Apply a Global Lens to Higher Ed
The 10-course Master of Arts in International Higher Education features faculty and guest lecturers from around the world, online and on-site coursework options, and a rich variety of placement opportunities.
Educational Leadership & Higher Education (ELHE)
Educational Leadership & Higher Education (ELHE)
Fulfilling our social justice mission, our Educational Leadership and Higher Education programs develop agents of cultural change—reflective practitioners committed to making schools more equitable.
Internationally recognized faculty integrate interdisciplinary theory with the most current evidence-based practices. Students develop the skills and perspectives to thrive in administration, public policy, and research positions while transforming outcomes across settings, from pre-K through post-graduate.
Scroll down to read more about our program offerings and our faculty.
The department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education prepares administrators and leaders of educational institutions ranging from pre-schools, to K-12, public, Catholic, charter schools to universities, to post graduate institutions.
Graduates are prepared to bring perspectives from sociology, psychology, history and philosophy, as well as social justice and public policy to their analysis and articulation of educational issues.
Course work and field-based learning experiences develop reflective practitioners who integrate theory with practice.
Courses in the department encompass these primary themes:
- Social Justice
- Diversity
- Reflective practice
- Partnerships and collegiality
Courses in the various programs of study explore how economic, societal, political, and global forces change the way people think about schooling, educational leadership, and post-secondary administration.
To keep up with the constantly changing world there have been broad shifts in the knowledge and skills required of educational leaders today:
- from technical skills to interpersonal skills
- from command and direction to consensus building and motivating
- from resource allocation to being accountable for learning processes and outcomes
- from campus administrators to coordinator of institutional and community services
- from policy recipient to shaping and informing policy
These shifts have been reflected in courses throughout the Educational Leadership and Higher Education programs.
Students engaging in Educational Leadership and Higher Education programs benefit considerably from the location of Boston College. Boston as a city is one of the richest post-secondary environments in the world, and offers a diverse range of educational environments.
The Boston College O'Neill Library has an excellent collection of books and journals in higher education and educational leadership resulting from decades of focus in the field. The university offers strong supporting faculty in education, management, and the social sciences, and a strong tradition of collaborative scholarship.
Close relations with other academic institutions in the area mean extensive opportunities for internships and research around the metropolitan area. Boston College's Jesuit identity also offers an underlying concern with social justice issues that is unique among education programs, and of course the program benefits from the Jesuit tradition of rigorous intellectual discourse.
Explore Our Programs
Educational Leadership & Policy, M.Ed.
<h3><b>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </b></h3>
<ul>
<li>Draw on social-justice values and leadership strategies to boldly improve equitable opportunities for traditionally marginalized students.</li>
<li>Non-Licensure tracks in Educational Policy Development and Social Justice Leadership.</li>
<li>Licensure track leading to school principal licensure.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Assume a leadership role in educational systems serving students, families, and communities.</p>
School Principal
Researcher
Dean of Students
Superintendent
School Vice Principal
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
<h3><strong>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Cohort model centered on collaborative learning, support, and creating a network of district-level leaders throughout Massachusetts.</li>
<li>Member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate.</li>
<li>Prepares future school leaders for public, Catholic, charter, and independent schools.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Designed for superintendents, this program is anchored in values of social justice, community, and school reform and results in superintendent licensure.</p>
Superintendent
School Leader
School Administrator
Vice Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Educational-Leadership-EdD
Educational Policy Development Certificate
<h3><strong>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Learn how policies shape the cultural norms and day-to-day practices at both a micro level and a macro level. </li>
<li>Program utilizes a lens of social justice and equity as a basis throughout the curriculum.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Develop the skills to use policy creatively and effectively to advance organizational goals and educational change. </p>
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/edu-policy-dev
Higher Education, Executive Ed.D.
