Higher Education Degree Programs
Do you exhibit excellent organizational skills, communicate effectively, enjoy working with the latest technology, and want a rewarding career in education? Then, perhaps you should consider obtaining a degree in higher education if working at a college or university sounds appealing. Higher education professionals are also very dedicated to their work.
This education will not only prepare you for career advancement, but also allow you to help individual students develop personally and professionally, obtain their degree, and find future work as leaders and inventors. The importance of higher education spans across many areas from culture to technology advancements and plays a crucial role in the economic well-being and scientific achievement of our country.
Offered at the master’s and doctoral level, these degree programs prepare students for work in educational leadership positions, such as administrators and managers. They train students to work with both staff and students in a variety of disciplines, ranging from instruction to curriculum development to educational management. Students learn about curriculum development, classroom management, and educational technologies. These programs integrate current theory, best practices, and practical application opportunities. They also provide students opportunities to conduct independent research projects, network with other academic professionals, and complete internships. Higher education students also gain the skills they need to develop curriculum, manage staff, and work within a budget.
Coursework typically includes foundations of theory and practice, survey of research methodology, leadership, adult education methods, curriculum development, and the management, assessment, and legal issues relevant to an advanced education. The politics, history, philosophy, administration, and leadership of higher education, and the funding and managing of education enterprises encompass additional material covered in these programs. Students also attend courses in the future of teaching and learning, instructional design, applied research and qualitative methods, adult development, learning and education, and workplace training and development. Program development and management of community education, human resources foundation development, grant writing, and student personnel services are additional classes provided in advanced programs. Others include distance and online learning programs, college teaching principles and the organization, administration, and supervision of adult education programs.
Many rewarding career options open up to higher education graduates at both public and private universities nationwide. Most work as deans, department chairs, researchers, professors, or hold other higher-level education administrative positions in high schools and colleges. Higher education administrators maintain academic quality and reputation, establish academic policies, coordinate and develop academic programs, manage budgets and finances, and recruit, hire, and manage faculty. Those seeking teaching positions in adult education programs, universities, and colleges must also take the necessary courses and meet certification requirements, often including and not limited to student teaching. Others find employment within corporate settings as benefits administrators, instructors and training, curriculum and development, or labor relations specialists. Some work as employee assistant program managers, agency counselors, community activists, media organizers, and program designers or planners.