Grand Valley State University's Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education offers an emphasis in Adult and Higher Education and in College Student Affairs Leadership (CSAL). The program is designed for students who wish to develop competencies in teaching adult students and for individuals interested in college or university instructional affairs and administration.

Grand Valley State University's College of Education and Community Innovation is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The faculty are leaders in their fields, melding together the philosophy of education and your needs as a practitioner.

Listen to the M.Ed. in higher education podcast to learn more about the program.

Program Plan

YEAR ONE 

FALL (9 CREDITS):

• EDH 651 - Higher Education and Student Affairs Functions
• EDH 652 - The American College Student 
• EDH 680 - Professional Seminar In Higher Education and Student Affairs

WINTER (9 CREDITS):

• EDH 647 - Theories of College Student Development
• EDH 653 - Administration of Student Affairs Programs 
• EDF 660 - Educational Inquiry and Evaluation

SUMMER (6 CREDITS):

• EDH 685 – Practicum/Graduate Field Experience 1 
• ELECTIVE OF YOUR CHOICE 

YEAR TWO

FALL (9 CREDITS):

• EDH 655 - Intervention Strategies for Student Development 
• EDH 686 - CSAL Practicum/Graduate Field Experience 2 
• ELECTIVE OF YOUR CHOICE        
  • EDH 695 - Master's Thesis (A thesis is 6 credit hours, if you decide to do a thesis you do not have to take an elective this semester) 

WINTER (9 CREDITS):

• EDH 654 - Student Affairs Administrators and the Law
• EDH 695 - Master's Thesis OR EDH 693 - Master's Project 
• ELECTIVE OF YOUR CHOICE

EDF 671 - Educational Policy and Practice: Course offers an advanced examination of social foundations theories and perspectives in education in preparation for an analysis and critique of selected policy related issues and practices in U. S. education. Offered every semester.

3 Credits

(Y2)

EDF 672 - Social/Cultural Foundations of Education: Examines education as a social and cultural phenomenon. Explores the implications of this perspective on educational experience in general and the processes of teaching and learning in particular.

3 Credits

(F1)

EDF 660 - Educational Inquiry and Evaluation: Introduces educational inquiry and explores the impact it can have on educational institutions. Investigates educational evaluation. Provides foundational research knowledge necessary for Capstone courses EDF 693 and EDF 695.

3 Credits

(W1)

EDH 647 - Theories of College Student Development: This course examines the major student development theories used by college student affairs practitioners in the higher education environment.

3 Credits

(W1)

EDH 651 - Higher Ed. and Student Affairs Functions: Provides an overview of the historical development of American higher education and an introduction to the evolution of student affairs functions in the academy.

3 Credits

(F1)

EDH 652 - The American College Student: Examines the characteristics, values, expectations, and needs of contemporary college students in the context of student development theory.

3 Credits

(F1)

EDH 653 - Administration of Student Affairs Programs: Examines the philosophy, organization and delivery of support programs, services, and cocurricular learning experiences for college students.

3 Credits

(W1)

EDH 654 - Student Affairs Administrators and the Law: Provides an overview of the legal issues and challenges that confront student affairs administrators in the higher education environment.

3 Credits

(W2)

EDH 655 - Intervention Strategies for Student Development: Examines the interventions used by student affairs practitioners to facilitate students' learning about themselves, about other people, and about ideas.

3 Credits

(F2)

Students enrolled in the M.Ed. in Higher Education program have several options for selecting elective courses as part of their degree program.
Students enrolled in the College Student Affairs Leadership (CSAL) program have the opportunity to select two or three electives; three electives (9 credits) for students completing a master’s project or two electives (6 credits) for those choosing to complete a master’s thesis.
Elective courses are offered in the Fall (F), Winter (W), and Spring/Summer (SPR/SUM).

Below is a list of recently offered electives:

EDH 656 - Organization and Administration of Higher Education: Theory and models of organizational structure, administrative behavior, funding, governance and management of higher education; processes and factors influencing institutional decision-making and higher education planning. Offered once per year. Prerequisite: EDH 651.

3 Credits

(F, W)

EDH 657 - The Community College: The community college will explore the organizational behaviors and administrative practices unique to community colleges. Drawing on current and historical research, the course will examine educational philosophy and curricular objectives, student demographics, faculty and staff development, governance and leadership, and financial management of community colleges. Offered once per year. Prerequisite: EDH 651.

3 Credits

(SPR/SUM)

EDH 658 Critical Issues in Higher Education: Critical issues in higher education will provide a study of contemporary higher education and will include an analysis of the changing needs and demands of society and how they impact higher education. Attention is centered on issues emphasizing organization and administration, curriculum, college students, faculty, and retention.

