Leadership in Higher Education

Candidates for the LHE program hail from a variety of backgrounds, demonstrate a capacity and commitment to transformative leadership and share the common value to support the development of all college students. Some LHE students enter the program directly out of college while others have worked for a number of years in various fields. The LHE program can be completed as a full- or part-time student.

Full-Time Students

The LHE program is a two-year master's degree program for individuals preparing for a career in higher education. The MAEd requires the completion of 38 credits - 26 course credits and 12 internship credits. Required courses are offered in the fall and spring semesters, with the summer between years available for practicum or other specialized experiences. All full-time students complete two distinctive, professional-level internships at BW and/or other local colleges and universities, in two separate university settings. Enrollment into the program is contingent upon being selected for an internship through a competitive interview process.

Part-Time Students

The part-time program is designed for employed college or university professionals who wish to earn a master's degree in higher education while maintaining full-time employment. Applicants to the part-time program must have worked at least one year in their current full-time position in higher education.

Part-time students complete career-enhancing internships with the colleges or universities where they are employed. Their current position may be expanded to serve as an internship site, or they may secure an approved internship in another department. The internship must be specifically designated and clearly differentiated from the other work of the position to provide new learning experiences. Candidates must secure approval from their current employer for the intended internship, with final admission to the LHE program contingent upon the completed initial internship proposal being approved by the LHE program director. The part-time LHE program may be completed within three years when taking one to two courses per semester. Classes meet one evening a week.

LHE curriculum offers an array of courses designed to provide students with a foundation of higher education theory and practice, including course topics such as: student development theory, history/philosophy of higher education, campus diversity, and ethical leadership. Incorporated into the curriculum are opportunities for students to engage in social justice by effecting change on campus and through community engagement.

These courses, combined with two distinctive professional internships within the University setting, give graduates of the LHE program a unique set of skills, knowledge and experiences that have made them highly employable and promotable in colleges and universities nationwide.

This non-thesis program requires a total of 38 credits, of which 26 credits are coursework and 12 are internship. Additionally, students will participate in one 40-hour practicum experience in an area of professional interest. Practicums can be completed either at BW or outside of the university.

Review a complete list of courses in the University Catalog.

Internships for Full-Time Students

LHE graduate internships are designed for professional growth and carry graduate credit toward degree requirements. Through LHE internships, students will develop the ability to analyze policy; assess their needs; create, implement, and evaluate programs; and foster environments that enhance learning in all areas of campus life.

Full-time LHE students complete two academic year internships, with the second-year internship completed in a different function area from the first-year internship. All full-time students must interview for and successfully secure an internship position at Baldwin Wallace University each year they are in the program.

LHE Internship Model

Each student is required to complete one academic graduate internship each year of the program as a part of the LHE curriculum. The one-year internships (approximately 20 hours per week) will cover two-thirds of the overall LHE program costs. These positions are referred to as our signature internships.

LHE Signature Internship

Students work with one office in a variety of capacities, taking leadership of initiatives and supporting the mission and goals of that office. Examples of our signature internship placements are listed below.

Additional LHE Experience (10 hours/week, $5,000 salary, paid bi-weekly)

Students who want to cover the remainder of their program costs may obtain an additional experience for 10 hours per week along with their signature internship. Learn more about options below.

1. Students seeking a deeper dive into the work of the office in which they are currently interning, may work an additional 10 hours per week in the same office by taking leadership of initiatives and supporting the mission and goals of the office (limited availability).
2. Students can opt for 10 hours per week in a distinctly more project-based experience within another office on campus, usually focused on one task such as social media, faculty research assistance or program oversight.

Internship Placements

The following list includes offices and departments where LHE interns have been placed in the past.

• Academic Advising
• Academic Affairs
• Advancing Inclusive Excellence
• Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy
• CARE (Center for Alcohol-Related Issues Information)
• Career Center
• Community Arts School
• Conservatory of Performing Arts
• David & Francis Brain Center for Community Engagement
• Financial Aid
• First-Year Experience
• Global Exploration (Study Abroad)
• Honors Program
• Leadership in Higher Education, School of Education
• MBA/Business Administration Division
• Registration and Records
• Residence Life
• School of Humanities
• STEM Scholars Success
• Student Life and Involvement
• Student Success (First-Year Experience and Retention)
• Transfer & Graduate Admission
• Undergraduate Admission
• University Relations
• Wellness