Master of Education in Higher & Continuing Education

Degree Overview

Welcome to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) and its masters degree concentrations in Higher and Continuing Education. Our mission is to prepare and develop educational leaders as reflective and inquiring professionals. You will find our degree programs to be of the highest quality as well as conveniently scheduled for busy professionals. The department focuses on knowledge generation in a collaborative learning environment. Our faculty are nationally recognized leaders and researchers who are at the top of their fields. In the higher and continuing education area we have nationally recognized experts in student affairs leadership, the community college, continuing education in the professions, diversity issues in higher education, and higher education policy.

The Master Of Education-MEd(Brochure)-PDF is offered in higher and continuing education with four different concentration areas: 

  • Continuing Professional Education-Program Plan Template PDF
  • Higher Education Leadership-Program Plan Template PDF 
  • Medical Education-Program Plan Template PDF 
  • Student Affairs Leadership-Program Plan Template in PDF

Concentrations are developed in cooperating 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 Office2008 Group Graduates of Medical Education and Department of Family and Community Medicine. Degree goals, requirements and admission information are detailed later in this brochure.

Admission Requirements

  • Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate education
  • A competitive Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score (minimum 1000)
  • Possible interviews with selected faculty 
  • Completed University and ELPA applications

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 baccalaureate graduate student at the University of Missouri-Columbia may be applied to the degree pending admission to the program and approval of Higher and Continuing Education faculty.

Course Work

Here are some required courses that is the equivalent of 3-hours each and must be taken to completed this degree.

  • 9401-Educational Leadership
  • 9402-Educational Policy Analysis
  • 9403-Organizational Analysis

Additional Course Work


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: June 01
  • Spring Semester: October 15

Notes: To receive full consideration for a departmental graduate assistantship in the following academic year, you should submit your application by February 15; e.g., submit by February 15, 2008, for an assistantship in 2008-2009

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

Departmental Graduate Assistantship application form

  • Assistantship Application
  • Current resume
  • Three official letters of recommendation (on letterhead with official signature)
  • Official copy of your transcripts
  • Official GRE score (minimum of 1000)
  • Official TOEFL score (if applicable)

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