Become a Reflective Higher Education Scholar-Practitioner

UConn’s Higher Education Programs, housed within the Neag School of Education, are designed for individuals looking to earn a master's or doctoral degree in higher education while embracing critical, inclusive, and decolonizing practice and reflexivity. Students are prepared to work in higher education, student affairs, research organizations, and other settings.

Advance your career while learning among the best at the one of the top 25 public graduate schools of education in the country and one of the nation's top public universities. All UConn Higher Education Programs prepare critical, anti-racist, and equity-minded professionals.

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Programs

M.A. Program

The 36-credit Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Master's Program leads to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree and is focused on developing reflective scholar-practitioners in the higher education setting. The courses and experiences are diverse and reflect the best of contemporary student affairs practice.

 

Learn More about the HESA M.A.

Ph.D. Concentration

The UConn Neag School of Education’s Ph.D. in Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy offers four concentrations, one of which being Higher Education Racial Justice and Decolonization (HERJD). The Ph.D. program and its concentrations are designed for students interested in becoming researchers or working in academic settings. The HERJD concentration offers students opportunities to engage in critical reflexivity and praxis related to racial justice and decolonization in higher education settings.

 

Learn More about the HERJD Ph.D.

Ed.D. Program

The Department of Educational Leadership’s Ed.D. degree program is designed for practitioners and accommodates full-time professionals. It is cohort-based, places an emphasis on a student’s problem of practice, and requires a capstone research project instead of a dissertation. The program places a particular emphasis on equity-centered leadership and invites applicants from K-12 and higher education contexts.

 

Learn More about the Ed.D.

Recent Department News

Neag School Doctoral Student Receives Social Justice Scholarship and Inaugural Award

Luz Burgos-López, who is also an assistant dean of students at UConn, is a 2024-2025 recipient of the David Putter Scholarship Fund and its first-ever Brock-Ransby Award

Young student using mobile phone on stairs outdoors
Addressing Student Technology and Social Media Use in Schools: Recommendations for School District Leaders

Researchers with the Neag School’s Center for Education Policy Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (CEPARE) prepared the following research brief during Phase 1 of their Social Media and Digital Literacy Study

Kelli Bates standing in front of Olympic rings in Paris, France.
10 Questions With Alumna Kelli Bates, Former Student-Athlete Working at Paris Olympics

Kelli Bates ’19 ED, a games operations specialist with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, says her UConn experiences have been instrumental in helping her navigate the field of sport management

Testimonials

Mislal Andom-Lake

Mislal Andom-Lake, Special Education Teacher

"UCAPP consistently impresses me with its practical approach, allowing me to apply leadership skills in my home and mentor schools. Though core assessments are challenging, they prove instrumental in readying me for diverse school leadership responsibilities, always prioritizing students. Support from my coach and mentor school enriches my experience. ... This UCAPP journey has been transformative, nurturing my aspirations for district-level leadership in special education or equity. I enthusiastically recommend this program to aspiring school leaders."

Mike Dunn, High School Principal 

"Having consulted with a variety of trusted educational leaders with whom I've been lucky to work, I chose to apply for UConn's Executive Leadership Program due to its reputation for the highest quality instruction and unique blend of cutting-edge leadership theory with practical application. The Executive Leadership Internship itself provides rich and varied opportunities to apply the lenses from leadership frameworks and theoretical readings in authentic settings where real leaders work through real problems to affect systemic change for students."

Mike Dunn