Master of Education in Higher Education

PENN STATE | ONLINEw o r l d c a m p u s . p s u . e d u

Master of Education in Higher Education ......................................................3

Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research ........................................................3

Curriculum for the MEd in Higher Education ......................................................4

Career Opportunities for Graduates .......4

Why Penn State? ..........................................5

Frequently Asked Questions .....................6

Begin Your Application Today .................7

TAB L E O F CO NTE NT S

“Our program prepares you to be a leader by exposing you to the latest research in the field and by helping you master practical skills that foster professional success within college and university settings.”

—John J. Cheslock, PhDAssociate Professor of Higher Education

Director, Center for the Study of Higher Education

The online Master of Education (MEd) in Higher Education is a 30-credit program designed to provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge to pursue a career in postsecondary education. The program offers you a broad-based introduction to careers, policies, administration, history, organization, and the evaluation of postsecondary education programs and activities.

This degree can benefit entry-level professionals in a variety of administrative areas, including those aspiring to become mid-level administrators of college and university offices, as well as practitioners in a variety of administrative functions desiring further professional development and career enhancement.

This 15-credit program can help you acquire the skills to support institutional planning and policy formation, as well as methodologies and research practices. Developed with support from the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Penn State higher education program has partnered with World Campus to offer this accredited and fully online certificate. The curriculum includes such topics as research design, assessment and evaluation, and the integration of strategic planning with institutional finance.

In addition to the standard curriculum, you may also earn credits by taking part in the AIR Summer Institutes, Penn State assessment workshops, in-person courses completed at University Park campus, and the AIR and NCES Data Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research, or to apply to the program, visit worldcampus.psu.edu/ir.

Online Master of Education in Higher Education

Online Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research

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Curriculum for the MEd in Higher Education

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Upon your completion of this program, you should be able to:

• think critically about higher education as a field of study, appreciating its history, diversity, and global context

• draw on research and data to effectively assess current challenges facing higher education institutions

• understand the audience, purpose, and context of professional and scholarly communication, and use appropriate writing skills and media in oral presentations

• collaborate with others and use critical self-reflection skills to clarify personal values used for leading and decision making

• become a lifelong learner in this field• create a learning and career portfolio

for ongoing professional development and reflective practice

Our curriculum is offered in three emphasis areas:

• Administration — if you want to pursue a career or career advancement in a wide variety of administrative and staff support areas in colleges and universities

• Student Engagement — if you want to work in areas specifically related to students in colleges and universities

• Institutional Research — if you seek a career in data analysis and research within colleges and universities

Each area of professional practice is designed to provide the scholarly course work and practical experiences that you need to qualify for an entry-level professional staff position and career advancement in fields of higher education.

• admissions• academic advising • career development• student life

• university development • alumni relations, outreach • institutional research

The goal of this online graduate program in higher education is to prepare you for a career and leadership in the field of postsecondary education. Career paths for the MEd degree include staff positions in:

Online Delivery Experience—Penn State’s World Campus In 1892, Penn State founded one of the nation’s first correspondence courses. Over the years, our distance education options have evolved to include technology-enhanced learning experiences, culminating in the foundation of Penn State’s World Campus in 1998. As a pioneer in distance learning, we have significant experience in understanding the needs of off-campus students. You can experience courses that are:

• designed around best practices in online delivery

• taught by faculty with experience teaching in an online environment

• created using technology to support successful learning outcomes, not just convenience

A Fully Supported Education When you think of online education, you may feel like you are on your own, but that cannot be further from the truth. Our team of career academic advisers and help-desk support is vested in your success. Through World Campus, you will have access to student support services just like our students on campus. Our student services include:

• new student orientation

• academic advising and career counseling resources

• a nationally recognized research library

• technical help desk

• tutorials

An Exceptional Student/Alumni Body Whether you take our courses online or in a traditional classroom, as a “Penn Stater” you:

• become part of an institution with more than 150 years of excellence in teaching, research, and service

• join a global community of exceptional adult learners from all 50 states, more than 40 countries, and 7 continents

• become part of a proud worldwide network of more than 500,000 alumni and, upon your graduation, you can choose to join the largest alumni association in the world, with more than 160,000 members

Why Penn State?

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Begin Your Application TodayAdmissions decisions for the Master of Education in Higher Education program are based on the quality of your complete application portfolio.

Your application portfolio must include:

• Completed graduate school application • Two official transcripts from each

postsecondary institution attended • Official military transcripts (if applicable) • Official GMAT, GRE, LSAT, or MAT score • TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable • Three letters of recommendation • Statement of purpose, professional goals,

and résumé

Penn State credits and degrees earned online are identical to those earned on campus, but provide the flexibility to complete course work at times and places convenient for you.

Penn State World Campus has enrolled students from all 50 states and all 7 continents.

Did You Know?

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To apply or for more information about these application materials, visit: worldcampus.psu.edu/hied

Deadlines:Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete.

• June 30 for fall semester admission• October 31 for spring semester admission• March 15 for summer semester admission

How much is tuition? Tuition is based on cost-per-credit as is associated with your program of study. Tuition rates are assessed every semester of enrollment. As a student, you may incur additional charges, such as credit-by-examination, exam proctor, and transcript fees, during your course of study. Please visit our website for the most up-to-date tuition rate.

Does Penn State World Campus offer financial aid?

World Campus makes many options available to help you pay for your education. Full- and part-time degree-seeking students are eligible for federal student aid. We also have different options to help you, such as deferred payment plans, third-party payments for employed professionals, and military payment options.

What does the online classroom look like? Our philosophy for designing online courses: Use the latest technology to best deliver the content in the most flexible way while keeping the technology transparent to you. We use one centralized platform where you can log into your classroom. There you can get assignments, interact with faculty and peers, reply to message boards, and do more.

How long will it take me to finish my program? This answer varies for each student. There are many factors (e.g., transfer credits, course load per semester) that influence how long it will take. Depending on the program, some students are able to complete 12 credits every year—others more than 20 credits. You will work closely with an adviser to determine the best course of action for you to complete the program.

To obtain additional information, visitworldcampus.psu.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Uspennstateonline@psu.eduworldcampus.psu.edu800-252-3592 (toll free within the United States)814-865-5403 (local and international)814-865-3290 Fax

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