Higher Education Program

 

The Higher Education Program

The Higher Education Program offers graduate programs to provide academic preparation and professional development to graduate students who presently hold or seek careers in college and university administration and leadership, policy development, and scholarly research. Graduate students entering the program enroll in a wide range of graduate level degrees in Higher Education Administration and Policy, including a Master of Education (Ed.M.), Master of Science (M.S.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Program priorities include integrating theory and practice, maintaining strong interdisciplinary areas of study, fostering high quality research, and enhancing leadership development. A Doctor of Education degree is also offered for those currently working in the community college or interested in conducting research on community college issues. The Higher Education Program also seeks to promote academic integrity in the field of study and to provide college and university administrators, policy makers, and faculty with practical research and professional development in the State of Illinois and throughout the United States.

The Higher Education Program curriculum was designed to provide graduate students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the social, political, and economic issues encompassing the development and future challenges of higher and postsecondary institutions. Curricular priorities include integrating theory and practice, maintaining strong interdisciplinary areas of study, fostering high quality research, and enhancing leadership development. Students are expected to attain these academic objectives through a set of interrelated core courses that examine relevant conceptual and theoretical developments in history, public policy, economics, and philosophy. The program also offers students an opportunity to examine multiple research methodologies and to acquire methodological specializations based on interest and expertise.

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Funding Opportunities for Higher Education Students at Illinois

There are numerous ways to fund graduate study in higher education at the University of Illinois, including through fellowships and assistantships offered by the Graduate College, the Department of Educational Organization and Leadership (EOL), and affiliated units.  Click on the preferred document type link to see several of the opportunities for the 2009-2010 academic year PDF or MS Word .