This is a named option in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis MS.

The master’s program in Higher Education (HE) offers a broad range of course selections with foundations in administration, organization, governance, teaching and learning, and policy and research. The program affords students the opportunity to study minority serving institutions, legal and financial aspects of higher education, the politics of higher education, academic programs in colleges and universities, ideas of the university, diversity and inequality in higher education, the American community colleges, assessment in higher education, perspectives on college student identity and development, administrative services and critical leadership issues in higher education. Students also have the opportunity to complete field experiences. The culminating experience of the Higher Education Master’s program is a capstone project. Students completing a Master's degree in higher education work in a variety of leadership roles at colleges, universities, and technical colleges in student affairs, academic affairs, and policy.

Admissions

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline December 1
Spring Deadline This program does not admit in the spring.
Summer Deadline This program does not admit in the summer.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not required.
English Proficiency Test Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3

Applicants are required to upload the following items to the online application.

  1. Essay statement (not to exceed two pages) that addresses the following:
    1. Your area of interest (task or functional area of administration.)
    2. Your career goals (i.e., why the applicant is interested in pursuing a degree in educational administration.)
    3. Your professional objectives and how the UW-Madison program will contribute toward the applicant's role as a school/institution leader.
  2. Unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts will be requested prior to Graduate School admission.
  3. Resume or CV.
  4. Three letters of recommendation. Recommendations from three (3) people who are qualified to evaluate the academic and professional competence of the applicant are required. When completing the online application, submit the names and emails of those requesting recommendation from; recommendations are sent electronically to your application.
  5. Supporting document if undergraduate GPA is below 3.00. In a statement, explain why GPA does not accurately reflect high potential to serve in leadership roles.

International degree-seeking applicants must prove English proficiency using the Graduate School's requirements.

Funding

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

While the department funds full-time PhD students we are unable to provide funding for Master's students. In consultation with one's advisor, students are encouraged to seek positions in other areas that are related to their own research and professional interests. The University student job center posts some opportunities. The department also forwards job postings from other areas on campus to department students.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Named Option Requirements 

Mode of Instruction

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes Yes No No No

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement 30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 24 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements n/a
Assessments and Examinations None.
Language Requirements None.

Required Courses

Foundations3
ELPA 701
 Introduction to Higher and Post-Secondary Education
Core Areas18
Students take at least one course from Administration Organization Governance, Teaching and Learning, and Policy and Research. Students must also take at least two courses in Equity Diversity.
Administration Organization Governance (3-6 credits)
If pursuing a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration, choose ELPA 710 and 1 other course. Otherwise - choose 1 course.
ELPA 710
 Introduction to Intercollegiate Athletics Administration
ELPA 715
 Governance and Administration of Colleges and Universities
ELPA 736
 Administration of Student Services in Higher Education
ELPA 831
 Financing Postsecondary Education
ELPA 878
 The American Community College
ELPA 940
 Special Topics Seminar in Educational Leadership
Teaching and Learning (3-6 credits)
If pursuing a concentration in Student Affairs Administration, choose ELPA 883 and 1 other course. Otherwise - choose 1 course.
ELPA 880
 Academic Programs in Colleges and Universities
ELPA 881
 Ideas of the University: Images of Higher Learning for the 21st Century
ELPA 883
 Perspectives on College Student Identity and Development
ELPA 887
 Diversity and Inequality in Higher Education
ELPA 888
 Assessment in Higher Education
ELPA 940
 Special Topics Seminar in Educational Leadership
Policy and Research (3-6 credits)
ELPA 725
 Research Methods and Procedures in Educational Administration
ELPA 824
 Field Research Designs & Methodologies in Educational Administratn
ELPA 831
 Financing Postsecondary Education
ELPA 841
 Legal Aspects of Higher Education
ELPA 870
 The Politics of Education
ELPA 878
 The American Community College
ELPA 888
 Assessment in Higher Education
ELPA 940
 Special Topics Seminar in Educational Leadership
Equity Diversity (6 credits)
ELPA 882
 Minority-Serving Institutions of Higher Education
ELPA 883
 Perspectives on College Student Identity and Development
ELPA 878
 The American Community College
ELPA 887
 Diversity and Inequality in Higher Education
ELPA 940
 Special Topics Seminar in Educational Leadership
Additional Coursework3-6
Option of completing course work outside of Educational Leadership Policy Analysis OR completing additional ELPA course work. Consult with advisor prior to selecting courses. If completing a field experience, only 3 credits of additional course work is required.
Capstone Learning Project - Required3
ELPA 777
 Higher and Post-Secondary Education Capstone Seminar
ELPA 990
 Research or Thesis
ELPA 999
 Independent Reading
Field Experience - Optional0-4
ELPA 700
 Field Experience in Educational Leadership
ELPA 999
 Independent Reading
Total Credits30

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Named Option-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

If applicable to degree completion, and with program approval, students may transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework in educational leadership from other institutions and 6 credits of graduate coursework in areas other than educational leadership from other institutions. A maximum of 14 credits of prior coursework (graduate credits earned at other institutions and undergraduate credits earned at other institutions or UW-Madison combined) are allowed to transfer. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to the master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

If applicable to degree completion and with program approval, 6 credits of coursework numbered 500 or above from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree, or equivalent courses from other institutions, may transfer. A maximum of 14 credits of prior coursework (graduate credits earned at other institutions and undergraduate credits earned at other institutions or UW-Madison combined) are allowed to transfer. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special student at UW–Madison

With program approval, students may transfer no more than 6 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

All students are assigned an initial advisor upon admission to the department.

