Explore higher education and be ready to shape university life through administration, leadership, and research.
In as little as a year, the Higher Education master's program gives graduates a better understanding of how the higher education enterprise is structured, governed, financed, and managed. Students shape a plan of study that prepares them for leadership roles in institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies involved in constructing higher education nationally and worldwide.
What Sets Us Apart
alumni 3,000+ Penn GSE alumni have served as higher education administrators
About the Program
Courses are reading and writing intensive and involve discussion-oriented seminars, individual and group projects, interactive case studies, and hands-on, work-based applications of learning.
Fall & Spring: 3-5 courses for full-time students, 1-2 courses for part-time students; Summer: optional, up to 4 courses for full or part-time students
Culminating experienceComprehensive paper
- Full-Time
- Part-Time
The program explores a wide range of topics including access to and equity within higher education, student development, postsecondary administration and management, organizational change, curriculum and pedagogy, economics and financing, and postsecondary policies at federal, state, and global levels.
Graduate Assistantship
All full-time Higher Education M.S.Ed. students are encouraged to seek graduate assistantships. These positions typically entail 15-20 hours of work per week, and may coincide with Professional Development in Higher Education, though students do not earn course credit for assistantships.
Curriculum
The Higher Education M.S.Ed. curriculum provides a broad, foundational knowledge of the enterprise of higher education. Students may choose from other emphasized areas of knowledge, which include but are not limited to:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- University Administration
- Public Policy
- International Higher Education
- Research, Methods, and Inquiry
- Higher Education Foundations
For more information on courses and requirements, visit the Higher Education M.S.Ed. program in the University Catalog.
Courses typically offered by the Higher Education Division include, among others:
- Diversity in Higher Education
- History of American Higher Education
- University Community Partnerships
- Gender in College
- Understanding MSIs
- Building Inclusive Communities
- Access and Choice
- Administration of Student Life
- Enrollment Management
- Organization & Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Case Studies in Higher Education Administration
- Public Policy in Higher Education
- Advanced Public Policy Seminar
- Law and Higher Education
- Globalization and the University
- Democratizing Higher Education Participation
- Higher Education Policy: What We Can Learn from Other Countries
- Introduction to Inquiry in Educational Research
- Social and Statistical Network Analysis
- Quasi-Experimental Design
- Student Development in College Environments
- College Student Health
- Faculty and Academic Governance
- Ethics and Leadership in Higher Education
- Higher Education Finance
- Economics of Higher Education
- Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
Higher Education Required Courses
Students must complete six Higher Education courses, including “Diversity in Higher Education”.
Distribution Requirement
Candidates for the M.S.Ed. degree must demonstrate knowledge of the field of education beyond the area of specialization. This requirement is met by satisfying the distribution requirement. To meet the distribution requirement students must complete one approved graduate level GSE course outside the Higher Education division.
Elective Courses
Three elective courses may be taken at any school at Penn; however, the majority of Higher Ed students fulfill their electives within the division. Courses must be at the 500 level or above and students must consult their academic advisor before enrolling in any course outside of the Graduate School of Education.
Comprehensive Examination
Higher Education master’s degree candidates must pass a comprehensive exam in order to graduate. The exam requires students to apply their foundational knowledge of higher education. To qualify to take the examination, students must have completed at least six Higher Education course units, or be enrolled in at least the sixth course unit. The exam is given in both the fall and spring terms.
Note: Any substitutions for required courses must be approved by your advisor and/or the Division Chair.
Part-time Master's Students
CU Count
Part-time M.S.Ed. students must be registered for at least 1 CU each fall and spring term, up to 2 CUs per term. Enrolling in coursework during the summer terms is not required.
Most M.S.Ed. courses are offered between 10am and 6:30pm. Some courses are offered from 7pm to 9pm.
Our Faculty
Higher Education faculty are leading the conversation about how to expand college access, equity, and affordability. These experts are routinely sought by university presidents, foundation leaders, journalists, and policymakers seeking to understand the changing landscape of higher education.
Affiliated Faculty
Peter Garland
Executive Vice Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Ph.D., Penn State University
Laura W. Perna
Vice Provost for Faculty
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Frank Roth
General Counsel & Secretary, Board of Trustees, Lehigh University
Sean Vereen
President, Steppingstone Scholars, Inc.
Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania
Our Graduates
Alumni Careers
- Admissions and Academic Support Services Officer, Stanford University
- Admissions Counselor, Vanderbilt University
- Assistant Director of College Counseling, Germantown Academy
- Assistant Principal, New York City Department of Education
- Consulting Associate, AGB Institutional Strategies
- Financial Aid Advisor, University of California, Santa Barbara
- Higher Education Analyst, Huron Consulting Group
- Program Manager, Career Services, Yale-NUS, Singapore
- Ph.D. Student, Harvard University
- Ph.D. Student, University of Southern California
- Research Analyst, RAND Corporation
- Student Engagement Coordinator, George Mason University
Admissions & Financial Aid
Please visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages for specific information on the application requirements, as well as information on tuition, fees, financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships.
Contact us if you have any questions about the program.
Financial Aid
Graduate School of Education
University of Pennsylvania
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-6415
admissions@gse.upenn.edu
finaid@gse.upenn.edu
Ross Aikins
Adjunct Associate Professor, Program Manager
(215) 898-8398
raikins@gse.upenn.edu
Noel Lipki
Program Coordinator
(215) 746-2923
nlipki@upenn.edu
Please view information from our Admissions and Financial Aid Office for specific information on the cost of this program.
Penn GSE is committed to making your graduate education affordable, and we offer generous scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships.
Related News & Research
The Institute for Research on Higher Education (IRHE) is a university-wide research institute that conducts research relevant to policymakers and educational practitioners.
The Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy (Penn AHEAD) is dedicated to fostering open, equitable, and democratic societies through higher education.