4101 Education Building
757-683-4305
Dennis Gregory, Graduate Program Director
The Higher Education program offers professional graduate degrees for careers in advanced leadership positions in colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, or educational associations. The program has specialized curricular tracks in student affairs administration, international higher education leadership, and leadership and administration.
Students gain professional experience through internships with a wide-variety of colleges, universities, agencies, and associations in the U.S. and abroad. A capstone experience engages students in real-life research projects that are commissioned by university and community leaders.
The program meets the requirements for graduate programs of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), and the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). The program meets standards established by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).
Admission
Prospective students seeking admission to the Master’s degree program in Higher Education must:
- Meet all University admission requirements as listed in the Old Dominion University Catalog;
- Submit transcripts of all undergraduate work with an undergraduate GPA of 2.8 overall and 3.0 in the major (students with a GPA lower than 3.0 in the major may be admitted provisionally);
- Provide two (2) letters of recommendation. At least one letter must come from a professor or an individual who describes the applicant's academic performance and writing ability. Letters from senior-level leaders that endorse the applicant's leadership potential are encouraged;
- Provide a 1-page single-spaced essay that addresses the questions: What are your professional goals? Why do you wish to obtain the specific degree for which you are applying?
- Provide a writing sample from undergraduate coursework;
- Provide a resume that describes the applicant’s academic and professional background;
- Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT of at least 80.
Applicants whose admission credentials are slightly below the required minimum will be considered for provisional admission.
Curriculum Requirements
The Student Affairs Administration track prepares professionals for positions in student affairs, including academic advising, admissions, campus activities, greek life, judicial affairs, multicultural affairs, orientation, and residence life and housing.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| FOUN 611 | Introduction to Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| or FOUN 722 | Introduction to Applied Statistics and Data Analysis |
| HIED 708 | Foundations of Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 752 | The Law of Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 757 | Learning Environment Design and Assessment | 3 |
| HIED 710 | Student Affairs Administration | 3 |
| HIED 733 | Professional Helping Skills in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 745 | Today’s College Student | 3 |
| 6 |
| Strategic Planning | |
| The Private College and University | |
| Campus Internationalization | |
| Institutional Finance and Resource Management | |
| Higher Education Leadership | |
| Institutional Advancement | |
| Topical Issues in Higher Education | |
| College and the University Presidency | |
| Adult and Continuing Education | |
| External and Internal Relations for Higher Education | |
| Global and Intercultural Perspectives in Higher Education | |
| Governance, Organization, and Administration of Higher Education | |
| Topics in Higher Education Administration | |
| Seminar on the Modern Community College: Foundations, Philosophy, and Vision | |
| Foundations of Career Development | |
| Adult and College Student Development | |
| HIED 768 | Internship in Higher Education Administration (A) | 3 |
| HIED 768 | Internship in Higher Education Administration (B) | 3 |
| HIED 761 | Higher Education Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 |
Special Courses
These courses may be used for a variety of specialized topical seminars and may fulfill requirements in one or more of the cognate areas noted above.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| HIED 795 | Topics in Higher Education Administration | 1-6 |
Additional Requirements
Continuance
Students must meet all department, college, and university policy requirements for continuation in their academic program. See department policy above.
Continuance Policy and Procedures for the Educational Leadership Program
The following policy has been established for continuance in Educational Leadership Program.
At the end of each semester – fall, spring, and summer – the graduate program directors (GPD) will review student records. As per university policy, students who do not maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in their ELS program will be placed on probation. Students placed on probation have one semester to bring their overall GPA back to a minimum of 3.0. A student may be placed on probation only one time in their EFL program and will not be eligible for a second probationary period. Should a student’s GPA fall below 3.0 twice, he/she will be dismissed from the program.
Students who receive a grade of F in any ELS required or elective program course or who receive a final grade of lower than B- in more than one class in their program will be dismissed from their program by the Graduate Program Director and Department Chair. A failing grade in dissertation credits for one semester places the student in warning status and does not automatically dismiss the student from the program. However, two failing grades in dissertation credits will result in dismissal from the program. Students may follow the Grade Appeal Procedure in the ODU Graduate Catalog. In the event a grade is appealed such that the student comes into compliance with the EFL Continuance Policy, he/she will be reinstated. In accord with University policy, ODU email is considered official communication.
Exit
In order to graduate from the program, students must successfully complete:
- the required course of study for a total of at least 36 credit hours of coursework; and
- pass a written comprehensive examination.
Non-Degree
Non-degree students are limited to a maximum of two courses prior to admission unless they receive permission from the GPD. Students must receive academic advising from a program faculty member prior to enrollment in any course as a non-degree student. Taking courses as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission into the program.