3 Credits

(F, W)

PNH 535 - Grant Writing: Instruction in finding grant sources, writing grants, developing grant budgets and evaluating grant proposals. As part of this course, students will be expected to write and submit at least one actual grant proposal.

3 Credits

(F, W, SPR/SUM)

EDL 668 - Personnel Administration: Responsibilities in staff supervision, staffing needs, certification, selection, assignment, promotion, salaries, retirement, absences, teachers’ organizations, grievances, collective bargaining, and supervision of student teachers.

3 Credits

(F, W, SPR/SUM)

EDH 648 - The Adult Learner: Emerging theories and techniques for teaching the adult learner. Focus upon the adult’s deliberate efforts at learning, developing, growing, changing, and learning difficulties.

3 Credits

(F, W)

EDH 650 - Materials and Methods for Adult and Continuing Education: Materials and methods of teaching the adult learner in school and non-school settings.

3 Credits

(F, W)

EDC 649 - Career Development: This course examines the principles and processes involved in supporting career development. Students will explore a variety of theories, philosophies, and programs related to career development and its role in kindergarten through post-secondary educational settings.

3 Credits

(F, SPR/SUM)

EDF 633 - Race, Class, and Language: Interdisciplinary course incorporating the views of linguists, psychologists, sociologists, educators, and speech researchers. Exploration of the background literature and practical implications of the problems raised by social class and ethnic differences in language.

3 Credits,

(F)

EDF 635 - Survey of Urban Education: Study of the historical, sociological, and educational bases of urban education.

3 Credits

(Select Semesters)

EDH 680 - Special Topics: Study of selected topics in education.

3 Credits

(Select Semesters)

EDL 665 - Educational Leadership: Students will participate in a variety of self-assessment activities, simulations, and group discussions designed to provide information about and insight into effective leadership in schools.

3 Credits

(F, W, SPR/SUM)

EDL 677 - School and Community Relationships: This course is designed to assist school leaders in developing an effective school community relations plan. Emphasis will be on creating effective communications formats to address internal and external populations. Candidates will be actively involved in the process of creating positive communication plans that will help gain support for the school’s program.

3 Credits

(F, W, SPR/SUM)

EDT 626 - Assessment/Evaluation with Educational Technology: The use of educational technology provides opportunities for new forms of assessment and evaluation for student learning. This course focuses on models of educational assessment, strategies for assessment of learning in technology-based environments, uses of technology to support diversity and assessment, and alternative forms of assessment made possible with technology supporting student needs.

3 Credits

(W)

EDT 634 - Planning/Managing Educational Technology: Students will examine adoption and integration of educational technology from the standpoint of personnel, planning, and administration of equipment, infrastructure, software, and future developments. Drawing on the published literature on adoption and use of educational technology, and adoption of innovation models, the course addresses the issues related to planning for and managing these technologies in education settings.

3 Credits

(SPR/SUM)

A requirement of students in the CSAL program is to complete two additional academic experiences known as a practicum. A practicum experience typically lasts one semester and is an excellent opportunity for students to gain experience in another facet of student affairs, deepen experience within a functional area, and/or learn about practice in a different institutional setting.

Past practicums have been documented on the Practicum page.

EDH 685 - Practicum/Graduate Field Experience 1: Field-based experience designed to provide clinical experience for graduate students. Each practicum shall be no less than the minimum requirements set forth by state and accrediting agencies and must be with approval by the appropriate program personnel. All practicums will require seminars. Prerequisites: Candidates must apply separately to the College of Education and Community Innovation by February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall semester, and September 15 for winter semester.

3 Credits

EDH 686 - CSAL Practicum/Graduate Field Experience 2: Field-based experience designed to provide clinical experience for graduate students. Each practicum shall be no less than the minimum requirements set forth by state and accrediting agencies and must be approved by the appropriate program personnel. All practicums will require seminars. Offered twice per year. Prerequisite: EDH 685

3 Credits

EDH 693 - Master's Project: The student identifies a problem, reviews literature, creates a product based on applicable literature, research or theory that addresses the problem, and develops a plan for implementation and evaluation. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: 27 credit hours, EDF 660, application required (application deadline: fall 5/15; winter 9/15; spring/summer 2/15), and completion of the Responsible Conduct of Research Training within last three years.

3 Credits

(W2)

EDH 695 - Master's Thesis: Involves either theoretical research or empirical research that identifies an issue or question, reviews literature, designs a study, gathers and analyzes data or evidence, and presents interpretations or conclusions. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: 27 credit hours, EDF 660, application required, and completion of the Responsible Conduct of Research Training within last three years.

6 Credits

(F2, W2)