Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration

The Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration will prepare students for mid-level administrative and leadership positions at higher education institutions and for further doctoral studies in the field. The program is designed to enhance career-related skills and competencies and will focus on student services, career services, enrollment management, residence life, financial aid, student success, resource allocation, and other administrative functions.

This degree may be completed with or without a thesis. Students seeking the MA in Higher Education Administration may also opt to pursue the Academic Advising Certificate or the Higher Education Assessment and Institutional Research Certificate. 

Application Deadlines

• ​November 1 - Spring
• ​April 1 - Summer
• ​​July 1 - Fall

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. Graduate Admission Application
2. Application fee
3. Official transcript from the baccalaureate degree granting institution
4. Three Reference Forms
5. Professional Statement
6. Current Resume

Please contact the Department of Educational Leadership for additional requirements:Box 2119, Huntsville, Texas 77341 or by phone (936) 294-1147 or highered@shsu.edu.

Course Prerequisites are strictly observed.

Note:  A comprehensive examination is required during the final semester of coursework.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The MA in Higher Education Administration is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

• Use and critique of appropriate theory to understand, support, and advocate student learning and development.
• Design and evaluate learning experiences for students based on knowledge of how student learning and learning opportunities are influenced by student characteristics  and college environments.
• Develop leadership, organizational, and management practices that could be applied to assist institutions in accomplishing their missions.
• Conduct and design studies, produce evaluations, and reports on sound research studies, assessment studies, or program evaluation, all grounded in the appropriate literature.
• Apply assessment results to inform and improve professional practice and student learning.
• Design and evaluate effective interventions for individuals and groups in college and university settings.