2022-2023

Educational Leadership - Community College/Higher Education, Master of Education

Department of Educational Leadership

College of Education

This plan is no longer available at the Flagstaff Campus. 

This program offers preparation if you are planning to enter the community college/higher education field as a faculty member or if you already have experience and wish to prepare yourself for greater leadership responsibilities. This program is also appropriate if you have an unusual combination of teaching interests and wish to qualify yourself to teach or assume leadership roles in the community college.

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

  • Fieldwork is required for some emphasis areas.

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Research Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

Purpose

The MEd in CCHE Program provides students with 21st century leadership skills necessary to inspire and transform teams to meet the challenges and opportunities of today’s higher education institutions; private and public organizations, agencies, and units; non-profit; military, health, social, and law enforcement sectors; and business and industry training and development programs and services. The Program focuses on cutting-edge teaching and learning leadership knowledge and skill sets where students achieve the following:

  • Integrate prior knowledge and experiences
  • Identify essential knowledge in the discipline
  • Engage in professional discourse
  • Apply research tools and processes
  • Communicate effectively in sociocultural and technological contexts
  • Consider institutional environments and contexts of diverse communities
  • Utilize theories and evidence-based practices to inform teaching and learning leadership
  • Create professional development plans for career goals

The CCHE Program offers all-online asynchronous learning with multiple points for enrollment and options for time-to-degree/graduation. The Program courses have no prerequisites and promote interdisciplinary experiences.
 
Market:
The Program is customized for:

  • Current and future NAU graduate students who wish to work in careers related to higher education (e.g., universities, community colleges)
  • Individuals who work or wish to work outside of public education where facilitating the learning of others is offered (e.g., military, non-profits, entrepreneurial entities, business and industry, law enforcement, and governmental sectors)
  • Individuals seeking a career change
  • Current NAU graduate students interested in earning a second master’s degree to use as an additional credential
  • Retirees and individuals wishing part-time work in teaching areas based on their experiences, academic backgrounds, and work/employment records

The Community College Teaching & Learning Certificate (CCTLC) is designed for individuals pursuing teaching opportunities at the community college/higher education level. It is geared to supplement students’ practical and technical skills for their fields of expertise with community college organizational knowledge, curriculum design, college teaching, and understanding the characteristics of today’s community college student.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • CCHE students will synthesize and apply knowledge of research processes and methodologies in collecting and assessing data to identify and solve problems that inform decision making in leadership
  • CCHE students will demonstrate ethical and professional leadership skills, qualities, and behaviors to engage effectively with institutional stakeholders in interdependent local, national, global, political, economic, and environmental contexts
  • CCHE students will prepare proposals to solve institutional challenges by utilizing diverse cultural, social, and intellectual resources within communities 
  • CCHE students will analyze and integrate disciplinary and sub-disciplinary theories, concepts, principles, and evidence-based practices in proposing and implementing partnerships, alliances, networks, strategies, or educational programs 
  • CCHE students will articulate the importance of lifelong leadership learning through multiple perspectives of higher education and as examined through diverse and multi-cultural lenses 
  • CCHE students will be prepared to function in leadership settings relevant to their training and experiences within non-profit and for-profit institutions, online and virtual campuses, sponsored campuses and programs, and private institutions by creating a professional development plan to advance their professionalism 

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

    • there are no individual admission requirements
Master's Requirements
Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.