Drexel University Online

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Master of Science in Higher Education

Curriculum

Plan of Study

This program is 45 credits and consists of 14 courses: 6 core courses, 4 primary concentration courses, 3 electives courses or secondary concentration courses, and 1 Capstone Course (Co-op with portfolio). Courses are taught in cohorts (groups) of 20 to 25 students. Refer to the program home page for information on program format.

NOTE - for co-op/capstone course: If you are currently employed, you may use your work at your current place of employment to fulfull this requirement, but typically you must go above and beyond your current job function.

Students enrolled in the MS in Higher Education program are required to receive the grade of “B” or better in the program’s core and primary concentration coursework.  Grades of “C” or lower are not considered acceptable at the graduate level. For the Credit/No Credit grading system, Credit is equivalent to a grade “B” or better and No Credit is equivalent to an “F.” This School of Education policy is in addition to the Drexel University Office of Graduate Studies’ policy that all graduate students maintain a minimum, cumulative 3.0 GPA per term as well as an overall 3.0 GPA for graduation purposes.

Term 1 (Core Courses) - 6 Credits
EDHE 500Foundations of Higher Ed3.00 credits
EDHE 510Governance in Higher Ed3.00 credits

Term 2 (Core Courses) - 6 Credits
EDHE 520Student Development & Mgmt3.00 credits
EDHE 705School Law & Politics3.00 credits

Term 3 (Core Courses) - 6 Credits
EDHE 540Outcomes and Assessments3.00 credits
ORGB 631Leading Effective Orgs3.00 credits

Term 4 (Primary Concentration Courses) - 6 Credits
EDHE 602Managing Campus Operations3.00 credits
EDHE 714Introduction to Research Methods3.00 credits

Term 5 (Primary Concentration Courses) - 6 Credits
AADM 710Strategic Planning/Evaluation3.00 credits
EDHE 606Higher Ed Career Development3.00 credits

Term 6 (Capstone: Higher Education Co-op with Portfolio and Elective or Secondary Concentration Courses) - 4.5 Credits
EDHE 715Higher Education Co-op I with Portfolio1.50 credits
Elective Elective or Secondary Concentration Course - 3 credits

Term 7 (Capstone: Higher Education Co-op with Portfolio) - 4.5 Credits
EDHE 716Higher Education Co-op II4.50 credits

Term 8 - (Elective or Secondary Concentration Courses) - 6 credits
Students can select two elective courses within different areas of study offered. Or students can take two courses within one of the areas of study to complete a secondary concentration.

Enrollment Management
Gives a closer look at the admissions area of higher education. Through the courses in this concentration, you will focus on examining marketing strategies, optimizing enrollments, financial aid's role in admissions as well as regulatory and legal issues related to enrollment management. Those interested in positions and professional growth within admissions should consider this area of concentration.
EDHE 650Intro to Enrollment Management3.00 credits
EDHE 652Enrollment Mktg & Recruitment3.00 credits
EDHE 654Fin Aid & Enrollment Mgmt3.00 credits

Institutional Research & Planning
Examines the research and data collection processes and needs within higher education. Databases and software are introduced, as well as student learning outcomes, research formats and utilizing research data to inform institutional planning. Students interested in research and planning for institutions should consider this concentration.
EDHE 640Foundations of Inst Research3.00 credits
EDHE 644Assessments & Acad Programs3.00 credits
EDUC 803Educational Research Design I3.00 credits

Academic Development, Technology & Instruction
Looks at academic issues in universities, including current research and pedagogy, effective instructional strategies, and grant writing, with the opportunity to complete a full grant proposal. Any students looking to learn more about both grant writing and college level instruction should consider this concentration area.
EDHE 634Proposals & Sponsored Projects3.00 credits
EDUC 524Current Rsrch Curric & Inst3.00 credits
EDUC 530Adv Technq Instr & Assess3.00 credits

