Online Master of Arts in Education - Higher Education Administration

Total credit hours per program: 36 credit hours

Cost per credit hour: $459

Total cost with fees: $16,524

Each course takes place during a seven week module.

Students must pass a written comprehensive final exam to fulfill degree requirements.  Graduate School policy requires students take the final exam while enrolled during their last module prior to graduation.

Higher Education Electives (9 Hours)

• Three graduate-level courses from Higher Education (above list) or an advisor- approved cognate area.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must apply through the LSU Graduate School and have the following in order to be considered for program admission:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or the equivalent from a foreign institution*
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all undergraduate work (or in the final 60 credit hours) and for any graduate work already completed
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE Exam is Optional – A GRE score is not required. However, a student may opt to submit their score if they would like it to be considered in the admission process.

*Applicants with foreign credit hours are strongly encouraged to provide course-by-course evaluation of these credentials.

Additional information about LSU Graduate admission requirements are located here.

• Post Secondary Teachers 
• Post Secondary Education Administrators 
• School and Career Counselors and Advisors 
• Administrative Services and Facilities Managers 
• Administrative Leader
• Admissions Director
• Director of Alumni Relations
• Vice President of Enrollment Management
• Dean of Admissions
• Director of Student Financial Aid
• Director of Academic Advising
• Education Consultant
• Residential Life Coordinator

The program’s holistic approach acknowledges all stakeholders involved in higher education, ensuring that students leave LSU with an appreciation for and understanding of the conflicts that face students, faculty members, alumni, and others. The coursework is substantial and covers diverse higher education topics that will be applicable to a graduate’s career. Topics in the program cover a wide range including enrollment management, admissions, development, fundraising, marketing, educational technology, student affairs, academic affairs, diversity and inclusion management, corporate partnerships, and more. Students can build valuable professional relationships with current LSU professors and administrators, as well as connect with LSU’s alumni network for more career opportunities. Because it is available 100 percent online, LSU’s MA in Education with an HEA specialization enables working professionals to pursue their career goals and an advanced degree while maintaining their other personal commitments.

Students who graduate with an online master’s in higher education administration will be well-prepared to enter the complex higher education field and become leaders in their schools.

Topics covered in this degree program include the following: 

• Instructing teachers and administrators to become intelligent consumers of research
• Basic concepts and issues in the college student affairs field
• Introduction to basic communication skills and counseling techniques
• Historical and socio-political perspectives on the higher education experiences of women, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanics, focusing primarily on the period from the 1960s to the present
• Organization and administration of postsecondary education in the United States and abroad
• Analysis of leadership issues and theory relating to postsecondary education, including the college presidency and academic governance
• Legal issues concerning higher education, including tenure, academic freedom, campus crime, sexual harassment, laws against discrimination, student discipline and liability for accidents and injuries

Every day, dedicated administrative professionals at higher education organizations across the country are making it possible for students and professors to have the most enriching academic experience possible. These professionals are building relationships with alumni groups, spearheading fundraising initiatives for scholarships, serving as helpful and trustworthy liaisons with the Greek community, and doing whatever they can to enhance the higher education experience for all stakeholders.

An MA in Education with an HEA specialization provides graduates with the managerial skills and comprehensive understanding of higher education operations to become a successful collegiate administrative leader. This degree can help graduates to attain rewarding positions and can enable students to enrich the lives of members of the university body with the knowledge and techniques developed in the program.

The program’s holistic approach acknowledges all stakeholders involved in higher education, ensuring that students leave LSU with an appreciation for and understanding of the conflicts that face students, faculty members, alumni, and others. The coursework is substantial and covers diverse higher education topics that will be applicable to a graduate’s career. Topics in the program cover a wide range including enrollment management, admissions, development, fundraising, marketing, educational technology, student affairs, academic affairs, diversity and inclusion management, corporate partnerships, and more. Students can build valuable professional relationships with current LSU professors and administrators, as well as connect with LSU’s alumni network for more career opportunities. Because it is available 100 percent online, LSU’s MA in Education with an HEA specialization enables working professionals to pursue their career goals and an advanced degree while maintaining their other personal commitments.

Question:  Will my degree say LSU Online?

Answer: No, upon program completion you will receive the same diploma as your on-campus peers.

Question: Do I ever need to appear at the LSU campus for LSU Online programs?

Answer: No, you do not. LSU Online programs are 100% online and require no on-campus appearance. Check with your program for any activities or events that may be available to you should you be in the Baton Rouge area.

Question: How do I find out who my advisor and/or class instructor is?

Answer: Your advisor will be assigned by your department. Feel free to contact your department for specifics as to who your instructor will be for a class. Generally, Moodle (the class delivery system) displays class information at least 10 to 14 days before the class begins. Instructions for Moodle are covered in the LSU Online Orientation.

Question: Is financial aid available for online students?

Answer: Yes, students in an LSU Online graduate program may be eligible for financial aid. For more information email your questions to lsuonlinefinaid@lsu.edu.

Question: Do I have to pay the full tuition upfront?

Answer: No, you pay as you go for each course you’re registered in for the term.