Higher Education Administration
The M.S. in Higher Education Administration (HEA) is designed as a practitioner-oriented program designed to prepare students for careers in Higher Education and also to allow current practitioners to advance their careers. The degree offers a practical and dynamic degree for those seeking a career in Colleges, Universities, and other Post-Secondary schools as well as career enhancement for those already working in the field. Courses emphasize practical instruction and a solutions-based approach for aspiring higher education leaders. The Higher Education Administration Master of Science degree is intended for those students who wish to obtain a master's degree and assume leadership roles in post secondary educational settings, do not desire the Florida Educational Leadership Certificate, and wish to work in higher education and continuing education. This degree is not for individuals seeking to become K-12 administrators.
Our program is built around a number of important principles:
- Practical Instruction for your career. Class activities and assignments are designed whenever possible to teach skills that can be directly applied in professional practice.
- Solutions-oriented approach. All courses and assignments, and even the grading system, emphasize finding solutions to challenges of practice in the field.
- We are Career-centered. Our focus is always on preparing each individual student for success in their chosen career path in Higher Education. We never forget that this program is about advancing your professional goals.
- Focus on Leadership & Administration. Although our program can help you get that initial position as an entry-level coordinator or advisor, we emphasize instruction that prepares you for a lifelong career that includes advancement into supervisory and leadership roles.
- Flexibility. Very few programs in our field offer as many degree concentration tracks as the M.S. in HEA at UNF.
Concentrations
The M.S. in HEA at UNF is unique in that it offers five concentration tracks to allow professionals to customize their degree to their career goals and the only program that allows students to choose more than one of these concentrations in their degree.
- General Higher Education Administration
- Student Affairs
- International Higher Education
- Collegiate Athletics
- Non-Profit Management (offered in conjunction with Public Administration)
Program Features
In addition to high quality career preparation in a wide variety of specialties, the M.S. in Higher Education Administration also features:
- Available paid Graduate Assistantships
- Personal attention to individual student needs and goals
- Instruction by leading faculty in the field including experienced current practitioners
- The opportunity for added experience in field-based practicums
- Evening courses scheduled for working professionals
- A strong record of successful graduates working in Higher Education and related fields locally, throughout Florida, nationally, and even around the world
- The ability to specialize in more than one concentration track
Admission Requirements
Our Postsecondary and Adult Studies program name has changed to "Higher Education Administration." Join us for a high-quality experience and education.
Contact the Program Director Dr. Luke Cornelius by email at HEA@unf.edu or by phone, (904) 620-5748
University requirements:
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.
Applicants not meeting the 3.0 minimum requirement may contact the Educational Leadership Program Director for additional admission criteria options. For additional tools to determine GPA, please visit Calculating Your GPA.
Additional program requirements:
- Official transcripts from all attended institutions
- Written statement identifying:
- professional and career goals
- aspiration
- Current resume
- Three letters of recommendation (using UNF's online reference system)
News and Events
- Upcoming Information Sessions for the College of Education and Human Services can be found on our Events page.
- Visit our Graduate Assistantships webpage for a list of available Graduate Assistantships at UNF and other institutions available to our students.
- Additionally, take a look at available Graduate Research Assistantships available through the College of Education and Human Services.