Student Development and Affairs
Seeks to produce professionals who are equipped with the fundamental competencies expected of Student Affairs Administrators. To meet the on-going changes and transformations that are occurring in society and affecting institutions of higher education, university administrators will need to learn how to make colleges supportive, learning rich environments for all students, including traditional age students, adult students, graduate students, part-time students, commuters, students of color, students with disabilities, and poor and otherwise disadvantaged students. The student affairs field and professionals within it are dedicated to meeting those challenges. In addition, student affairs practitioners will need to develop policies and practices that allow students to stay connected to each other and the institution in the face of technological and societal trends that will increasingly foster disconnectedness. Note: This is strictly a concentration, not a certificate option. Students cannot obtain a Master's in Higher Education and a certificate in Student Development and Affairs. The certificate is for those students not wishing to obtain a full master's degree. Students acn choose 3 out of 4 courses below to receive the Student Development and Affairs secondary concentration:
EDHE 652Enrollment Mktg & Recruitment3.00 credits
EDHE 662Critical Issues in Student Affairs3.00 credits
EDHE 663Safety and Crisis Management3.00 credits
EDHE 669Diversity in Higher Education3.00 credits
For students NOT interested in pursing a full master's degree with a secondary concentration, students may instead take an additional 9 credits and receive a certificate from Drexel University in Student Development and Affairs. The following additional courses are required to receive an SDVA certificate:
1. EDHE 500 Foundations of Higher Education (3 credits)
2. EDHE 520 Student Development & Management (3 credits)
3. EDUC 705 School Law & Politics (3 credits)
Click here for more information about the SDVA certification option

Community College Leadership and Administration
Seeks to produce professionals who are equipped with the fundamental competencies expected of Community College Administrators. The CCLA secondary concentration is designed to incorporate skills and competencies put forth by the American Association for Community Colleges (AACC), including a focus on: Leadership; Organizational Strategy; Resource Management; Communication; Collaboration; Community College Advocacy; and Professionalism. Note: This is strictly a concentration, not a certificate option. Click here if you are interested in the Community College Leadership and Administration certificate. Students cannot obtain a Master's in Higher Education and a certificate in Community College Leadership and Administration. The certificate is for those students not wishing to obtain a full master's degree. Students can choose 3 out of the 4 courses below to receive the Community College Leadership and Administration secondary concentration:
EDHE 634Proposals & Sponsored Projects3.00 credits
EDHE 664Strategies for Educational Success3.00 credits
EDHE 668Transformational Leadership3.00 credits
EDHE 669Diversity in Higher Education3.00 credits
For students NOT interested in pursing a full master's degree with a secondary concentration, students may instead take an additional 9 credits and receive a certificate from Drexel University in Community College Leadership and Administration. The following additional courses are required to receive a CCLA certificate:
1. EDHE 500 Foundations of Higher Education (3 credits)
2. ORGB 631 Leading Effective Organizations (3 credits)
3. EDUC 705 School Law & Politics (3 credits)
Click here for more information about the SDVA certification option

Institutional Advancement
Students interested in the areas of alumni affairs, development, and communications should consider this concentration area. Coursework focuses on annual giving, campaigns, government/corporation/foundation relationships, engagement of alumni, and public relations and marketing. Students choose 3 out of the 4 courses below to complete the Institutional Advancement secondary concentration:
AADM 650Fund Development for the Arts3.00 credits
EDHE 610Institutional Advancement3.00 credits
EDHE 614Alumni Relations3.00 credits
EDHE 616Institutional Public Relations3.00 credits

Course Descriptions

EDHE 500 Foundations of Higher Ed - 3.00 credits

Study of historical growth and advancement of colleges and universities in U.S. from Colonial era to virtual public and private universities. Integrated overview of contemporary issues, policies and practices that characterize the operational environments of higher education institutions in the 21st century; including financial management, accreditation, curriculum, and institutional planning.

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EDHE 510 Governance in Higher Ed - 3.00 credits

Organizational and administrative structures within the institutional hierarchy are explored as students examine the relationship between the university and the community it serves, the role of outreach in the modern university, and the role of faculty, staff, and student unions in academic operations and Risk Management.

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EDHE 520 Student Development & Mgmt - 3.00 credits

Examines Academic Support and Student Life Services from customer satisfaction perspective including admissions, orientation, student health and counseling, and Greek life. Best practices in Customer Relationship Management are introduced.

