The School of Education offers the 15-credit hour program Certificate of Higher Education Administration program to assist current and future professionals who seek administrative opportunities in the exciting and rewarding field of higher education. Realizing that there are many areas of professional service, the program has been designed to provide a strong grounding in general, administrative theory and practice. The certificate is offered in an online format.
Online Students
Online students take classes on a cycle consisting of two or three courses each Fall and Spring semester and summer term. For a complete list of the course cycle, see the MHEA Online Class Schedule.
Class Registration
Once a student is admitted into the Higher Education Administration program, your advisor will provide an Alternate PIN and the Course CRN which you will use to register for classes.
| Course Number | Hours | Title | Syllabus |
| HED 6500 | 3 | Basic Understandings in Higher Education Administration | |
| HED 6501 | 3 | Law and Higher Education | |
| HED 6502 | 3 | Finance and Higher Education | |
| HED 6503 | 3 | Student Development Theories/Ethics and Inquiry | |
| HED 6506 | 3 | The Community College |
Applicants must:
- Meet the general requirements for admission to Graduate School at Mississippi College.
- Provide official transcripts of all university work.
- Hold a Bachelor's degree in any field from a regionally accredited university or college.
Applicants can apply online by visiting apply.mc.edu.
The program is organized in a rolling admissions format which allows students to enter during the fall, spring or summer terms.
HED 6500
Basic Understandings in Higher Education Administration (History & Issues, 3 hrs.)
This course provides an introduction to the U.S. higher education system. The course includes a foundation in the history of higher education covering the development of curriculum, faculty, governance, finance, and outcomes in higher education.
HED 6501
Law and Higher Education (3 hrs.)
This course will introduce students to state and federal law as it applies to higher education. It will also demonstrate the law's application to various areas of decision making relating to the administration and governance of higher education.
HED 6502
Finance in Higher Education (3 hrs.)
This course includes an analysis of case law on issues of access, student rights, employment, church and state, private sector, liability, academic freedom, and civil rights. Additionally, this course examines revenue, fund raising and development, types of expenditures, tuition and financial aid policies, budgeting and accounting practices.
HED 6503
Student Development Theories/Ethics and Inquiry (3 hrs.)
The purpose of this course is to explore and understand the nature, culture, and development of college students. To that end, the course will examine a range of human development theories that offer insight into the processes of student learning, growth, and development during the college years. Special focus will be directed toward understanding the implications of these models for the policies and practices of higher education administration. In addition, the course will examine the cultural environment of the student from historical and contemporary perspectives.
HED 6506
The Community College
A course designed to familiarize students with one of the largest segments of higher education. Topics include governance, history of the community college, community college finance, rural community and economic development, and community college legal policy.
Students must:
- Maintain good standing by earning a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Good standing is required before students can apply for graduation and participate in comprehensive exams.
- Complete 15-credit hours of graduate coursework (HED 6500, 6501, 6502, 6503, and 6506).
