M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education)
Program overview
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) program focuses on multifaceted leadership development by preparing students for the demands of leadership across the educational pipeline, including in higher education settings. Educational leaders must be able to elicit support and create educational environments that foster the kinds of creativity, change, and innovation that will educate diverse populations in American education. The program offers the flexibility for individual students to design a course-taking strategy applicable to individual goals to best leverage the available curriculum for their unique professional pursuits.
Why Choose Our Program?
Our University
UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research university. UNC Charlotte maintains a particular commitment to addressing the cultural, economic, educational, environmental, health, and social needs of the greater Charlotte region.
Flexible Study
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education offers a structured and predictable sequence toward degree completion. The majority of students complete the degree within two years, depending on enrollment patterns. Course delivery includes face-to-face, hybrid, and online meetings to meet the needs of working professionals, and students can choose to enroll part-time or full-time. Many of the faculty incorporate technology into their courses. Classes primarily meet on the main campus in the evenings. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday, with no Friday or weekend offers to allow for greater school/life balance.
Expert Practitioners and Scholars
Our faculty includes highly qualified scholars and practitioners with experience in community college, administration, student affairs, and academic affairs. They are highly productive scholars who are recognized and respected in their respective fields of study. They are noted as engaging students in reflective learning experiences, rigorous research, outstanding graduate mentoring, leadership, and high quality teaching.
Career Options
Many of our graduates have obtained early and mid-level administration careers as advisors, coordinators, assistant directors, and directors in residence life, orientation, first-year programming, veteran services, community engagement, and fraternity and sorority life. These positions are in public and private institutions, including community colleges, universities, corporations, and non-profits.
Tuition and Cost
There are many resources available to assist students with planning for tuition support. First, review how much money is needed to pay for your education by reviewing the tuition and fees associated with the program. Next, learn more about scholarship opportunities and funding support here, in addition to tuition support from the Graduate School.
Licensure
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education, does not lead to P-12 administrative licensure. Please visit the MSA program if you are seeking to become a P-12 administrator.
Student Opportunities
Students have opportunities during and after degree completion to demonstrate a broad understanding of their roles as educational leaders in the organizations they serve. This is done through a critical understanding of practitioner and theoretical concepts to focus on enhancing student experiences and success, while advancing leadership skills, engaging with emergent technology, and conducting research. Our students are entering the disciplinary field as early- to mid-level educational leaders with an understanding of policy development and analysis, program management, and strategic educational leadership.
Our students have opportunities to collaborate on research with faculty. This work has been presented at various conferences, including the North Carolina Association for Research in Education (NCARE), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and the Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT).
The Educational Leadership Student Organization (ELSO) is open to all graduate students from across the College of Education at UNC Charlotte. ELSO is a graduate student organization that centers three core pillars: (1) community building, (2) academic support, and (3) civic engagement. Ultimately, ELSO strives to adapt to meet the needs of the graduate students in Educational Leadership and across the College of Education, supporting students socially, academically, and professionally.
The Center for Graduate Life provides the support and community students need to meet the challenges they will face throughout their graduate experience. The Center offers professional development, career advice, skill development, and more. Virtual workshops are available on subjects such as graduate academic writing and research writing.
The University Career Center provides services, programs, and support for students and alumni.
Student experience
Watch this video to learn more about Davanta Parker, a 2021 alumnus of the program.
Contact Information
Dr. Cathy D. Howell
Ed.D. & M.Ed. Graduate Program Director
higher-ed@charlotte.edu