MA, Higher Ed Leadership

Our new MA program prepares higher education leaders through an equity-minded praxis approach to engage in transformative thinking and practice with the goal of disrupting how power, in the form of racism, classism, sexism, and related oppressions intersect to (re)produce and sustain disparate higher educational opportunities in higher education.

The Higher Education Leadership Master’s Program directly aligns and amplifies the SJSU mission and Transformation 2030 Strategic Plan by serving the educational needs of the community and the region by preparing transformative future leaders through emancipatory and experiential learning approaches in the local and regional contexts; and by conducting cutting edge research that contributes to equity-minded and justice driven approaches to theory, practice, and education while concurrently advancing standards and values of Excellence, Ethics, Entrepreneurship, and Engagement.

• Program Overview
• Program Learning Outcomes
• Admission Requirements
• Curriculum and Roadmaps
• Upcoming Info Sessions
• Steps to Apply
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Us
• Additional Student Resources

Program Overview

• Official Title: MA, Higher Education Leadership
• Format: Cohort, hybrid model with courses taught in-person and online
• Units: 30 units
• Start Term: Summer only
• Program length: 14-month program (summer, fall, spring, summer)
• Application deadline : Applications accepted November 1, 2023 until we reach a full cohort - closing April 1, 2023
• Letters of recommendation and transcripts deadline: April 17, 2023

Initial Eligibility and Requirements

• BA degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum GPA of 3.0, based on a 4.0 scale
• Two letters of recommendation, with option of third letter of recommendation
• Candidates must also meet all SJSU admissions requirements
• A preadmissions interview is required of all candidates
• TOEFL score of 600 and above (for international students only)

  • Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores. Minimum TOEFL scores acceptable for admission are 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based)

Program Learning Outcomes

• PLO 1
  • Identify the complex history and dimensions that define the discipline of higher education;
• PLO 2
  • Plan for transformative organizational change through a critical and praxis-based approach to diversity, access, equity, and inclusion;
• PLO 3
  • Analyze the roles and interests of the varied stakeholders that characterize and sustain the enterprise of higher education;
• PLO 4
  • Develop the skills to foster responsive, cooperative, mutually beneficial, and ethically sound internal and external relationships with campus and community constituents; 
• PLO 5
  • Identify the ethics and values that distinguish higher education as a "public good" versus a "private good" 

Curriculum and Roadmaps

• Summer 1 | 2 courses (6 Units)

  • EDLD 210- Socio- Cultural Foundations of U.S. Higher Education

    EDLD 211 - Higher Education Leadership

• Fall | 3 courses (9 units)

  • EDLD 212 - Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Higher Education (Satisfies GWAR: Graduation Writing Asessment Requirement)

    EDLD 213- Policy and Ethics of Higher Education Governance and Finance

    EDLD 214 - Critical Data Analysis in Higher Education

• Spring | 3 courses (9 Units)

  • EDLD 215 - Contemporary Issues in Higher Education

    EDLD 216 - Law, Policy, and Ethics in Higher Education

    EDLD 217A - Equity-Minded Leadership in Higher Education: Practices, Policies, and Pedagogies

• Summer 2 | 2 courses (6 units)

  • EDLD 217B - Equity-Minded Leadership in Higher Education as Praxis

    EDLD 298 - Higher Education Leadership Master’s Capstone/Culminating Experience Course

For more details about each of these courses, visit the SJSU Catalog website. 

Upcoming Info Sessions

There are currently no information sessions scheduled. Please contact the department at edleadership@sjsu.edu with any questions you may have regarding the program.

Steps to Apply

International students only: Contact WES to have your international transcripts evaluated. You will also be required to take the TOEFL test and have ETS send your official TOEFL transcript to SJSU.

Step 1 | Notify Our Department

Contact Dr. María Ledesma, Higher Educational Leadership Program Coordinator, at edleadership@sjsu.edu to make her aware of your interest.

Step 2 | Begin your Cal State Apply application

Cal State Apply application opens on November 1, 2023

Follow the instructions provided SJSU Graduate Admissions Office to apply for admission to San Jose State University via CalState Apply.

• Program name: Educational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, MA
• Visit calstate.edu/apply to create your application profile and pay the $70 application fee.

Step 3 | Prepare Your Documents

After creating your Cal State Apply profile, keep in mind that you will need to prepare the three following required documents before the document deadline, April 1, 2024.

Resume

Create a PDF or Word version of your most recent resume that highlights your professional and leadership experience.

Statement of Purpose 

In no more than 600 words, describe how your educational pathway has influenced and prepared you for your future professional and educational goals.

How do you see the Higher Education Leadership MA degree program in the Department of Educational Leadership helping you achieve these goals? Provide specific examples that relate to the degree program and department.

Situational Essay

In no more than 750 words, respond to the following prompt:

What value and what tools does an equity-minded approach provide higher education leaders, practitioners, and policy makers to address and disrupt inequities and injustices in educational systems?

