Higher Education Administration (Education Specialist)

In support of the HEA Program's Mission, the HEA Education Specialist (EdS) Program is designed to serve mid-career professionals seeking focused investigations into specialized higher education areas. Generally, admission into the HEA EdS Program is narrowly limited to meet unique needs, and prospective students are encouraged to instead more fully explore opportunities available to them in either the HEA Master's or Doctoral Programs.

The EdS Degree is generally appropriate for faculty and educational specialists already holding disciplinary doctoral degrees who would like to explore higher education administrative content and skills; or for higher education administrators who already hold a master's degree in the field, and would like to seek advanced professional experiences in specially narrowed areas/reasons to augment their master's degrees.

Programs of Study

The HEA EdS Program is an individualized, 30-hour degree program. Applicants must have already completed a master's degree in higher education or a closely related field, and have a specific purpose for entering the Ed.S. Program versus either the HEA Master's or Doctoral Programs.

Once admitted, students establish a specific, individualized program of study that outlines coursework necessary to meet the needs of students. Programs of study must be approved by the students faculty advisor. While formal requirements are not stipulated to allow for the greatest flexibility, generally students will engage in 30-credit hours of advanced course work specifically in the Higher Education Administration Program and/or research methods sequence of courses. Students are required to complete an Ed.S. Comprehensive Exam, which generally follows the parameters and procedures of the HEA Doctoral Qualifying Exam.

Courses & Sequences

Courses in the GW HEA Program provide a balance between understanding and applying the theoretical foundations of the field. Students will have the opportunity to engage with course facilitators that have a wide-range of front-line experience in working with students and in higher education settings so that they can make strong theory-to-practice connections that extend beyond the classroom into their current and future professional endeavors. Courses are generally offered in the evenings on GW's Foggy-Bottom Campus.

Students may enroll the EdS Program as either full- or part-time students. The appropriate sequence of courses generally begins in the Fall, which is the most logical time to start the degree program. However, students may begin the degree program during other semesters, depending on the circumstances.

Faculty Advisor

Upon admission to the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor to assist in planning the graduate program of study, career planning, and other advisement needs. The name of the assigned advisor is included as part of your admissions letter from the graduate school.

Newly admitted EdS students should contact and schedule a meeting with their assigned faculty advisor before registering for the first semester of courses. It is important that all courses completed as a part of the EdS Program are appropriate and meet the expectations of the HEA Program.

Application Process

Before applying to the EdS Program, students should contact the HEA Program Coordinator to determine if application to this degree-level is appropriate for their needs. To apply for the HEA EdS Program, applicants should:

• Complete the Online Application for Admission to the Graduate School.
• Take and request that the GRE Score be sent to the GW.
• Submit Two Letters of Recommendation Forms (can be completed online).
• Request Official Transcripts be sent from all of the Applicant's Undergraduate and Graduate Institutions directly to the Graduate School.
• Write and submit a Statement of Goals.
• Submit a current resume/vita.

The HEA Program reviews the total application package, so students should take care in crafting their Goal Statement and identifying references that can speak to their specific experiences and strengths as a future professional in the field of higher education.

Applications are reviewed on a regular basis throughout the year. To access additional details about the application process, or the online application system, please see GSEHD Admissions.