UConn’s Higher Education Graduate Programs
UConn’s Higher Education Programs, housed within the Neag School of Education, are designed for individuals looking to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in higher education while embracing critical, inclusive, and decolonizing practice and reflexivity. Students are prepared to work in higher education, student affairs, research organizations, and other settings.
Advance your career while learning among the best at the one of the top 25 public graduate schools of education in the country and one of the nation’s top public universities. All UConn Higher Education Programs prepare critical, anti-racist, and equity-minded professionals.
Programs
MA Program
The 36-credit Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Master’s Program leads to a Master of Arts (MA) degree and is focused on developing reflective scholar-practitioners in the higher education setting. The courses and experiences are diverse and reflect the best of contemporary student affairs practice.
Ph.D. Concentration
The UConn Neag School of Education’s Ph.D. in Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy offers four concentrations, one of which being Higher Education Racial Justice and Decolonization (HERJD). The Ph.D. program and its concentrations are designed for students interested in becoming researchers or working in academic settings. The HERJD concentration offers students opportunities to engage in critical reflexivity and praxis related to racial justice and decolonization in higher education settings.
Ed.D. Program
The Department of Educational Leadership’s Ed.D. degree program is designed for practitioners and accommodates full-time professionals. It is cohort-based, places an emphasis on a student’s problem of practice, and requires a capstone research project instead of a dissertation. The program places a particular emphasis on equity-centered leadership and invites applicants from K-12 and higher education contexts.
Recent Department News
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Current members of the board volunteer to help engage and connect with alumni and friends of the Neag School throughout the year
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This fall, the UConn Neag School of Education welcomes a new faculty member, a new assistant dean, and congratulates an existing faculty member on a new appointment
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The editor-reviewed, open-access, annual journal is founded and run by graduate students at the Neag School and has published six articles in its 2026 issue
Testimonials
Mislal Andom-Lake, Special Education Teacher
“UCAPP consistently impresses me with its practical approach, allowing me to apply leadership skills in my home and mentor schools. Though core assessments are challenging, they prove instrumental in readying me for diverse school leadership responsibilities, always prioritizing students. Support from my coach and mentor school enriches my experience. … This UCAPP journey has been transformative, nurturing my aspirations for district-level leadership in special education or equity. I enthusiastically recommend this program to aspiring school leaders.”
Mike Dunn, High School Principal
“Having consulted with a variety of trusted educational leaders with whom I’ve been lucky to work, I chose to apply for UConn’s Executive Leadership Program due to its reputation for the highest quality instruction and unique blend of cutting-edge leadership theory with practical application. The Executive Leadership Internship itself provides rich and varied opportunities to apply the lenses from leadership frameworks and theoretical readings in authentic settings where real leaders work through real problems to affect systemic change for students.”
