Policy, Management and Evaluation Division

M.S.Ed. | Ed.D. | Ph.D. | Application Info | Faculty | Contact

The Higher Education program is distinctive because:

• It combines a broad understanding of the enterprise of higher education with an introduction to the most successful practices of campus administration.
• It prepares students for leadership at any kind of college or university and for all major positions—with specialized electives in budget and resource allocation, fundraising, diversity, history, law, organizational change, public policy, and student affairs.
• The curriculum integrates case studies, discussion-oriented seminars, individual and group research projects and hands-on, work-based programs.
• Program faculty and students participate in research projects, which seek to explore and document issues that affect performance and capacity for renewal in American post-secondary educational institutions.
• The program is a community where students make friends, work closely with professors, enjoy classes with lively discussions, and develop a network of professional associates.
  
  

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)                                

The M.S.Ed. program in Higher Education Management is designed for people who are in the early stages of higher education careers and are seeking a better understanding of how the enterprise of higher education is structured, governed, financed and managed. Although there is no typical M.S.Ed. student, most fit into one of three groups:

• recent college graduates
• people with one to three years of experience working in higher education
• those who are making a career change into higher education

All share the need for foundation knowledge of the enterprise. The entire curriculum is based on interactive case studies, discussion-oriented seminars, individual and group projects, and experiential learning.  The masters program is made up of ten courses. Students can attend the program either full or part time. Full time students complete the program in one year academic year.  Part time students complete the program in two to four years depending on how many classes they take each term.  Part time students are required to enroll in a minimum of one class in both the fall and spring semesters. 

Program of Study

Required Courses (4)

Required for Full Time Students:

• EDUC-592 Professional Development in Higher Education (Full time only)

Students must complete at least THREE of the following courses:

• EDUC-504 Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
• EDUC-607 Faculty and Academic Governance
• EDUC-640 History of American Higher Education
• EDUC-642 Higher Education in American Society 

Distributional requirement (1)

All GSE masters students must satisfy a distributional requirement that demonstrates breadth within the field of education.  This requirement is fulfilled by enrolling in one course unit in the Graduate School of Education but outside the higher education specialization.

Electives (5)

Five graduate elective courses can be taken at GSE or any of Penn’s graduate schools.  In addition to electives in higher education such as diversity, law, and student life, students have taken courses in Wharton, Fels, and other schools across campus. Students choose their elective coursework in consultation with their academic advisor.

Advising

Upon admission, each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will aid in the planning of the course of study and professional development.

Graduate Assistantship

All higher education management M.S.Ed. students are required to complete a graduate assistantship.  Part-time students fulfill this requirement through their full-time jobs in higher education.  Full-time students participate in our graduate assistantship program, and are also required to take EDUC 592-Professional Development in Higher Education to link theory in the classroom with practice in their assistantship. The program recruits positions from a variety of offices across Penn’s campus and local colleges and universities.  Typically students are placed in paid positions.  Examples of 2006-07 graduate assistantships are:

• Community College of Philadelphia
• Penn College of General Studies
• Penn Graduate Student Center
• Penn GSE Admissions
• Penn GSE Professional Development 
• Penn International programs
• Penn Special Planning and Events Committee
• Penn GSE Student Affairs Office
• Upward Bound
• Wharton Career Services Office

Master’s Comprehensive Examination

Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in order to complete the program. Students must be able to demonstrate their familiarity with the literature of higher education and its application to current higher education challenges. The exam is offered in both the fall and spring terms.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)  

The Ed.D. program is for part time students preparing to continue their careers as practitioners in managerial and administrative positions in the field of higher education.  Successful Ed.D. applicants have five to ten years of progressively responsible work experience in higher education.  The program emphasizes the practice of education and consultation in colleges and universities, governmental agencies and foundations. Ed.D. students attain a broad understanding of the enterprise of higher education through completion of core doctoral classes which are designed to facilitate their understanding of research and their completion of a dissertation. In addition to these courses, Ed.D. students draw upon their professional work experience to develop the skills they will need in order to conduct quality primary research in higher education management. Students’ professional experiences provide insights into issues facing universities and will also provide students with possible dissertation topics.

Program of Study

The Ed.D. program requires a minimum of 20 course units. Students can attend the program part time only. Transfer credit is available for doctoral students who have completed some graduate level academic work. Up to eight courses of prior work can be applied toward the 20 course unit requirement. The number of course units received depends on when the courses were taken, the grades received, and the relevance of the courses to the higher education academic program.  Transfer credit is reviewed upon matriculation into the program by the student’s academic advisor.   Students typically complete coursework in four to six years. 

Required Courses (6)

• EDUC-705 Proseminar in Research and Analysis 
• EDUC-631 Research Topics
• EDUC-803 Readings in Higher Education
• EDUC-556 Higher Education Finance

Methods courses: all higher education management Ed.D. students are required to take two methods course either within the Graduate School of Education or at another school at Penn.  One of these courses must be in statistics.  Students should consult their academic advisor regarding the appropriate methods courses for their program of study.  Methods courses filled at GSE outside of the Policy, Management and Evaluation Division will also fulfill GSE’s distribution requirement – although they are not double counted towards the total 20 course units required for the program.

