Dual Degree Program (M.A./M.B.A.) Master of Arts in Higher Education and Master of Business Administration
Dual Degree Program (M.A./M.B.A.) Master of Arts in Higher Education and Master of Business Administration
The dual degree program in Higher Education and Business Adminstration prepares students to assume leadership positions in such areas as financial management, resource planning, and technology management in universities and policy-making organizations. Students take courses in both the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the Carroll Graduate School of Management.
Applicants for the joint degree program apply to both degree programs simultaneously and must be accepted separately into each program. Application materials are reviewed by each school's admission committee.
At a Glance
Curriculum
Dual degree students will complete the curriculum for both the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Higher Education and the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Explore the individual programs and the M.A. curriculum below. Please visit the Boston College Carroll School's website to review program requirements for the M.B.A. degree.
M.A. in Higher Education / Administration Concentration
Students enrolled in the M.A./M.B.A. dual degree program must choose the administration concentration within the higher education program. The adminstration concentration prepares you to work as a professional within college and university offices, policy organizations, and advocacy organizations. You will gain an understanding of the foundations of higher education with a focus on law, policy, and administration, and you will link theory and practice through your field experience.
Core Courses (6 credits)
Students must complete the following two (2) courses for this degree.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7103 | Education Law and Policy This course addresses the political and legal aspects of the role of education in our democratic society. Provides an introductory survey of public policy issues and laws governing preschool, elementary, secondary, and higher education. Included are such topics as religious freedom, free speech, and due process; the liability of educational institutions and educators; the legal distinctions between private and public institutions; student and parent privacy rights; disability rights; and the promotion of educational equity among all groups regardless of gender, sexual orientation, language, race, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. | 3 |
| ELHE7101 | Higher Education in American Society An introduction to higher education in America, this course focuses on the complex relationships between colleges and universities, and the political and social systems of society. This analysis includes a historical perspective on the evolution of American higher education, and especially the development of the contemporary university since the beginning of the twentieth century. Attention is also paid to the impact of federal and state governments on higher education; the role of research in the university; issues of accountability, autonomy, and academic freedom; the academic profession, student politics and culture; affirmative action issues; and others. | 3 |
Research Course (3 credits)
Students must choose one (1) course from the following list for this degree.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7405 | Assessment in Student Affairs The purpose of this course is to introduce students to aspects of student affairs assessment including: 1) understanding different approaches to assessment, 2) choosing appropriate research designs and methods, and 3) following professional standards and guidelines. | 3 |
| MESA6460 | Interpretation and Evaluation of Research This course will improve a students' understanding of the empirical research literature in education and psychology. It concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of empirical research and the practical analytic skills needed by a competent reader and user of research articles. Topics address purpose statements, hypotheses, sampling techniques, sample sizes and power, instrument development, internal and external validity, and typical quantitative research designs. Exercises emphasize the critical evaluation of published research. | 3 |
| MESA7466 | Evaluation Practice and Methods This course introduces the process of conducting evaluations from beginning to end. Evaluation is a form of applied social science research focused on systematically assessing the value--merit, worth, or significance--of interventions. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to evaluation, this course draws on scholarly articles and examples from multiple fields including education, public health, social services, and international development and addressing evaluation at various scales including program, organizational, and systems-level evaluations. By the end of the course, students will gain knowledge of how to carry out evaluations; apply this knowledge to develop evaluation plans for real-world interventions; and gain skills to critique existing evaluations supporting their development as informed, critical consumers of evaluations. | 3 |
| MESA6468 | Introductory Statistics An introduction to descriptive statistics. Topics include methods of data summarization and presentation; measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression; the normal distribution; probability; and an introduction to hypothesis testing. Provides computer instruction on PC and Mac platforms and in the SPSS statistical package. | 3 |
Diversity Course (3 credits)
Students must choose one (1) course from the following list.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7606 | Diversity in Higher Education The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to examine the theoretical scholarship and empirical research on race, class, and gender in American higher education. The course readings are interdisciplinary in nature and require students to identify research claims and their relationship to higher education practice and policy in the U.S. The course explores such issues as admissions and affirmative action policy, sexual harassment, access, and financial aid practices. | 3 |
