Master of Education in Higher Education

Degree Overview

 

The mission of the master’s of education degree program in higher education is to prepare students for professional administrative leadership positions in a variety of postsecondary educational settings. The higher education faculty are nationally recognized experts in college student affairs development, the community college, faculty work, continuing education in the professions, diversity issues in higher education, and higher education policy.


The master’s of education has three different concentration areas with the following goals: 

Student Affairs Leadership

  • To prepare students for student affairs leadership and program development positions in postsecondary educational institutions.
  • To develop an awareness of organizational and environmental characteristics in various types of postsecondary educational institutions.
  • To develop an understanding of students across all institutional types, student culture, and the impact of college upon undergraduate students.
  • To develop a greater understanding of student development theories and knowledge and skills available to the educator in postsecondary settings to foster student learning and development.
  • To prepare students with the appropriate skills needed to develop programs for students and assess the value of those programs.
  • To prepare students to become thoughtful consumers of educational research in higher education. 

Higher Education Administration and Leadership

  • To prepare students for administrative and/or leadership positions in postsecondary educational institutions, and other areas in which knowledge of higher education and organization is important.
  • To develop an awareness of organizational and environmental characteristics in the various types of postsecondary educational institutions.
  • To prepare students to become thoughtful consumers of educational research in higher education.

Medical Education Administration and Leadership

  • To prepare students administrative and/or leadership position in medical and health professions education (undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education medical or other health professions education).
  • To develop an awareness of institutional and environmental characteristics in the various types of institutions in which physicians and other health professionals work and learn.
  • To develop an understanding of physicians and other health professionals as unique types of adult learners and the environments in which they learn most effectively.
  • To develop an understanding of program planning and evaluation principles and practices as applied in medical and health professions education settings.
  • To prepare students to become thoughtful consumers of educational research in higher education.

Concentrations are developed in cooperation with other units in order to enrich the learning experiences of students. For example, the Medical Education concentration is offered in cooperation with the MU School of Medicine's Office of Medical Education and Department of Family and Community Medicine.
  • 2007 Hace group

Admission Requirements

  • Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate education
  • Possible interviews with selected faculty 
  • Completed University and ELPA applications
  • Three letters of recommendation (at least 2 of which should be from faculty who instructed or academically advised the applicant)
  • GRE scores are not required. However, non-Native English speakers must take the TOEFL examination and those scores will be considered as part of admission decisions. Minimum scores 500/61 paper/computer for TOEFL.

Any exceptions to the above must be justified.

Degree Requirements

MEd candidates can complete the required 33 hours by electing courses with their advisors that will most fully meet the individual needs. At least 16 hours in professional education must be taken at the 8000 or 9000 level. A maximum of six semester hours of graduate level graded course work completed at another accredited college or university may be transferred with approval of the advisor, the Department Director of Graduate Studies, and Graduate School. Up to 12 hours earned as post a baccalaureate graduate student at the University of Missouri-Columbia may be applied to the degree pending admission to the program and approval of Higher Education faculty.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be reviewed twice annually. For consideration for admission, all application materials must be completed and submitted by the following dates:

  • Fall Semester: January 15
  • Spring Semester: September 15

Notes: For full consideration for an administrative/student affairs graduate assistanships and/or ELPA research assistantships for the following fall semester, submit applications by February 15. More information about the fellowships can be found at: http://gradschool.missouri.edu/financial/assistantships-fellowships/fellowships/internal/

How to Apply

Submit the following documentation to:           

     Graduate School
     University of Missouri-Columbia
     210 Jesse Hall
     Columbia, MO 65211

University of Missouri-Columbia Graduate School application

Submit the following documentation to:

     Director of Graduate Studies
     Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis
     202 Hill Hall
     Columbia, MO 65211    

  • Departmental application form: MEd Application
  • Current resume
  • Reference forms from three individuals: Reference form
  • Official copy of your transcripts
  • Official TOEFL score (if applicable)

Departmental Graduate Assistantship application form

Student Affairs Graduate Assistantships

Applicants who are planning to enroll full-time are strongly encouraged to seek out an administrative/student affairs assistantship. These positions are excellent opportunities to immediately apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting and gain valuable transferable skills and networks for future employment in higher education. Many positions are available in student affairs units on and off-campus. Accepted students should plan to participate in the assistantship interview day on campus in March, where potential employers will interview assistantship candidates. Please note these positions are different from departmental graduate assistantships, which are primarily focused on assisting with faculty-led research projects.

All applicants interested in applying for student affairs assistantships should plan to attend an interview day on March 16, 2012. Students accepted to the ELPA program will be given priority for this event. For more information about these assistantships and the application process, please visit the following link: http://elgsa.students.missouri.edu/?page_id=391.

Fees and Financial Aid

Find more information on related fees and financial aid opportunities.

Other Information

For more information about this program contact the ELPA Department by phone at 573-882-8221 or by e-mail at elpagrad@missouri.edu