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EDHE 705 School Law & Politics - 3.00 credits

This course is designed to assist students with their understanding of how law, politics, and power structures interact to influence the goals and operations of the schools. Students will study the roles of school boards and community organizations, state boards of education, state government agencies, special interest groups, professional organizations, and unions.

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EDHE 540 Outcomes and Assessments - 3.00 credits

Introduction to typical institutional accreditation process. Best practices presented for performing an institutional self-study, defining appropriate outcomes aligned with institution's strategic plan as well as introduction to appropriate quantitative and qualitative assessment methods.

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ORGB 631 Leading Effective Orgs - 3.00 credits

Prepares students to make informed decisions as leaders in common institutional and environmental contexts. The focus of the contingency-based perspective of this course is to help leaders understand how best to motivate and coordinate employees and to control outcomes in a manner that ensures they fulfill strategic objectives.

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EDHE 602 Managing Campus Operations - 3.00 credits

Detailed overview of key areas affecting campus operations that fall under Finance and Administration units including parking and transportation, non-exempt HR, facilities management, construction, risk management, and environmental health. Introduction to campus master plan development process for strategic planning.

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EDHE 714 Introduction to Research Methods - 3.00 credits

This course will introduce students to the process and conduct of educational research. Students will learn about the characteristics of specific research designs and will review a research study employing the specific design. Students will use established criteria given evaluate research studies. There will be an emphasis on the purpose and function of the review of the literature in educational research. Survey and interview design will also be discussed.

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AADM 710 Strategic Planning/Evaluation - 3.00 credits

Provides a survey of the theory and practice of planning and evaluation as it relates to arts programs. Includes development of critical issues, goals, strategies, outcomes research planning, and protocol development.

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EDHE 606 Higher Ed Career Development - 3.00 credits

Provides understanding of career patterns of faculty, deans, vice presidents, provosts, and presidents while exploring academic employment markets of these professions. Traditional career paths, diverse points of entry in Higher Education and career development of faculty are explored as well as administrative roles of managing academic units, decision making and change implementation.

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EDHE 715 Higher Education Co-op I with Portfolio - 1.50 credits

The HE co-op I is the first half of a two quarter sequence in which students work in administrative offices to incorporate their knowledge and develop skills learned in the HE program. The first half of the co-op is designed to prepare students to undertake the hands-on co-op projects they will begin in the second quarter of the co-op.

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EDHE 716 Higher Education Co-op II - 4.50 credits

Students are required to participate in a part-time co-op that lasts no less than two quarters (20 weeks). The co-op is structured to provide students with real-life, hands on experience in higher education. Students work in administrative offices and incorporate the skills and tools they have garnered in the MSHE program.

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EDHE 650 Intro to Enrollment Management - 3.00 credits

Introduction to history of enrollment management and how it fits university system. Provides a strong understanding of enrollment process, organizational structure, federal and legislative issues, and importance of diverse student body.

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EDHE 652 Enrollment Mktg & Recruitment - 3.00 credits

Comprehensive overview of principles and practices of strategic process including marketing and recruitment through graduation. Exposure to contemporary issues and legal problems in enrollment management.

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EDHE 654 Fin Aid & Enrollment Mgmt - 3.00 credits

Strategic relationships between financial aid and enrollment management are examined in order to secure desired student mix. Financial Aid guidelines and career management strategies are discussed to explore integration of traditional student financial aid and development of aid packages.

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EDHE 640 Foundations of Inst Research - 3.00 credits

Provides comprehensive understanding of institutional research including roles and responsibilities. Students are introduced to database systems, statistical software and research methods to explore multifaceted links of institutional research to key divisions within higher education institutions.

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EDHE 644 Assessments & Acad Programs - 3.00 credits

Exposes research tools and theoretical models related to assessing student outcomes and student success measures. Benchmarking and importance of evaluating academic programs and curricula to proactively respond to institutional reporting requirements and accreditation.

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EDUC 803 Educational Research Design I - 3.00 credits

Introduces students to research design paradigms and the assumptions behind them, use of the literature, developing research questions, qualitative and quantitative procedures, and research study formats.

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EDHE 634 Proposals & Sponsored Projects - 3.00 credits

Provides knowledge and skills required to acquire and manage sponsored projects from a variety of sources including learning and practicing process of developing proposal, organizational vision, goal setting, political realities, and budget in addition to compliance management and reporting.