| ELHE7603 | Internationalization of Higher Education Higher education around the world today is increasingly affected by the forces of internationalization. Professionals working in postsecondary education in the United States and elsewhere must have a clear understanding of the range of opportunities and challenges presented by the evolution of this phenomenon. This course has two main objectives. The first is to introduce students to the central issues relevant to the international dimension of higher education in different national contexts. The second objective is to promote students' understanding of the practical implications of internationalization for their own work in higher education administration and/or policy-making contexts. | 3 |
Administration Concentration Courses (9 credits)
Students must take the following one (1) course.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7301 | Organization and Administration of Higher Education Focuses on how the American university is organized and governed. Examines basic elements as well as structure and process of the American university. Considers such topics as models of governance, locus of control, leadership, and strategic environments for the American university. | 3 |
Students will choose one (1) course from the courses listed below.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
ELHE7303 | Financial Management in Higher Education This course strives to provide a comprehensive introduction to modern day financial management theories and techniques in higher education. A specific focus will be placed on real life context and practical application across a broad range of specialized topics including: endowment management, fundraising, budgeting, long range planning, debt management, financial statement analysis, cash management, resource allocation and risk management. These topics will be examined through the lens of the recent economic downturn, which has structurally changed the financial and economic landscape of higher education. The tradeoff between risk and return will serve as a common framework for class discussions. | 3 |
| ELHE7806 | Global Perspectives on Higher Education Economics and Finance This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the complexities of higher education financing, through a comparative and international perspective. The course analyses the rising cost of higher education and how this has led to different financing schemes in different national contexts. Students will learn about the different issues directly from experts and case studies, and get to reflect on their own experience at the national and institutional levels. | 3 |
Students will choose one (1) course from the courses listed below.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7804 | Global Perspectives on Higher Education Leadership This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the multi-dimensional nature of contemporary higher education leadership and management, and to examine these issues from a comparative and international perspective. Strong emphasis is placed on the global context and appreciating how different national contexts and issues impact and affect higher education. Students learn about different issues and experiences directly from leaders, practitioners, and case studies, and are encouraged to draw upon their own experiences - as university administrators, policy makers, faculty or researchers - at the country and institutional level. | 3 |
| ELHE7803 | Global Perspectives on Academic Affairs in Higher Education Whether you are an administrator, policy maker, faculty, or researcher, all professionals in roles related to higher education are educators. To be a positive agent in the education venture is to ensure learning that is meaningful, empowering, and just--for students, colleagues, and external stakeholders. In this course--we strive to understand the contours of learning, teaching, and curriculum with a critical lens and from an international perspective, through an exploration of key trends and relevant issues in higher education institutions and systems around the world. | 3 |
ELHE7605 | Public Policy, Politics and Higher Education This course will examine how policy design, policy contexts, and dynamic processes in higher education work. It focuses on several contemporary public policy issues in higher education such as unequal access to higher education, affirmative action in higher education, federal funding of scientific research, and others. | 3 |
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students must choose two (2) elective courses from the Carroll School chosen in consultation with their advisor.
Field Experience and Master's Comprehensive Exam
Students will be considered full-time during the semester they are registered for ELHE8100: Master's Comprehensive Exam.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7901 | Field Experience in Higher Education This course provides the framework for the field experience requirement (ELHE7903) and helps students prepare for their project. | 2 |
| ELHE7902 | Advanced Field Experience in Higher Education This course provides a framework for a "real world" experience for students interested in international higher education, in combination with an in-depth research project. This combination of practical experience with research gives students an appreciation for the ways that the daily work of different kinds of organizations--higher education institutions, individual programs and offices, policymaking organizations, governmental units, and professional associations--are framed by questions and concerns that require the ability to undertake a significant exploration of information and ideas in order to inform practice. | 1 |
| ELHE8100 | Master's Comprehensive Exam In order to ensure that all students graduating from the master's program have a fundamental understanding of the field which they are about to enter, they are required to take a written comprehensive examination covering the broad areas of the core courses. The goal of the exam is for the student to demonstrate their substantive and integrative knowledge of higher education and its professional literature in coherent essays. | 0 |
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Please review the curriculum on the Carroll Graduate School of Management (CGSOM)'s website for up-to-date course infomation.
