Higher education degree programs contribute towards shaping the intellectual and professional development of individuals. These degree programs are a viable option for those individuals who wish to go into the field of educational development in the capacity of administrators, provosts and deans.
Higher Education Degree Programs:
Higher education degrees are aimed at training students in a variety of disciplines which constitute the core of higher education. Students get to learn about curriculum development, instruction, evaluation and effective management pertaining to all educational matters. Higher education administrators have a demanding yet exciting job. They are not only responsible for designing and organizing academic programs but are also in charge of ensuring that the academic quality remains high and the core values of the institute are upheld. Higher education administrators are also responsible for establishing and managing budgets, hiring faculty and bringing about sound academic policies among other work responsibilities. Higher education degree programs help to inculcate leadership and management skills that help students in their future careers.
Masters' level degree programs in higher education are quite popular along with doctoral level degree programs. With regards to Master's programs, the most common types of programs include a Master of Education (Med) or Master of Science in higher education. Students have the option of specializing in a variety of different subjects. The types of specializations available differ from school to school but generally include fields such as organization and student development, governance and student services among others. PhD higher education degree programs can usually be completed in three to six years, depending upon the curriculum and duration of the program as specified by the respective institute. Students get to study a variety of courses in depth and also get to sharpen their skills in the study of research methodologies and quantitative analysis. Moreover, students also need to complete a research project as part of completing their PhD program.
Online Higher Education Degree Programs
Online higher education degree programs are not only convenient, in that students can study at their own will and from the comfort of their homes or work place, but also prove to be relatively cost effective than full on time campus enrollments. Students get to study from a variety of different media such as online lectures, webcasts, podcasts and so on. They also have the opportunity of interacting with a other students via online degree programs.
Job Outlook and Pay
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of post secondary education administrators is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2012 to2022, a rate that is faster than the average of all occupations. This increased projected growth rate is said to be the result of increased enrollments in higher education institutes. More post secondary education administrators would be required to cater to the needs of these additional students. With regard to the pay, BLS reported that the median annual wage for post secondary education administrators was $86,490 in May 2012.