Master’s students have the option of requesting a change of advisor and will also need to find a faculty member willing to serve as their advisor. An advisor agreement form is required to change advisors.

Credits Per Term Allowed

12 credits

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

School of Education Grievance Policy and Procedures

The following School of Education Student Grievance Policy and associated procedures are designed for use in response to individual student grievances regarding faculty or staff in the School of Education.

Any individual student who feels they have been treated unfairly by a School of Education faculty or staff member has the right to file a grievance about the treatment and receive a timely response addressing their concerns. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these grievance procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies. The grievance may concern classroom treatment, mentoring or advising, program admission or continuation, course grades (study abroad grade complaints are handled through International Academic Programs), or issues not covered by other campus policies or grievance procedures. 

For grievances regarding discrimination based on protected bases (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, etc.), contact the Office of Compliance (https://compliance.wisc.edu/eo-complaint/).

For grievances or concerns regarding sexual harassment or sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation), contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program within the Office of Compliance.

For grievances that involve the behavior of a student, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Dean of Students Office at https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/).

For grievances about, or directed at, faculty or staff in a School of Education department, unit, or program, students should follow these steps:

  1. Students are strongly encouraged to first talk with the person against whom the concern is directed. Many issues can be settled informally at this level. If students are unable to resolve concerns directly or without additional support, step 2 or 3 should be pursued.
  2. If unresolved after taking or considering step 1:
    1. If the concern is directed against a teaching assistant (TA), and the student is not satisfied, the student should contact the TA's supervisor, who is usually the course professor. The course professor will attempt to resolve the concern informally.
    2. If the concern involves a non-TA instructor, staff member, professor, academic department, or School of Education office or unit, the student should contact the chair of the department or the director of the office or unit, or their designee. The chair or director, or their designee, will attempt to resolve the concern informally. If the concern is about the department chair or office/unit director, the student should consult the School of Education Senior Associate Dean for guidance.
  3. If the concern remains unresolved after step 2, the student may submit a formal grievance to the chair or director in writing within 30 business days1 of the alleged unfair treatment. To the fullest extent possible, a formal written grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the issue(s) involved and the relief sought.  
  4. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will notify the person at whom the grievance is directed with a copy of the written grievance. The person at whom the complaint is directed may submit a written response, which would be shared with the student.
  5. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will refer the matter to a department, office, or unit committee comprised of at least two members. The committee may be an existing committee or one constituted for this purpose. The committee, or delegates from the committee, may meet with the parties involved and/or review any material either party shares with the committee.  
  6. The committee will provide a written description of the facts of the grievance and communicate recommendations to the department chair or office/unit head regarding how the grievance should be handled.
  7. The chair or director will offer to meet with the student who made the grievance and also will provide a written decision to the student, including a description of any related action taken by the committee, within 30 business days of receiving the formal grievance.
    1

    For the purpose of this policy, business days refers to those days when the University Offices are open and shall not include weekends, university holidays, spring recess, or the period from the last day of exams of fall semester instruction to the first day of spring semester instruction. All time limits may be modified by mutual consent of the parties involved.

If the grievance concerns an undergraduate course grade, the decision of the department chair after reviewing the committee’s recommendations is final. 

Other types of grievances may be appealed using the following procedures:

  1. Both the student who filed the grievance or the person at whom the grievance was directed, if unsatisfied with the decision of the department, office or unit, have five (5) business days from receipt of the decision to contact the Senior Associate Dean, indicating the intention to appeal.   
  2. A written appeal must be filed with the Senior Associate Dean within 10 business days of the time the appealing party was notified of the initial resolution of the complaint.
  3. On receipt of a written appeal, the Senior Associate Dean will convene a sub-committee of the School of Education’s Academic Planning Council. This subcommittee may ask for additional information from the parties involved and/or may hold a meeting at which both parties will be asked to speak separately (i.e., not in the room at the same time).
  4. The subcommittee will then make a written recommendation to the Dean of the School of Education, or their designee, who will render a decision. The dean or designee’s written decision shall be made within 30 business days from the date when the written appeal was filed with the Senior Associate Dean.  For undergraduate students, the dean or designee’s decision is final.

Further appealing a School of Education decision – graduate students only

Graduate students have the option to appeal decisions by the School of Education dean or designee by using the process detailed on the Graduate School’s website.

Questions about these procedures can be directed to the School of Education Dean's Office, 377 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1763.

Resources

Other

n/a

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

People

Faculty: Professor Anjalé (AJ) Welton (chair); Professors Conrad, Eckes, Halverson, Kelley, Miller, Wang, Winkle-Wagner; Associate Professors Burt, Hillman; Assistant Professors Grooms, Henry, McQuillan, Saldana, Yu; Clinical Professors Crim, Li, Sramek, Salzman, Soffa-Jimenez