MA in Higher Education and Student Development

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Catalog Year: 2025-2026

Banner Code: LA-MA-HESD

The program prepares students for positions in higher education administration, student development, non-profit higher education associations, and government organizations. Today's higher education professionals are required to address both the needs of incoming traditionally aged students, as well as those of older students returning for a degree and special populations. The wide range of student backgrounds in the current complex context requires a holistic approach to college student development.

The Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Student Development will prepare future higher education leaders who understand higher education in the digital age, student development, multicultural and diverse populations, program development, professionalism, and learning assessment. This multidisciplinary program offers both thesis and project capstone options and is full and part-time student friendly. Alumni hold positions in areas such as career development, academic advising, assessment, facilities management, admissions, and residence life.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Transfer Credit

Courses applied to the degree are subject to the following restrictions: a maximum of 6 credits may be taken through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; a maximum of 9 credits may be transfer credits; a maximum of 6 of the transfer credits may be from other accredited institutions.

Transfer credits include credits taken before first enrolling as an admitted degree-seeking student (at another institution or in Mason non-degree status) or credits taken at another institution after admission to the degree program through study abroad or study elsewhere (which requires prior written approval of the director and the dean). Additional information may be found in AP.6.5.2 Transfer of Credit.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 33

Core Courses

HE 600 Introduction to Higher Education 3
HE 606 Cultural Pluralism in Higher Education 3
HE 624 Finance and Fiscal Management in Higher Education 3
HE 645 College Students Today 3
HE 685 Practicum 3
or HE 786 Research Apprenticeship
HE 703 Higher Education in the Digital Age 3
HE 721 History of Higher Education 3
Total Credits 21

Capstone or Thesis Requirement

Students choose either the capstone course option or thesis option as described below. Electives can be taken outside of HE courses and should be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Capstone Course Option  
Electives (9 credits) 9
HE 797 Higher Education Capstone 3
Total Credits 12
Thesis Option  
Electives (9 credits) 1 9
HE 799 Higher Education Thesis (3 credits required) 2 3
Total Credits 12
1

Students will take a research methods course as one of their electives.

2

A thesis is a rigorous scholarly inquiry that requires the collection of original data and is presented in a traditional, formal, written format. The guideline and deadlines for thesis submission are set by the University and administered by the University Dissertation and Thesis Service.