
Fall 18/14/237/14/237/28/238/13/238/18/238/16/239/30/23
Fall 210/9/239/18/239/22/2310/8/2310/13/2310/11/2312/1/23
Spring 11/8/2412/8/2312/20/231/7/241/12/241/10/242/24/24
Spring 23/11/242/9/242/23/243/10/243/15/243/13/244/27/24
Summer 26/24/245/24/246/7/246/23/246/28/246/26/248/10/24
Ready to take the next step toward earning your online degree from FGCU?

Admissions

Follow our streamlined admission requirements

At FGCU, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the M.A. Educational Leadership, Higher Education concentration online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. The requirements include:

Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university
GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
Professional references through online application

You must meet the following requirements for admission to the M.A. Educational Leadership, Higher Education concentration online program.

  • Submit graduate application and $30 application fee
  • Official academic transcripts from every college or university attended
  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • A minimum 3.0 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours accrued to the undergraduate degree OR a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • An in-person, phone or virtual interview if GPA is below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Two letters of recommendation from either working professionals in the field, a current or previous supervisor, or an academic advisor
  • A letter of intent from the applicant that spells out their reasons for wanting to enter the program and a list of a perceived set of skills and dispositions
  • For international students: a TOEFL exam with a minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based)

Performance in courses taken in other graduate degrees and/or non-degree seeking post-baccalaureates will be taken into consideration for admission.

Official transcripts, test scores and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:

Email address: [email protected]

Mailing address:

10501 FGCU Blvd. South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

FGCU is ranked #7 (tie) among the “Most Innovative Schools, Regional Universities South” by U.S. News & World Report (2022)

Courses

The topics you’ll study in our higher education master’s program classes

For the M.A. Educational Leadership, Higher Education concentration online program, you must complete 36 credit hours, which includes two internships. The coursework includes nine hours of Major courses and 27 hours of Higher Education Concentration courses. Students will complete the Concentration courses listed, plus two additional courses to be announced.

Students will complete 9 credit hours.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theory and application of statistical procedures to problems in education: descriptive statistics, probability sampling, inferential statistics, interpretation of results, and introduction to computer programming for statistical analysis.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Field experiences in school systems for identifying and analyzing educational problems and their solutions. Restricted to admitted students who have successfully completed at least 30 semester hours of their coursework. Permission of faculty in Educational Leadership required.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Second of two field experiences in school systems for identifying and analyzing educational problems and their solutions. Restricted to admitted students who have successfully completed at least 30 semester hours of their coursework and EDA 6945. Prerequisite(s) EDA 6945 for level Graduate with minimum grade of B
Students will complete 15 credit hours.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasis on curriculum perspectives, procedures, and practices in higher education; principles of curriculum and instruction in higher education; theory and practices in goal setting, curriculum planning, instructional improvement, and curriculum design.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analysis of law, policies, and political impacts in American Higher Education with applications to Florida public and non-public institutions. Participants develop a topic for further research, evaluation, problem solving, and presentation.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the elements of budgeting, financial statements, investment strategies, fund raising, debt management and how an institution's strategic plan guides financial decision making.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course uses a topical/survey approach to discuss the major student personnel service functions of divisions of student affairs found on college campuses.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course emphasizes the nature and function of governing structures, the basic frameworks for organizational analysis, and the role of leadership in the decision making process in higher education.
Students will complete 12 credit hours.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to develop student abilities to discover, identify, assess, use, and write about the scholarly and professional literature of higher education. The course will advance knowledge and skills that support decision making strategies and how high performing leaders plan effectively, use critical thinking and problem solving techniques, and collect and analyze data for continuous institutional improvement.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course deals with career development process throughout the lifespan, with an emphasis on implications for student affairs, higher education, and academic advising. Topics covered include career development theories, career assessment instruments, professional resources, decision making models, and factors inherent to the career development process; evolving economic, political, social, and technological conditions.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is intended to provide an understanding of the various theories that inform college student development in higher education. It is intended for graduate students to learn about a range of human development theories that have described and informed how individuals learn, develop, and grow during their undergraduate college years. It is also designed to give students a thorough understanding of "who" the current college students are in terms of individual and collective characteristics. Students will also review and discuss contemporary issues and trends related to providing services to various types of students.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the student to higher education in a global context. The students will examine trends in higher education in the global context, compare education systems, identify internationally framed higher education collaborations and partnerships, and explore innovative curriculum models and multi-national student learning experiences.

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