Looking for a M.Ed. option?

Check out our Master's in Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Policy which features a specialization option in Leadership in Higher Education.

What you can earn

Duration

Within 10 years for Ph.D.

Credits earned

90+ for Ph.D.

Format

On-campus

Time commitment

Part-time or Full-time

Upcoming deadline

January 3, 2025

Accelerate your leadership in higher education

The Leadership in Higher Education (LHE) prepares multidimensional leaders through the combination of theory and hands-on experience. Our graduates are ready for leadership positions at community colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations

You will learn how to address the complexities of today’s higher education landscape through coursework that emphasizes discussions, case studies. Through our partnerships with campus- and community-based organizations, you will take part in a field-based internship that provides exposure to deep content knowledge.

LHE is ideal for people with at least entry-level experience working in higher education and are looking for a way to accelerate their professional trajectory.

Higher education students

After graduation

Graduates are prepared for leadership roles including:

  • Student life (residential, advising, enrollment, activities, etc)
  • Academic affairs
  • Financial aid
  • Multicultural affairs
  • Institutional research
  • P-16 transitions
  • Non-profit work that addresses issues of policy and practice

Let's connect

We're excited that you're interested in our program! By joining our mailing list, you can receive updates on info sessions, deadlines, financial aid and more!

Connect with us

If you have any questions, please email highered@uw.edu.

Curriculum

    Our program is designed to be both flexible and comprehensive. While most students complete their Ph.D. in 4-6 years, we understand that each academic journey is unique. You'll work closely with advisors to tailor your program, focusing on areas of research specialization that align with your goals and interests.

    Admission requirements and process

      Master's degree from an accredited institution

      Your degree can be in-progress when applying but must be completed before program starts

      Unofficial transcript(s) with minimum 3.0 GPA
      • You must submit an unofficial transcript(s) with your application. The UW Graduate School requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 3.0 for your most recent 90 graded quarter credits (60 semester credits), however this is just one part of the application.
      • Our programs review all applications holistically, so we encourage you to still apply. You do not need to take classes to increase your GPA. Instead, we would like for you to focus on a goal statement which discusses your interests and how the program will meet your professional or individual goals and strong letters of recommendation. You can also feel free to address why your GPA is lower than a cumulative 3.0.
      Three letters of recommendation

      During the online application process, you will be given instructions for adding your recommenders and getting their letters submitted electronically. All recommenders must submit their letters online.

      Resume/vita

      A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. A resume is intended to showcase your skills and experiences and to summarize the work you’ve done in your career. You should include educational degrees and professional experience, and it should also detail all relevant awards, publications, presentations or other achievements. Highlight relevant qualifications and skills that are directly connected to the program and degree to which you are applying.

      Be sure to review your resume to show clear communication - free of errors - and attention to detail.

      Statement of purpose

      Your statement should address goals, relevant experience, future plans and how the desired specific program meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school, here are some general questions to think about:

      • Why this specific program? What do you want to do academically and professionally? What specific issues or concepts in the field are you interested in exploring and in what ways do you want to work through these issues?
      • Describe how your interest in the field developed and how you have engaged meaningfully in the field to explore your interests.
      • Emphasize how specific learning and professional experiences have inspired and motivated your desire for continued education.
      • Mention special skills you possess that will assist you in graduate studies such as technical skills, research methodologies, and unique experiences not elaborated in your resume.
      • Highlight any experiences that demonstrate your initiative to develop ideas and solutions, the capacity to work through problems independently and collaboratively, and the determination to reach your goals.

      Master’s degree statements are generally 1-2 pages. Doctoral statements are generally 3-5 pages. Both should be double-spaced. Some programs may also have specific questions and prompts they would like you to address. We encourage you to review program pages to align your statement with the program/faculty match.

      Admissions committees use your statement of purpose, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals are well-matched with our programs.

      Writing sample

      Doctoral candidates must submit one sample of scholarly writing.  The Writing Sample is your best representation of graduate level writing. Typically, students will submit a research paper, article, or thesis from a previous program of study to represent their academic writing. Since these documents come in all sorts of formats, there is no standard guideline for submission, other than sticking within a suggested 10-12 page limit. Students are welcome to submit a portion of their document to fit within the suggested page limit.

