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.
The estimated cost for tuition and mandatory fees is $3,628 as of Spring 2024 for an in-state, Texas resident enrolling in 6 credit hours (two courses) of graduate coursework through the College of Education.
Please note that the cost can vary by student in relation to that student's individual circumstances. Additional fees may apply.
For the best approximation of your school costs for tuition and fees, visit the UTA Tuition Estimator.
UTA offers competitive funding options.
View the College of Education's Scholarships and Paying for School page for a list of competitive scholarships, grants, financial aid, and more that candidates may be eligible for to help pay for school.
In particular, our on-campus, Graduate Assistantships give UTA students valuable, applied learning experiences in the field of higher education and help students pay for their education. More than a dozen roles are available on campus.
These pay positions help you take your classroom beyond the books with a new position in the realm of higher education right on the UTA campus. Browse several of the graduate assistant positions available to UTA students interested in a career as an education professional -- including those within the College of Education. Please note that these jobs may not be directly affiliated with the UTA College of Education. Use the contact information provided with each position to inquire about the opening. Please note that these roles do not provide an out-of-state tuition waiver.
UTA employees may be eligible to use the Employee Tuition Affordability Program to help pay for school. Details are online.
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, with Higher Education Administration Emphasis Candidate
I felt valued and heard through every interaction I had with the staff and faculty while applying for the program. I got assistance with every step from the application process to finding a job on campus. I knew that I could count on this trend to continue through my time at the university.
Applying after the priority date? Admissions applications are welcome at any time. However, for priority consideration, apply by the priority date.
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
For payment deadlines, information about payment plans and more, visit Student Accounts.
*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.
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Applicants seeking admission must submit two recommendation forms. Please wait until you have your 10-digit, UTA student ID number to submit recommendation forms.
The required Recommendation Form is available for download here.
The required* Recommendation Form is available for download here.
The Hispanic Serving Leadership Preparation Graduate Certification does not require a recommendation form at this time.
Some applicants, such as international students, may have additional admissions requirements* and/or program** limitations.
UTA accepts TOEFL* or IELTS or Duolingo. If your native language is not English, you must demonstrate a sufficient level of skill with the English language to assure success in graduate studies. You are required to submit official test score reports directly from the testing agency unless you hold a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited U.S institution.
You are required to submit an official test score report sent directly from the testing agency. UTA's ETS institutional code is 6013.
*Certification programs only accept TOEFL due to Texas Education Agency requirements.
View test score requirements online.
Email UTA's international office at international@uta.edu.
*The resources provided here are for informational purposes. Please review the Official Catalog for official information.
**The M.Ed. in Mind, Brain, and Education is not eligible for international students at this time.
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 |
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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