Requirements
Dual degree students in the M.A./M.B.A. program must complete 21 credits of Lynch School of Education and Human Development (LSEHD) coursework, in addition to two field experiences (3 credits) for the M.A. in Higher Education degree.
The courses that will count toward the dual degree must reflect content coverage which allows the student to participate in experiences which reflect the issues at the intersection of business and higher education administration. Student should select courses that allow an opportunity to promote their interdisciplinary inquiry; all cross-listed business and education courses should be taken under the ELHE number rather than the CSOM number so that students can achieve the required 21 credits of LSEHD coursework for the master’s degree.
Students should plan to take both electives for the program (6 credits) in the Carroll Graduate School of Management (CGSOM). An additional 3 credits from CGSOM should be an appropriate substitution for one of the LSEHD requirements.
The program advisor is Maryellen Jordan. The program's framework is as follows:
- Applicants for the joint degree program apply to both degree programs simultaneously and must be accepted separately into each. Application materials are reviewed by each school's admission committee. Please review each school's program pages for application requirements.
- For the M.A. in Higher Education, students must satisfy 21 credit hours of LSEHD coursework corresponding to the program requirements.
- For the M.B.A. degree, students must satisfy basic core requirements (37 credits), plus two elective courses from graduate management (6 credits). See the Carroll Graduate School's website for more detail.
- In conjunction with a faculty advisor, students will choose elective courses that complement their career interests. Such courses may come from any school at Boston College, including social sciences and professional programs.
- The joint degree program normally requires three years, including two years of concentration in the M.B.A. program and one year in the Higher Education program.
Tuition & Aid
Education should level the playing field. We feel the same way about financial aid.
The Lynch School of Education and Human Development provides more than $11.4 million in financial aid to students each year. As a result, the quality of BC’s instruction, the benefit of our alumni network, and the impact a BC degree will have on your employment options is both affordable and invaluable.
Contact
Master of Arts in Higher Education
Heather Rowan-Kenyon
Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Boston College
Campion Hall 227
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-4797
Master of Business Administration
Maryellen Jordan
Carroll School of Management
Boston College
Carney Hall 175
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-2327
Application & Deadlines
Applicants for the dual degree program must apply and must be admitted separately to both the Carroll Graduate School of Management (CGSOM) and Lynch School of Education and Human Development (LSEHD) at Boston College.
Information on application to CGSOM, including requirements and deadlines, is available here:
A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required. The fee is waived for select applicants.
Deadlines
Applicants should apply to LSEHD by the deadline indicated on the M.A. in Higher Education program page.
Résumé
To be uploaded to your online application.
In addition to your academic history and relevant volunteer and/or work experience, please include any licenses currently held, any social justice-related experience, any language skills other than English, and any research experience or publications.
Personal Statement
To be uploaded to your online application.
In 1,000-1,500 words, describe your academic and professional goals, any experience relevant to this program, and your future plans, expectations, and aspirations.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required, with at least one preferably coming from an academic source. Applicants may submit one additional recommendation of their choice.
Transcripts
Transcripts from all college/university study are required.
Applicants who have received degrees from institutions outside the United States should view the "International Students" section for additional credential evaluation requirements.
Please begin your online application before submitting your transcripts. Details on how to submit transcripts and international credential evaluations can be found within the application. In order to ensure your transcript reaches our office, it is important to review and follow the instructions.
Standardized Tests
GRE scores are not required. If you wish to send GRE scores, the Lynch School GRE code is 3218.
Please view the "International Students" section for information on English Proficiency test requirements.
Writing Sample
Not required for LSEHD program admission.
International Students
Applicants who have completed a degree outside of the United States must have a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript(s) completed by an evaluation company approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Submission of falsified documents is grounds for denial of admission or dismissal from the University.
Applicants who are not native speakers of English and who have not received a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction must also submit a TOEFL or IELTS test result that meets the minimum score requirement.
Please click the link below for full details on these requirements.
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Contact Us
gsoe@bc.edu
617-552-4214