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EDUC 524 Current Rsrch Curric & Inst - 3.00 credits

Examines the relationship of curricula and instruction to current research in learning and knowledge construction, developing higher-order thinking in specific disciplines and content areas, and the role of understanding and metacognition in learning. Complex problems of pedagogy are identified and analyzed (e.g., interdisciplinary curricula, team teaching, collaborative learning), with attention to designing learning goals and outcomes with effective instructional strategies.

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EDUC 530 Adv Technq Instr & Assess - 3.00 credits

Major professional and educational issues associated with college teaching are addressed. Provides multiple opportunities to develop and enhance teaching skills, as well as exposure to alternative assessment.

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EDHE 652 Enrollment Mktg & Recruitment - 3.00 credits

Comprehensive overview of principles and practices of strategic process including marketing and recruitment through graduation. Exposure to contemporary issues and legal problems in enrollment management.

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EDHE 662 Critical Issues in Student Affairs - 3.00 credits

Profession of Students Affairs and most critical issues examined through use of current texts and articles. Topics include overview of the field, diversity, fiscal/budgetary issues assessment and staff training and development. Other topics include campus conduct, academic integrity, feedom of speech, sustainability and other current issues.

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EDHE 663 Safety and Crisis Management - 3.00 credits

Examination of a broad range of campus safety and crisis management issues and exploration of safety and security strategies and consideration of essential elements of a model crisis response plan. Students will work toward understanding macro and micro safety and security issues and responses, and will design a sample crisis response model as the final course assignment.

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EDHE 669 Diversity in Higher Education - 3.00 credits

Course examines research on issues of race, class, gender and disability in education in historical and contemporary contexts; emphasizes evidence-based data analysis, specifically qualitative analysis of data; introduces qualitative analysis of data, assumptions, designs, collection, analysis, and research ethics.

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EDHE 634 Proposals & Sponsored Projects - 3.00 credits

Provides knowledge and skills required to acquire and manage sponsored projects from a variety of sources including learning and practicing process of developing proposal, organizational vision, goal setting, political realities, and budget in addition to compliance management and reporting.

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EDHE 664 Strategies for Educational Success - 3.00 credits

Examines research on historical and contemporary responses to inequality in education; includes multicultural education, culture of poverty, single race/sex schools; addresses new trends and strategies affecting equity in education, including immigrants, sexual identity, age, gender, organizations, developmental education, and special needs learners (i.e older adult learners and students with disabilities).

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EDHE 668 Transformational Leadership - 3.00 credits

Reviews research about community college leadership, with an emphasis on transformational leadership, creation and implementation of a vision; develops skills in how to identify, interact, and mobilze key community organizations and constituents with an emphasis on board relations and community development.

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EDHE 669 Diversity in Higher Education - 3.00 credits

Course examines research on issues of race, class, gender and disability in education in historical and contemporary contexts; emphasizes evidence-based data analysis, specifically qualitative analysis of data; introduces qualitative analysis of data, assumptions, designs, collection, analysis, and research ethics.

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AADM 650 Fund Development for the Arts - 3.00 credits

Provides an in-depth examination of techniques in researching, procuring, and retaining contributed funds for cultural organizations. Covers techniques and strategies for individual, corporate, governmental, and foundation grants and gifts.

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EDHE 610 Institutional Advancement - 3.00 credits

Introduction to history of Institutional Advancement, advancement structures and departments within private and public institutions including Alumni Relations, Communications, Government Relations. Focus on leadership and management of institutional advancement divisions. Key issues such as annual giving, campaigns, corporate/foundation relations are introduced.

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EDHE 614 Alumni Relations - 3.00 credits

Comprehensive overview of leadership, management and organizational structures of alumni associations and models. Volunteer management is examined and campus relations highlighted including engagement options, international alumni and relationships with advisory/alumni boards.

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EDHE 616 Institutional Public Relations - 3.00 credits

Best practices in development of communications including marketing, public relations, and publications and creative services examined. Using research methodologies, exploration of brand management, market segmentation, message development and positioning, and market implementation.

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