For a reference on equity-mindedness, visit cue.usc.edu/about/equity/equity-mindedness

Step 4 | Request recommendations

By the application deadline, submit two (2) letters of recommendation, third letter of recommendation optional

• Recommendation letters may be submitted directly from your recommender to the Higher Education Leadership MA Program. At least one letter must be from someone who can attest to your academic work, such as a professor or other faculty member. The other two may be from a previous supervisor or colleague, or someone with the knowledge of your potential leadership, this might include a recent/former supervisor, faculty, advisor and/or mentor.

• All materials from the same recommender need to be uploaded as one PDF file on the Cal State Apply portal. A notification will be sent by the Cal State Apply system to your selected recommenders prompting them to upload their recommendation materials. 

Step 5 | Submit your transcripts

Request one official transcript from each college/university where you studied and submit the official sealed transcript(s) directly from each college/university to the SJSU Graduate Admissions office at: 

Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations
San Jose State University 
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0017

If the college/university provides official electronic transcripts, the institution can email the transcripts to etranscript@sjsu.edu. Questions pertaining to transcripts, GPA calculations, and application fees should be directed to admissions@sjsu.edu.

Step 6 | Submit your application

Once you submit your application via Cal State Apply, check your application status online at one.sjsu.edu. Your ID and PINs are provided shortly by SJSU's Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations Office after you submit your application via Cal State Apply.

The total application processing time is between five to six weeks after all necessary documents have been received by the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations Office, so we recommend that you submit your application early in the processing cycle.

Next Steps | Application review

Applicants whose files are complete will be invited to an interview to finalize the application process.

Applicants will receive an email from the Department of Educational Leadership regarding their status (i.e., acceptance) by mid May. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who should enroll in the Higher Education Leadership MA (HELM) Program?

  • This program was developed for individuals with a B.A. or in the process of completing their B.A. who are interested in and considering a career with a focus on interrogating critical leadership in higher education, including centering issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education policy and practice.

• Do I need to have a bachelor’s degree to enroll in the HELM program?

  • Yes, you should have an earned bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing your bachelor’s degree to enroll in the HELM program.

• How many units are required to complete the HELM program? Are all the courses in the HELM program graduate level?

  • There are 30 units required to complete the HELM program; this equals to 10 classes at 3 units per class. All courses are graduate level courses.

• Can I transfer units into the HELM program?

  • Yes, there is a possibility of transferring up to 9 units into the HELM program. However, all requests to transfer units must be approved by the Educational Leadership Department chair and the HELM program coordinator. 

• Are the courses letter grade only?

  • Yes, these courses are letter grade only. No Pass/Fail option.

• Do I need letters of recommendation to apply to the HELM program?

  • Yes, letters of recommendation are required. It is highly recommended that at least one of these letters should come from someone who can speak to your academic background such as a former instructor, advisor, or T.A.. In the absence of an academic recommender, applicants are encouraged to reach out to supervisors, mentors, or others who can speak to your preparation and fit into the HELM program.

• Do I need an official transcript?

  • Yes, you need official transcripts showing you have an earned bachelor’s degree or you in the process of completing your bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have their earned B.A. by the time that the HELM program starts in early summer.

• If I’m an international student, do I need to take the TOEFL?

  • Please see the test requirements for admission in the following page: https://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/graduate/admission-requirements/test-requirements/

• When and how are classes held?

  • The HELM program is a hybrid program, classes are offered both on-line and in person. As graduate courses, most classes are offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between the 4pm to 9:30pm time block. However, there are some courses that may require limited weekend/Saturday gatherings.

• What's the cost of the program?

  • The cost for the entire program totals approximately $15,000.

• Is taking courses in the summer a requirement?

  • Yes, the HELM program is a one-year master’s program with classes starting in the summer and finishing in the summer. You can expect to take two courses in your incoming summer and two courses in your graduating summer.

• How large of a cohort does the HELM program enroll?

  • Enrollments are contingent on the application pool, we aim to enroll a cohort composed of between 15 to 20 students.

• Is the program full-time? Or, can students enroll on a part-time basis?

  • Yes, the HELM program is a full-time program. Students are expected to take two courses each during their incoming summer and during their graduating summer. In between, for the fall and spring semesters, students are expected to take three classes. Students may opt to take two classes in the fall and spring, however, this will extend their degree completion by a year and will likely increase their overall program cost.

• What types of careers can one obtain with a HELM degree?

  • The HELM degree is intended to help those interested in working in postsecondary institutions, in such positions as student support services and student affairs. The degree can also be used for career advancement by those already working in higher education. The knowledge and skills acquired with a HELM degree may also be used to work in non-profits or private industry. In addition, the degree is useful for those considering advanced studies, including doctoral study (Ph.D. or Ed.D. programs). 

For more information on the Higher Education Leadership Master’s Program, we advise you visit the Department of Educational Leadership. 

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Dr. María Ledesma, Higher Educational Leadership Program Coordinator, at edleadership@sjsu.edu.

Additional Student Resources

For information about financial aid opportunities, internship and Lurie College of Education resources, and more, visit our Student Resources webpage.