Our in-person M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, with Higher Education Administration Emphasis, prepares future college/university staff, administers, and leaders to meet the needs of incoming and current students at the undergraduate and graduate level. Students enrolled in the program will explore the concepts such as diversity and inclusion, educational leadership, resource management, curriculum design, the impact of policy on higher ed, and more.
The higher education emphasis prepares students to pursue a career in colleges and universities or the many organizations that study, support, or address higher education-related issues. The program works collaboratively with campus administrative offices. Students may also seek graduate assistant opportunities in areas such as student affairs and housing.
In addition to the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis, we offer several related options that may be of interest to applicants.
B.A. to Ph.D. Track The College of Education offers a B.A.-Ph.D. track in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis. Students accepted in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis can elect, with program approval, to pursue the integrated B.A.-Ph.D. track. The track allows students to start doctoral work earlier and transfer into the Ph.D. program upon completion of required criteria stated on the website. These students will go through an early Ph.D. program admission process.
To support educational leaders with student mental health as well as community relations, the college offers a dual degree with the School of Social Work, which is a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Higher Education Administration Emphasis) and a Master of Social Work. Students admitted to this dual degree program can apply 6-9 semester hours jointly to meet the requirements of both degrees, thus reducing the total number of hours which would be required to earn these degrees separately. Those interested in a dual degree program should consult the Official Catalog or the M.Ed. or M.S.W. Graduate Advisor for further information on admission and course requirements.
The college offers a Hispanic Serving Leadership Preparation Graduate Certificate for individuals with a bachelor's degree seeking to close pipeline gaps for all students and in particular for LatinX students. This certificate is also for those leaders who are seeking to serve within or already are leading within Hispanic Serving institutions. Students who participate in this certificate program may apply certificate coursework to the degree requirements for an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Higher Education Administration emphasis, after applying for and being accepted into that master’s degree program.
Applying after the priority deadline? Admissions applications are welcome at any time. We will process your application as quickly as possible and every attempt will be made to ensure consideration for the desired semester. However, for priority consideration, apply by the priority deadline.
Submit by July 1
Classes start end of August
Submit by Nov. 1
Classes start in January
Submit by April 1
Classes start mid-May
| Semester Start |
Courses Start | Priority Application Deadline | Courses Start | Registration Period | Late Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall |
08/21/23 |
07/01/23 |
08/21/23 |
04/03/23 - 08/20/23 |
08/25/23 |
| Spring |
03/20/23 |
11/01/23 |
01/16/24 |
11/06/23 - 01/16/24 |
01/19/24 |
| Summer* |
05/15/23 |
04/01/23 |
05/15/23 |
04/03/23 - 05/14/23 |
05/16/23 |
For payment deadlines, information about payment plans and more, visit Student Accounts.
View the Official University Academic Calendar for more information.
*The Hispanic Serving Leadership Preparation Graduate Certificate does not offer summer admission.
View the UTA Official Catalog for admissions requirements and details about probationary admission, deferred admission, and more for the following programs.
Expand your career with real-world experience in your field before you graduate. The College of Education is offering paid, graduate assistantships for students who enroll in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. You’ll get hands-on opportunities to work in higher education enrollment management, student success or student affairs as part of a unique collaboration at UTA – giving you the chance to bring your classroom knowledge to life! Interested? Contact elps.admissions@uta.edu to learn more and apply.
Students take classes in higher education administration, law, and history and become informed consumers of research.
In addition to core courses in PK-20 educational leadership, institutional policy, diversity, equity, and leadership theory, our students take classes that expand their knowledge around higher education law, collegiate trends, administration, student affairs, and the experiences of both traditional college students and community college students.
Students build upon their existing expertise with progressive skills that can increase student achievement, improve performance, and increase organizational effectiveness of schools and higher education institutions.
Courses are offered in a traditional, face-to-face format. Courses are typically offered Mondays - Thursdays in the evenings on the UT Arlington campus from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
| EDAD 5322 |
Educational Research and Evaluation |
| EDAD 5360 | Leadership Theory |
| EDAD 5380 | Diversity and Equity in Education |
| EDAD 5399 | Capstone Practicum in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies |
| EDAD 5350 | American College Student |
| EDAD 5351 | Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs |
| EDAD 5352 | Higher Education Law |
| EDAD 5354 | The American Community College |
| EDAD 5356 | History, Principles, and Philosophy of Higher Education Administration |
| EDAD 5357 | Higher Education Trends and Issues |
Academic Recruiter
Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Research Interests: Higher ed, K-16 pathways, life course res, STEM ed, internationalization, labor market, social equity
Bio: Dr. Maria Trache is a professor in the College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies since August 2011, following 14 years as Statistical Consultant and Research Manager at the University of British Columbia and over 15 years as a faculty at the University of Bucharest. She brings over 30 years of combined teaching and research experience from both science and social sciences to UTA. As an educational researcher, Dr. Trache focuses on equity issues in higher education and the labor market by examining the effects of structural differences at the intersection of gender, race, social class, immigrant status, disability. Her research is informed by theoretical frameworks from sociology, economics of education, and life course research. She has expertise in advanced quantitative methods, survey methods and analysis of large-scale survey data. Dr. Trache is author/co-author of about 45 publications in peer-reviewed journals, edited books, working paper series. She currently serves as a member on the Sociology/Demography Insight Grants Selection Committee for the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
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