      If you do not have a writing sample some suggestions for a new writing sample might include a thesis abstract, peer-reviewed article written, research paper, literature review, a book review or report, etc.

      Personal history statement (optional)

      While optional, you can add to your application by submitting a personal history statement with each application. This statement should address your intellectual growth and development, inclusive of and beyond your academic goals. Speak to topics like:

      • Educational, cultural and economic opportunities and disadvantages you've experienced
      • Ways these experiences affected the development of your special interests, career plans and future goals.
      • Any additional topics requested on a specific program's page

      Statements should be no longer than two pages long. And while there are no standard formatting requirements, we encourage double-spaced text with a legible font.

      1. Gather all required documents
      2. Visit the Graduate School website
      3. Log into your account or create a new profile if you are a first-time applicant
      4. Complete all steps in application process and upload your documents
      5. Pay the nonrefundable $90 application fee
        • You may request a fee waiver during the application process
      6. Submit your application

      Here is our general timeline for decisions. Have questions about the process? Visit our graduate admissions page.

      Step 1: Application processing

      • Within 7 business days after the deadline, we will check if your application if fully complete
      • We will email you whether your application is complete or incomplete
      • If your application is missing anything, you will have a short amount of time submit these items
      • You can also log into the online application and check your status and see any missing items

      Step 2: Application review

      • Committees begin reviewing applications about three weeks after the deadline
      • You will receiving an email when your application has entered the review phase

      Step 3: Decision notification

      • The final decision will be emailed to you
      • Your status will also be updated in the online application

      We value and welcoming applications from international students! If you are applying from outside the United States, there are additional requirements and application materials.

      Prior degree requirements
      • At minimum, you must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree (a four-year degree from an institution of recognized standing)
      • Evaluation of your degree will be based on:
        • The national system of education in the foreign country
        • The type of institution
        • The field of study and level of studies completed
      Transcripts
      • If a transcript is in English, you can upload the transcript in the online application.
      • If the degree is on a separate certificate, you will need to upload this as well. An evaluation from a 3rd party is not needed for this.
      • All transcripts and degree conferral documents that are in a language other than English must be accompanied by certified English translation and must be in the same format as the original(s).
      English language proficiency

      Per UW Graduate School policy, you must submit a demonstration of English language proficiency if your native language is not English and you did not earn a degree in one of the following countries:

      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Australia
      • Bahamas
      • Canada
      • Ireland
      • Jamaica
      • New Zealand
      • Singapore
      • South Africa
      • Trinidad and Tobago

      The following tests are accepted if the test was taken fewer than two years ago:

      • TOEFL
        • Minimum score: 80
        • Recommended score: 92+
        • The UW's 4-digit code is 4854
      • IELTS
        • You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
          • University of Washington All Campuses, Organisation ID 365, Undergrad & Graduate Admis, Box 355850, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States of America
        • Minimum score: 6.5
        • Recommended score: 7.0+
        • School information for submission:
          University of Washington, All Campuses
          Undergraduate & Graduate Admission
          Box 355850
          Seattle, WA 98195
      • Duolingo
        • Minimum score: 105
        • Recommended score: 125+
        • Follow the instructions on the Duolingo website to submit your scores
      Financial ability

      If you apply and are offered admission to UW, you will need to submit a statement of financial ability.

      Costs and funding

        We are a tuition-based program. Estimated tuition rates are based on your residency: 

        • Washington state residents: $6,327 per quarter
        • Out-of-state students: $11,430 per quarter

        Estimates are subject to change and may differ due to course load and summer quarter enrollment. Estimates include building fees, technology fees, U-Pass, etc. Additional program-specific fees are not included in this estimate.

        View the UW tuition dashboard →
        Visit the Office of Planning & Budgeting →

        Federal financial aid is available for students. Visit the UW Financial Aid website for information and resources. The College of Education also provides scholarship and other funding opportunities.

        Graduate students can be awarded $2,000 - $5,000 if they are earning their M.Ed, Ed.S, Ed.D or Ph.D through a College of Education program.

        Program Director

        Teaching Professor
        Chair, Educational Foundations, Leadership & Policy

        Program Faculty

        Associate Professor
        Associate Professor
        Associate Professor

        Program Affiliated Faculty

        Affiliate Associate Professor
        Adjunct Faculty