MA in Higher Education and Student Development
Catalog Year: 2026-2027
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.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 33
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 12 | |
| Introduction to Higher Education | ||
| History of Higher Education | ||
| Higher Education Assessment and Research | ||
| College Students Today | ||
| Experiential Learning Requirement | ||
| Choose 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Practicum | ||
| Higher Education Internship | ||
| Research Apprenticeship | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Electives
A student pursuing the thesis option must take 3 credits of a research methods course as one of their electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
| Higher Education in the Digital Age | ||
| Finance and Fiscal Management in Higher Education | ||
| Cultural Pluralism in Higher Education | ||
| Student Development Theory | ||
| Practicum | ||
| Special Topics in Higher Education | ||
| Higher Education Law | ||
| Contemporary Issues and Fundamental Theories in Higher Education | ||
| Scholarship of Teaching and Learning | ||
| Social Justice and Higher Education | ||
| College Access and Student Success | ||
| Scholarly Digital Storytelling | ||
| College Teaching | ||
| Leadership in Higher Education | ||
| Policy Studies in Higher Education | ||
| Learning Assessment and Program Evaluation in Higher Education | ||
| Internationalization of Higher Education | ||
| Organization and Administration in Higher Education | ||
| Higher Education Internship | ||
| Research Seminar in Higher Education | ||
| Special Topics in Higher Education | ||
| Special Topics | ||
Other courses with prior approval of advisor |
||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Capstone or Thesis Requirement
Students choose either the capstone course option or thesis option as described below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone Course Option | ||
| HE 797 | Higher Education Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option 1 | ||
| HE 799 | Higher Education Thesis (3 credits required) 2 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
- 1
Students pursuing the thesis option must take 3 credits of 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.