Make move.

MASTER OF EDUCATION IN hIghER EDUCATION

I knew I wanted to be part of the complex and rewarding

world of higher education. I have taught in the public

school classroom, the college classroom, and now serve

in administration as Head of the Division of Education.

All of these opportunities have been equally rewarding,

and I am excited to help you learn and grow personally

and professionally to realize your full potential.

You’re ready for more.

There are times in life when nothing is more important than bold action. When it comes to your career and personal aspirations, seizing opportunities is the key to getting ahead. If you want more from your career, or if you’ve set a personal goal of advancing your education, it’s time to take charge by earning a rigorous advanced degree from a school with an excellent reputation that puts you in the best possible position for achieving your goals. Once you do, you’ll feel your whole world start to change.

Lead The WAY.american colleges and universities need talented, qualified professionals who have a passion for a career in administration in higher education. if you want to transform the lives of students and the institutions that serve them by developing meaningful programs and policies, this course of study will help you achieve those goals. with an unerring belief that working in higher education is a noble career path, you will graduate prepared to make decisions that influence the future of a college or university. columbia college seeks to enroll students with a strong commitment to personal and professional growth and a desire to lead and promote institutional success.

Our program doesn’t limit your career opportunities to a narrow field within higher education; instead, we take a global approach and help you acquire the knowledge and skills to advance into a variety of positions throughout your career, including student affairs, enrollment management, and finance. Departments within a college or university setting must work together to meet institutional goals, and collaboration is best achieved when administrators have a strong working knowledge of all areas rather than a narrow focus in one area. Ours is a well-rounded academic and practical course of study to prepare you for success.

Your instructors are practicing administrators who bring to the classroom a vast wealth of knowledge and experience. Our commitment is to ensure that your assignments are relevant, that your class discussions explore real-world college issues, and that you come to understand how your decisions as an administrator will influence the lives of students and the institution you serve. In this program, you will join a fully engaged community of faculty, staff, and students in addressing the most serious and stimulating issues in higher education. You will engage in collaborative discussions, design projects with fellow students, complete meaningful assignments that further inform your ability to provide leadership, and research issues that impact colleges and universities today.

A master’s degree in higher education is a valuable

credential. Mine allowed me to serve as Dean of

Students and eventually as Vice President for

Enrollment Management. With a master’s degree,

many more doors will be open to you in the

stimulating environment of higher education.” Dr. Ron White vice president for enrollment management

Excel with Experience

This progrAM is delivered in A cohorT forMAT. classes meet several times each semester and only on weekends, serving individuals already employed by a college or university as well as those still pursuing a career in higher education. this program will help you meet your professional goals by offering a comprehensive and integrated approach in its curriculum. after a rigorous year of study, you will emerge equipped and ready to fulfill leadership roles in a broad range of administrative positions in higher education settings, including public, private, two-year, or four-year colleges and universities.

Raise your expectations

In addition to taking part in an outstanding, real-world academic program, you will thrive as part of a fully engaged community of faculty, staff, students, and administrators dedicated to helping you accelerate your professional and personal development. We’re here to see your investment through to a degree that represents real achievement and a long-term, proud connection to Columbia College.

“Working in the field of higher education gives me an

opportunity to make a difference in students’ lives daily.

As a higher education professional, you gain access to

students’ lives and that, indeed, is a great honor.

Dr. LaNaé Briggs Budden dean of students, faculty

Key Concepts

Examining practices and issues related to the management of financial resources

Studying how laws impact faculty, staff, and student rights and responsibilities

Understanding principles and strategies used in program evaluation and outcomes assessment

Learning major student development theories and philosophies upon which they are based and their application to everyday practice in higher education

Surveying models of leadership and how those styles interact with constituents

Reviewing the history of higher education to understand current organizational and governance patterns

Providing a framework for enrollment management work to include integrated marketing, financial aid, and student services

Examining critical problems and issues facing colleges and universities

Ask Questions

We know you will have questions regarding the program. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 803.786.3191 or 803.786.3766.

For more information regarding program rationale, class schedules, program format, course descriptions, admission requirements, and tuition, visit www.columbiasc.edu/graduate and choose Master of Education in Higher Education.

Know Your Options

the single most important fact you need to know about financial aid is that you have options.

Pay online with VISA, MasterCard, or American Express at www.columbiasc.edu. Payment is due in full on or before the first day of class.

Make monthly payments by enrolling in Tuition Management Systems (TMS). Information is available online at www.afford.com or by calling 800.722.4867. Request a brochure from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Apply for federal student aid through the Stafford Federal Loan program. You must be degree-seeking and enroll in at least six hours per semester to be eligible to receive loans.

If you are eligible to receive educational benefits through the Veterans Administration, you should apply to the appropriate agency as soon as you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Thanks to the M. Ed. in Higher Education program at

Columbia College, I have a solid network in my cohort

and am already putting new skills and knowledge to

good use. Not only has the program benefited me,

but it has benefited my coworkers and the students

I interact with on a daily basis.”

Talk With UsIf you have questions or require more detailed financial aid information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 803.786.3612. Financial aid will send you an award letter only AFTER you have been accepted into the program.

If you apply for federal student aid, you are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Columbia College federal code is 003430. You will submit information from your most recent federal tax return that determines how much Columbia College can award you in Stafford Federal Loans.

You should apply for federal student aid at the same time you apply for admission. Delay in filing the FAFSA can result in our not being able to award you financial aid for the semester in which you plan to enroll.

Transform Your Career

Application for admission to the Master of Education in Higher Education program is open to women and men with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must complete the following requirements:

Submit the free online application at www.columbiasc.edu.

Submit two letters of recommendation, including the matrix and narrative, from a supervisor, professor, or colleague who can attest to your ability to perform at the graduate level.

Submit official transcripts of ALL undergraduate and graduate work.

Submit an application essay based on one of the three topics listed online at www.columbiasc.edu. We recommend that you pay close attention to the Essay Scoring Guide, as it details how your essay will be assessed.

Submit one of the following:

• A current teaching certificate

• Official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or MAT (Miller Analogies Test) score that was taken within the past five years

• Evidence that your cumulative undergraduate GPA was 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

A TOEFL score is required for applicants whose first language is not English. The minimum score required on the computer version is 213; the minimum score required on the paper version is 550. The Columbia College TOEFL code is 5117.

The Graduate Program at Columbia College offers classes for women and men.

Columbia College offers safe, on-campus parking for registered graduate students with a FREE parking permit.

This graduate program was designed with busy, working professionals in mind. You will combine rigorous weekend class meetings with meaningful online assignments that will not interrupt your weekday work.

accreditationColumbia College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Columbia College.

Quick facts

www.columbiasc.edu/graduate/masters/med-higher-education

Contact Information

Address

Office of Graduate Admissions 1301 Columbia College Drive Columbia SC 29203

Phone

803.786.3191 or 803.786.3766

Website

www.columbiasc.edu/graduate/ masters/med-higher-education

non-discrimination policyColumbia College does not discriminate on the basis of gender in its evening/ weekend adult programs or graduate programs. Columbia College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, or disability in any of its educational programs, admission procedures, or employment practices. Admission requirements and programs are subject to change.

Your life is too busy to do busy work, so the concepts and skills you learn in the Higher Education program will be immediately applicable to your career in higher education.

Make move.

Office of Graduate Admissions 1301 Columbia College Drive Columbia, SC 29203

803.786.3191 | 803.786.3766

www.columbiasc.edu