Post-Master’s Certificate
Higher Education
Today’s higher education leaders face extraordinary challenges. You can help formulate the solutions.
Designed both for current and aspiring higher education leaders, Oakland University’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Higher Education combines a strong theoretical foundation with practical tools to help institutions reach their potential. You’ll explore higher education’s transformational impact on individuals and communities, while surveying the wide variety of institutional missions and organizational structures in higher education. The program also examines specific higher education policies and reform initiatives, with a strong focus on economic and social justice. With a flexible course schedule and convenient evening hours, our higher education graduate program is tailored for full-time working professionals.
Designed both for current and aspiring higher education leaders, Oakland University’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Higher Education combines a strong theoretical foundation with practical tools to help institutions reach their potential. You’ll explore higher education’s transformational impact on individuals and communities, while surveying the wide variety of institutional missions and organizational structures in higher education. The program also examines specific higher education policies and reform initiatives, with a strong focus on economic and social justice. With a flexible course schedule and convenient evening hours, our higher education graduate program is tailored for full-time working professionals.
Higher Education Graduate Certificate: The Oakland University Advantage
Higher education institutions occupy a unique societal role, serving diverse stakeholders from the public, private, and community sectors. Our higher education graduate certificate equips you with a unifying philosophy to help you set clear priorities and mobilize your institution’s resources to make a positive impact throughout your community.
The program empowers you to:
- Gain actionable expertise. You’ll complete relevant coursework that addresses contemporary issues in higher education. The program puts special emphasis on social equity and inclusion, while also covering political considerations, policy trends, financial issues, and other key topics confronting higher education leaders.
- Specialize in a given professional niche. Required courses and electives give you the flexibility to personalize the higher education leadership program so it best serves your institution and advance your career. Focus areas include (but are not limited to) academic affairs, student affairs, human resources, financial planning, and diversity / inclusion.
- Collaborate with national leaders. Our higher education graduate program is led by nationally recognized experts in the field of higher education equity. You’ll work with instructors who are at the forefront of research and discourse about improving access to higher education (both students and faculty) for underrepresented populations.
- Develop professional connections. The program fosters tight-knit relationships that help you strengthen ties with fellow higher education leaders. Many alumni of our graduate higher education programs remain involved with Oakland University, giving back as ambassadors and mentors to current graduate students.
- Work toward a doctoral degree. You can apply credits earned in the higher education post-master’s certificate program toward either an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership or a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.
What Can You Do With a Post-Master’s Certificate in Higher Education ?
Oakland University’s higher education graduate certificate serves people who already work in higher education as administrators, faculty, or staff, as well as professionals from outside the field who seek to transition to a career in higher education.
The certificate can support your pursuit of a broad range of jobs in higher education. A partial list of examples includes:
- Director of Housing
- Admissions Counselor
- Director of Undergraduate Admissions
- Facilities Coordinator
- Assistant Athletic Director
- Director of Philanthropy
Post-Master’s Certificate in Higher Education: What You’ll Study
The higher education certificate consists of four courses (16 credits). You’ll take required courses in contemporary higher education, leadership, and social justice, plus one elective. Options include:
- Critical Historical Perspectives
- Student Affairs
- Academic Affairs
- Resource Management
- Topics in Higher Education
Higher Education Graduate Certificate Resources
- Admission requirements
- Degree requirements
- Department of Organizational Leadership
- School of Education and Human Services
Programs Related to the Post-Master’s Certificate in Higher Education
Not sure if the higher ed leadership certificate is right for you ? Check out these other graduate programs at Oakland University, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.