Dual Degree Program Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Higher Education
Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Higher Education with Universidad de Guadalajara
The Dual Degree M.A. in International Higher Education offers bilingual students (Spanish/English) the opportunity to combine courses offered as part of the Boston College M.A. in Higher Education with courses offered as part of the M.A. in International Higher Education (Maestria en Educacion Superior) at the Universidad de Guadalajara (UdG) in Mexico.
The program sets formal outcomes and core professional competencies. These outcomes reflect recognized nationally professional standards and proficiencies. Students must:
- Develop a wide and nuanced understanding of the key trends and issues facing contemporary higher education institutions in a global context, with specific emphasis on Latin American and Caribbean realities and prospects.
- Become acquainted with a broad body of high-quality research and analysis on international and comparative higher education that emanates from sources representing a range of geographic regions and stakeholder perspectives, with specific emphasis on Latin American and Caribbean data and sources.
- Become capable of demonstrating, in both written and oral form, thoughtful understanding and analysis of specific matters of policy, practice, and theory relevant to the field of international higher education with specific emphasis on Latin American and Caribbean realities and prospects.
- Become sensitized to matters of personal identity and systemic power dynamics, as these relate to scholarship, policy, and practice in the field of international higher education.
At a Glance
Curriculum
Students in the dual degree program must complete one semester of coursework in-person at the Boston College campus, in addition to one year of coursework in-person at the University of Guadalajara. The remainder of the program can be completed either remotely or in-person.
Requirements
- Credits: 32
- Final Applied Research Project
Core Courses (4 courses/12 credits)
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7202 | Global and Comparative Systems of Higher Education | 3 |
| ELHE7603 | Internationalization of Higher Education | 3 |
| UdG Course* | Higher Education in Mexico and Latin America | 3 |
| UdG Course* | Regional Perspectives in Higher Education | 3 |
*All UdG courses must be completed in Spanish, and all BC courses must be completed in English.
Field Experience (2 courses/4 credits)
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7776 | Preparing to Conduct Research in International Higher Education | 1 |
| ELHE7903 | Conducting Research in International Higher Education | 3 |
Research (1 course/3 credits)
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE6460 | Interpretation and Evaluation of Research | 3 |
Electives (3 courses/10 credits)
Students should choose one UdG elective and 2 BC electives, for a total of 10 credits. Below are a list of approved BC electives. Please visit the EagleApps Course Information and Schedule for an up-to-date list of current offerings.
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7803 | Global Perspectives on Academic Affairs in Higher Education | 3 |
| ELHE7804 | Global Perspectives on Higher Education Leadership and Management | 3 |
| ELHE7805 | Global Perspectives on Student Affairs in Higher Education | 3 |
| ELHE7806 | Global Perspectives on Higher Education Economics and Finance | 3 |
Program Completion (3 courses/3 credits)
Students should choose either 2 thesis courses at Boston College OR 2 thesis courses at UdG, and complete the BC exam for a total of 3 credits.
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELHE7778 | Thesis Project - Joint Supervision | 1 |
| ELHE7777 | Thesis Seminar - Joint Supervision | 1 |
| ELHE8100 | Comprehensive Exam | 1 |
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Financial Aid & Funding
Education should level the playing field. We feel the same way about financial aid.
Students pay Boston College for all Boston College credits and Universidad de Guadalajara for all Universidad de Guadalajara credits. Scholarship funding is available to students that qualify. 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.
Application Information
Prospective students must be accepted by both institutions in order to enroll in the dual degree program. A pre-application interview is required before students can submit a formal application to the Admissions Office.
Please note that students must be academically proficient in both English and Spanish in order to successfully complete the program.
Interested students must complete a pre-application screening, including an interview with representatives from both BC and UdG (which is conducted in both English and Spanish).
Once cleared as eligible, prospective students will complete a formal application to the program, which includes:
- An application form
- A personal statement (written in English)
- Submission of official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official language test scores
This process will be clearly communicated once the pre-application screening is complete. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Rebecca Schendel at Boston College no later than March 1 (for consideration for a September start date).
Contact Information
For more information and to apply, please reach out to Rebecca Schendel, Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston College and Managing Director of the Center for International Higher Education.
Rebecca Schendel
Telephone: 617-552-1269
Email: rebecca.schendel@bc.edu
Quick Links
Contact
gsoe@bc.edu
617-552-4214