<p><strong>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Online program with yearly week-long summer residencies, allowing candidates to maintain their career while working towards a doctorate.</li>
<li>Catholic Higher Education concentration available. </li>
<li>Program culminates in a practice-based capstone project.</li>
</ul>
<p>Develop the skills, mindsets, and technical knowledge to match the changing pace of higher education in this program designed for experienced professionals. </p>
Dean of Students
Vice President for Enrollment
Chief Diversity Officer
Director of Global Initiatives
Vice President of Advancement
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/higher-ed-edd
Higher Education, M.A.
<h3><strong>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Choose one of three concentrations: Administration; Student Affairs; and Spirituality, Faith, and Formation.</li>
<li>Develop expertise in critical issues facing higher education.</li>
<li>Graduate assistantships are integral to the program as they provide valuable professional experience while reducing the financial burden on students.</li>
</ul>
<p>Develop expertise in student affairs, administration, or Catholic universities in one of the older higher education gradute programs in the country. </p>
College Student Affairs
College Admissions
Diversity and Inclusion
Institutional Advancement
Higher Education Leadership
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Master-of-Arts-MA-in-Higher-Education
Higher Education, M.A. & Business Administration, M.B.A.
<h3><strong>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Field experiences allows students to apply their skills in educational management. </li>
<li>Coursework happens concurrently so students can maximize the connection between the two programs. </li>
</ul>
<p>Emerge from this dual degree program ready to share your skills with universities and policy-making organizations in financial management, resource planning, and technology management.</p>
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Director of Finance and Administration
University Controller
Vice Provost of Budget and Planning
Dean of Administration and Resource Management
Chief Information and Technology Officer
Higher Education, Ph.D.
<h3><b>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </b></h3>
<ul>
<li>Coursework engages with important issues facing higher education from a multi-disciplinary perspective (history, sociology, philosophy, psychology, economic and political science).</li>
<li>Boston College's Center for International Higher Education provides a significant global focus to the Higher Education program. </li>
</ul>
<p>Prepare for a career in teaching or research in the field of higher education with a focus on equity and social jusitce.</p>
College President
Education Attorney
Vice President of Enrollment Management
Professor
Dean of Colleges
International Higher Education Certificate
<h3><b>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </b></h3>
<ul>
<li>Offered through their renowned Center for International Higher Education.</li>
<li>A field experience guarantees an individualized research experience for each student.</li>
</ul>
<p>Deepen your understanding of global higher education models and critical issues impacting higher education around the world.</p>
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Certificate-in-International-Higher-Education
International Higher Education, M.A.
<h3><strong>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Choose from two tracks: <ul>
<li>Scholar Practitioner Track: This track is for those seeking professional careers and includes a field experience placement. </li>
<li>Research Intensive Track: This track is for those interested in research careers or doctoral study and includes a master's thesis. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Program is housed in BC's renowned Center for International Higher Education. </li>
</ul>
<p>Explore comparative perspectives and use high quality research as a key tool to understand the major trends affecting the fast-growing field of global higher education.</p>
Study Abroad Advisor
Director of University Partnerships
International Student Advisor
Research Assistant
Adjunct Faculty
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Master-of-Arts-MA-in-International-Higher-Education
Law, J.D. & Education, M.A. or M.Ed.
<h3><b>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </b></h3>
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<p><ul>
<li>Access to field experiences that incorporates educational advocacy.</li>
<li>Option to pursue one of three education master's programs: Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction.</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>Use legal and educational expertise to become an advocate for social justice and promote quality education for all.</p>
Education Law and Civil Litigation
State and Federal Court Clerks
Researchers
Policy Analyst
Board of Directors (ie. local school districts, community colleges etc.)
Social Justice Leadership Certificate
<h3><b>PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS </b></h3>
<ul>
<li>Students develop and enact their own theory of change to apply in practice.</li>
<li>Our <em>Reflection on Leadership</em> course prepares students for values based school leadership where a respect for diversity is cultivated throughout their organization.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Boldly advance equity in schools and enact a systemic response to confront the barriers students face. </p>
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/social-justice-lead
Educational Leadership and Higher Education News and Notes