Distributional requirement (2)

All GSE doctoral students must satisfy a distributional requirement that demonstrates breadth within the field of education.  This requirement is fulfilled by enrolling in two course units in the Graduate School of Education but outside of the Policy, Management and Evaluation Division. 

Electives (12)

Elective coursework can be completed at GSE or at any of Penn’s graduate schools.  Students work closely with their academic advisor to determine the appropriate elective courses for their planned program of study and research interests.  Students without a masters degree in higher education management may be required to fill some of their electives with required coursework from the M.S.Ed. program of study.

Advising

Upon admission, each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will aid in the planning of the course of study and professional development.

Preliminary Examination

Students must pass the preliminary examination in order to proceed on to their dissertation proposal. Students must demonstrate a familiarity with the literature of higher education, a foundational knowledge of the enterprise of higher education, and must be able to design an institutional research type feasibility study. The preliminary exam is offered in both the fall and spring terms. 

Dissertation

Executive Doctorate (Ed.D.)

The Executive Doctorate is for executives and senior leaders in higher education and related organizations. It offers an integrated and interdisciplinary curriculum centered squarely on advanced topics in higher education administration, strategic management and applied research skills. The program provides a structured and systematic approach to the curriculum and dissertation, making it possible for participants to complete their work and earn their degrees within two years.

Each August, a select and small cohort of students begins the program. Everyone follows the same schedule to complete a common curriculum over six consecutive semesters. The program begins with an intensive, week-long meeting which includes seminars focused on contemporary issues in higher education management and an introduction to doctoral studies. Students then attend courses in Philadelphia for three days each month in the fall and spring semesters for two academic years. The second summer term is an extended study-abroad trip exploring the international contexts of higher education. In between course meetings, students complete pre-and post-class assignments individually and in groups. Additionally, we use regular and structured internet contact to provide continuity and connection between the monthly meetings.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)  

The Ph.D. program is for students preparing for an academic career in the field of higher education management. As in the other programs, Ph.D. students must attain a broad understanding of the enterprise of higher education through prior relevant coursework or work experience. Ph.D. students will, through coursework and a research assistantship, acquire the skills they will need in order to conduct quality primary research in higher education management. Developing a solid research-based background will allow Ph.D. students to: (1) understand research in higher education; (2) design and carry out primary research; (3) evaluate policies and programs; and (4) analyze qualitative and quantitative data.

Program of Study

The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 20 course units. Students must attend the program on a full time basis. Transfer credit is available for doctoral students who have completed some graduate level academic work. Up to eight courses of prior work can be applied toward the 20 course unit requirement. The number of course units received depends on when the courses were taken, the grades received, and the relevance of the courses to the higher education academic program.  Transfer credit is reviewed upon matriculation into the program by the student’s academic advisor. 

Required courses

The Ph.D. program in Higher Education Management is highly individualized.  The program requires students to complete 2 methods course as described below and a cognate in another academic discipline.  Ph.D. student develop an individualized planned program of study with their academic advisor based on their cognate and research interests. 

Methods courses (2)

All higher education doctoral students are required to take two methods course either with the Graduate School of Education or at another school at Penn.   One of these courses must be in statistics.  Students should consult their academic advisor regarding the appropriate methods courses for their program of study.  Methods course filled at GSE outside of the Policy, Management and Evaluation Division will also fulfill GSE’s distribution requirement – although they are not double counted towards the total 20 course units required for the program.

Distributional requirement (2)

All GSE doctoral students must satisfy a distributional requirement that demonstrates breadth within the field of education.  This requirement is fulfilled by enrolling in two course units in the Graduate School of Education but outside of the Policy, Management and Evaluation Division.

Electives

Elective coursework can be completed at GSE or at any of Penn’s graduate schools.  Students work closely with their academic advisor to determine the appropriate elective courses for their planned program of study and research interests.  Students without a masters degree in higher education may be required to fill some of their electives with required coursework from the M.S.Ed. program of study.

Advising

Upon admission, each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will aid in the planning of the course of study and professional development.

Preliminary examination

Students must pass the preliminary examination in order to proceed on to their dissertation proposal. Students must demonstrate a familiarity with the literature of higher education, a foundational knowledge of the enterprise of higher education and must be able to design a research study which seeks to answer a research question concerned with some aspect of higher education. The preliminary exam is offered in both the fall and spring terms.

Dissertation

The Ph.D. dissertation is a book-length presentation of original research relating to the enterprise of higher education. Students working on the dissertation typically finish it in one to three years.

Application Requirements  

• Penn GSE Application
• Application fee
• Curriculum Vitae or resume
• Score report from the Graduate Records Examination (as reported by ETS)
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Academic transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
• International applicants must also supply the score report from the TOEFL or IELTS examinations

Marybeth Gasman, Ph.D., Indiana University

Ann Tiao, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Michael Tierney, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Robert Zemsky, Ph.D., Yale University

Frank Roth, Senior Counsel, Lehigh University

Alan Ruby, Senior Fellow, University of  Pennsylvania

Program Contact Information

Policy, Management and Evaluation Division

University of Pennsylvania , Graduate School of Education

Phone: (215) 898-2444  

pme@gse.upenn.edu