Higher Education, M.S.

Priority Application Deadline: January 27 (fall semester start). Applicants should ensure that all of the required materials are submitted by that date.

Contact the department for consideration for a summer semester start.

Upcoming Higher Education M.S. admissions events:

• Information Sessions: October 30, November 14, December 6,
• Graduate Assistantship Application Info Session: December 18, January 24
• Navigating the Open House Info Session: February 5

Admissions Requirements

The faculty take a holistic approach to making a decision for our master’s students. Thus, we consider your undergraduate GPA, your recommendations, your personal statement, and your resume. However, a sound academic background, particularly the last two years in college, and evidence of strong writing are weighed strongly

• Bachelor’s degree and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, including a 3.0 or better in undergraduate writing/English courses.
• A record of significant involvement and/or work in student affairs or higher education.
• An ability to write well as demonstrated in the personal statement
• Resume or CV
• Three letters of recommendation. One must be from a faculty member that has had you in class and can speak to your academic work. The other two can be from supervisors, advisors, mentors, etc. The recommendations should speak to qualities such as your ability to work with students/staff/faculty, leadership, dedication, reliability, quality of work, communication skills, ability to balance multiple responsibilities, etc.
• TOEFL scores (international students)

Graduate Assistantships

For first for assistantships consideration, apply no later than January 29.

A graduate assistantship (GA or GAship) provides tuition credits and/or a stipend for about 20 hours of work a week. These are not required for higher education students, but many of our students hold assistantships in offices like Office of Student Living, First Year Seminar Program, Dean of Students, Intercultural Collective (including the LGBTQ Resource Center, Native Student Programs, and Multicultural Affairs), Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, College Learning Strategies program, Center for Disability and Inclusion, and advising and career services roles in other schools and colleges.

Full-time master’s degree applicants interested in pursuing a graduate assistantship can upload their resume/CV and GA cover letter when completing their application for the Higher Education Master’s program. If you have already completed your application and did not submit GA materials, you can send your resume/CV and GA cover letter (as separate attachments) to hied@syr.edu.

Your materials will be shared with all Graduate Assistantship supervisors and you will be considered for all positions. Interviews for the Graduate Assistantships will take place at the HED Open House in March and you will be informed of your scheduled interview(s) in mid February.

Questions about this process?  You can also email us with any questions about GA roles or the process to hied@syr.edu.

Financial Support

• Significant scholarships for all master’s and CAS programs! All applicants are automatically considered.
• School of Education Endowed Scholarships
• More financial aid and scholarship resources

Program Contacts

Breana Nieves Vergara, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions

bknieves@syr.edu|315.443.2505

Cathy Engstrom, Associate Professor; Faculty Director for Graduate Studies

cmengstr@syr.edu|315.443.4763