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Higher Education Leadership & Administration, MA

Seattle University's Higher Education Leadership and Administration program is designed for those passionate about leading within college or university settings and advancing social justice.

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About this Program

Become An Equity-Minded Leader In Higher Education 

Seattle University’s Higher Education Leadership and Administration (HELA) program is built on the foundation of our well-established, highly respected Student Development Administration program with more than 30 years of history.

Expand Knowledge and Professional Competencies

  • Direct strategic change on an organizational level 
  • Advocate for just policies and practices in higher education 
  • Lead campus-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives 
  • Assess and evaluate student success through innovative program design  
  • Engage in scholarly research, grant writing and fundraising 
  • Develop student-centered programs that improve college access and success 
  • Foster identity-conscious supervision and student leadership development 

Program Highlights

  • Build a lasting network on a local and national level, with colleagues for life, enriching your professional journey beyond graduation. 
  • Design a practitioner or research project that aligns with your career aspirations and showcases your newly developed competencies 
  • Online, asynchronous formatting tailored for working professionals 
  • Affordable tuition that makes quality education accessible (with graduate assistantships, graduate coordinator positions, and institutional scholarships.) 
  • Engage with a team of faculty scholar-practitioners who teach and mentor. 
  • Publish research and writing in peer-reviewed journal.

Transition to Semester Calendar

Beginning in summer 2027, Seattle University’s graduate programs will shift from a quarter system to a semester calendar. As the transition takes place, the university is committed to minimizing impact on your time to completion and program cost as you progress toward your degree. Learn more about the Graduate Programs Move to Semesters.

No Application Fee

We are committed to removing barriers to graduate education by waiving the application fee for all applicants.

Master's in Higher Education Leadership and Administration at a Glance

Learn how a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership and Administration will contribute to your career goals. Then, explore course requirements and see how impactful a Seattle University master's can be.

The Higher Education Leadership and Administration (HELA) program prepares students to become equity-minded leaders in various educational fields such as student affairs, higher education administration, educational tech and educational non-profit organizations.

The HELA program focuses on theory, research and practice in higher education, covering areas like:

  • Strategic Leadership
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Organizational and Change Theory
  • Law and Policy Analysis

The Higher Education Leadership and Administration program has ten learning outcomes. They are:

  1. Understanding the foundations and emerging nature of the Student Affairs profession and higher education.
  2. Understanding students and student issues.
  3. Exhibiting professional integrity and ethical leadership in professional practice.
  4. Understanding and fostering diversity, justice and a sustainable world formed by a global perspective and Jesuit Catholic tradition.
  5. Adapting student services to specific environments and cultures.
  6. Developing and demonstrating skills in leadership and collaboration.
  7. Utilizing assessment, evaluation, technology, and research to improve practice.
  8. Communicating effectively in speech and in writing.
  9. Understanding issues surrounding law, policy, finance and governance.
  10. Establishing and enhancing professional identity.

Through our holistic mentorship approach, our nationally recognized and dedicated faculty will work with you to gain the experience and skills necessary to serve students in a variety of educational environments, including community colleges, 4-year colleges, college access organizations and high-tech companies (university recruiting and leadership development).

Assistant Professor Paige Gardner, '11 MEd, PhD, co-program director of the Student Development Administration program, has more than 12 years of practitioner experience and offers students a unique perspective as a scholar-practitioner. Read more about Dr. Gardner in this Seattle University Magazine profile.

Associate Teaching Professor Erin Swezey, MPS, MA, Program Director of the Student Development Administration program has more than 30 years of practitioner experience and guides students through their career discernment through internship placement process.

Year 1 (21 credits)

Fall 2026 Quarter (9 credits)

HELA 5000 Research Methods, Critical Inquiry and Data Analysis (3 credits)

HELA 5300 Leadership and Governance in Higher Education (3 credits)

HELA 5400 Higher Education Theory and Organizational Change (3 credits)

Winter 2027 Quarter (6 credits)

HELA 5700 Operationalizing Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education (3 credits)

HELA 5800 Higher Education Law and Policy (3 credits)

Spring 2027 Quarter (6 credits)

HELA 5850 Higher Education Finance and Enrollment Management (3 credits)

HELA 5750 Curriculum and Pedagogy in Higher Education (3 credits)

YEAR 2 (21 credits)

Fall 2027 Quarter (7 credits)

HELA 5500 Strategic Leadership, Assessment and Evaluation (3 credits)

HELA 5900 Capstone Leadership Formation and Practice in Higher Ed (3 credits)

HELA 5920 MA Portfolio Seminar I (1 credit)

Winter 2028 Quarter (7 credits)

HELA 5590 Community College and Educational Access (3 credits)

HELA 5640 Community Engage Learning and Internship I (3 credits)

HELA 5930 MA Portfolio Seminar II (1 credit) 

Spring 2028 Quarter (7 credits)

HELA 5050 Academic Advising for Student Success (3 credits)

HELA 5650 Community Engage Learning and Internship II (3 credits)

HELA 5940 MA Portfolio Seminar III (1 credit) (1 credit)

Preparing Leaders in Higher Education

Colleges and universities need leaders who can support student success while navigating complex institutional challenges.

Seattle University’s MA in Higher Education Leadership and Administration prepares professionals to lead across student affairs, academic affairs and institutional administration. Graduates pursue careers in advising, student development, enrollment management and higher education leadership.

Powered by Lightcast Data , this information draws on millions of job postings, career profiles and other data collected each day to deliver near–real-time insights into workforce trends. Occupations listed are generic outcomes associated with the field, and salary figures reflect median earnings for the career listed, not necessarily those of individuals who have recently graduated.

Explore Higher Education Leadership and Administration

Hear from Dr. Paige Gardner to learn more.

Flexible Schedule That Fits Your Life

Paige Gardner Asynchronous Learning Video
Click to play the video

Asynchronous Learning Explained

This program is designed for graduate students who desire an online, asynchronous learning environment and is especially designed for full-time professionals who have a desire to expand their professional formation.

Watch the adjacent video to learn more about asynchronous learning with Dr. Paige Gardner. 

Headshots of five HELA alumni arranged in a circle

Alumni

Our alumni have gone on to careers in various educational fields such as student affairs, higher education administration, educational tech and educational non-profit organizations. Here are a few examples:

  • President, Renton Technical College
  • Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and the Student Experience, Purdue
  • Director of Human Resources, YouthCare
  • Executive Vice President, Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Success Foundation
  • Employee Onboarding and Learning Specialist - Talent Development, LinkedIn

Hear From Our Alumni

Exita Lealofi smiling

Exita Lealofi, '26 MA

“They really opened up a door to this sense of belonging. I wanted to basically understand my students' issues. I wanted to understand the barriers within the system that they work with..."

Student Development Administration

Read more about Exita's story
De'Andre Jones professional headshot smiling

De'Andre Jones, '18 MEd

"The breadth of the coursework, the depth at which you engage with it, and the variety of faculty who teach in the program provides an intentional overview of what new scholar practitioners can expect in the field. I have been able to experience a natural progression in my career across multiple functions and industries because of the transferable skills I gained through the program."

Student Development Administration

Featured Faculty

All Faculty & Staff
  • Paige Gardner, PhD
    Paige Gardner, PhD

    Interim Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Success and Development
    Co-Program Director for Curriculum and Instruction Design and Higher Education Leadership and Administration (HELA)
    Assistant Professor, Higher Education Leadership and Administration (HELA)

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Get in Touch

If you have any questions about the program or application, we’re here to help!

Ashley Miller

Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions

Ashley Miller Headshot