Higher education administration

University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduate certificate
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Overview

One of few in the nation, the online graduate certificate in higher education administration helps professionals working in higher education, or seeking to gain entry into the field, enhance their knowledge. This program provides students with knowledge of higher education administration and governance, finance, and additional content specific to students’ interests in areas such as college student cultures and environments; race, gender, and ethnicity; law, community colleges, student affairs administration, history, helping skills, etc. Students may also pursue internship credits as part of their certificate (e.g., finance, law, policy).

The graduate certificate is designed for early-career professionals seeking additional training and career advancement. More experienced professionals without graduate training would also benefit from this certificate.

Quick facts

Official name

Graduate certificate in higher education administration

Campus

University of Missouri-Columbia

Program type

Graduate certificate

Academic home

College of Education & Human Development | Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

Delivery mode

100% online

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission, Teacher Education Accreditation Council

Credit hours

12

Estimated cost

$6,420.00

*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

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Career prospects

This certificate prepares graduates to take on roles in many areas of higher education, such as:

  • Housing
  • Student affairs
  • Diversity programming
  • International student affairs
  • Study abroad
  • Leadership
  • Off-campus engagement

Students will learn more about how a university functions and how to effectively work with students.

Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
9%
employment growth
https://www.higheredjobs.com/salary/salaryDisplay.cfm?SurveyID=23
$35-50k
average salary

Program structure

The online graduate certificate in higher education administration is 100% online: no campus visits required.

Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one to two classes per semester and finish the program in one year.

Course work includes

  • Administration and governance of higher education
  • Higher education finance
  • Race, gender and ethnicity in higher education
  • College student culture and environment
  • International higher education

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based

Typical program length

1 year

Typical course load

1 or 2 classes each semester

Further your education

Students may apply the 12 credit hours earned for this graduate certificate to the master of education, master of arts or doctor of philosophy with emphases in higher education — programs offered on-campus in Columbia, Missouri.

Accreditation

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The College of Education and Human Development is a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

Faculty spotlight

Casandra Harper-Morris, PhD

Areas of expertise:

  • Differential effects of college on students
  • Racial identification patterns of college students
  • Parental involvement, campus climate, & financial aid
Casandra Harper Morris, PhD
Associate Professor, Higher Education
Bradley Curs, PhD

Areas of expertise:

  • Education policy
  • Economics of education
  • College access
Bradley Curs, PhD
Associate Professor, Higher Education Policy Director

Learn more about this program

This program is administered by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis