The Master's degree in Higher Education Administration at KU is primarily designed for individuals preparing for administrative careers in higher education. The program consists of 36 credit hours of integrated courses and hands-on experiences - all of which can be completed in two years.

The graduate program allows students to extend and apply their knowledge of colleges and universities, and to gain relevant experience in higher education administration. Graduate students will learn from expert scholars and practitioners, as well as fellow classmates, who bring diverse leadership experiences to the higher education administration program at KU.

Graduate students enrolled in the program, can expect to complete coursework and gain experiences that meet specific learning objectives, such as:

• Gain knowledge of organization, culture, diversity & history of higher education institutions
• Understand relevant research on student development theories and its impact on students
• Develop personal philosophy of equity in higher education grounded in scholarship
• Use literature to link higher education administration theory with practice
• Relate relevant assistantship experiences to classroom learning
• Differentiate between functional areas through hands-on internship experiences for graduate course credit
• Demonstrate proficient writing skills and mastery of APA format

Students admitted to the full-time Master’s degree program are required to secure and maintain a graduate assistantship at KU (or another local higher education institution). Students with a graduate assistantship (GA) are guaranteed in-state tuition, 6 credit hours paid for by KU per year, health insurance, and a stipend as part of their assistantship at KU.  GA's typically work between 20-30 hours per week.  Additional financial support is also available beyond assistantship compensation.  Contact program coordinator for more information.  International students are encouraged to apply for GA positions but are not required to secure a position.

The number and type of available assistantships will vary slightly from year to year, though assistantship positions are typically available in the following offices:

• KU Student Housing
• Office of Admissions
• Office of First Year Experience (FYE)
• Jayhawk Academic Advising
• Student Involvement & Leadership Center (SILC)
• Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
• Financial Aid & Scholarships

Graduate Admission to the School of Education and Human Sciences

Graduate programs in education are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate and graduate degrees whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Applicants must provide evidence of ability to work successfully at the graduate level, including experience in and commitment to the profession.  

Each department in the School of Education and Human Sciences sets its own application deadlines and admission criteria.  Prospective graduate students should contact the appropriate department for more information.

See Admission in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog for more information.

Graduate Admission requirements:

Applicants for the 3 master’s programs, education and social policy, educational administration, and higher education administration, must submit the following materials:

(Individual program concentrations may require additional application materials (see below). Please check the departmental website or program advisor for additional information and application deadlines.)

1. A completed Graduate application.
2. 1 official transcript from each post-secondary collegiate institution attended.
3. Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor’s degree requirements.
4. Statement of purpose with relevance of degree to career aspirations.
5. Three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant’s capacity for rigorous graduate study and qualifications for leadership positions in education and related fields.
6. A vita or resume.
7. Proof of English proficiency, for non-native English speakers.  Visit https://gradapply.ku.edu/english-requirements for further details.

See below for specific admissions requirements for the master's concentrations:

Education & Social Policy:

The education and social policy program requires a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).  It additionally requires a statement of purpose that describes the applicant’s interests related to education and social policy.  Applicants must address their personal and academic background, professional goals, and life experiences that shaped the decision to pursue a master’s degree.  They should also describe experiences or achievements that would help them contribute to the ELPS program; KU’s mission for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness; and their professional aspirations once they complete the degree.

Educational Administration:

The educational administration program requires a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).  Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 should contact a KU admissions advisor for more information. Letters of recommendation for this concentration should meet these criteria: one should be from an immediate supervisor and two from others in leadership positions (principal, grade level chair, instructional coach, etc). 

Higher Education Administration:

The higher education administration program requires a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Letters of recommendation should include one from the applicant’s immediate supervisor, and  at least one of the others should be from a professor.