The Program in Higher and Postsecondary Education (HPSE) has a long tradition of preparing practitioners and scholars for leadership and research in the field of higher education. Teachers College was the first school in the United States to offer a degree Student Personnel Administration. This effort started in 1913 and since then our program has evolved in many ways. Today, our program, much like the field of higher education, has grown to capture the multifaceted aspects of postsecondary education. We emphasize developing knowledgeable practitioners who are familiar with the educational core of higher education (human and professional learning and development), the way colleges and universities are organized (organizational planning, design, governance, and administration), and the social contexts that shape them (social, cultural, economic, and historic). We expect that students will work within and across these domains, developing programs of study that, though focused on particular themes and issues (e.g., scholarly learning and careers, student development, administration), will be informed broadly by a diverse array of ideas, perspectives, and questions. Taken together, our curriculum offers students an opportunity to develop as both practitioners and scholars capable of leading the field of higher education in practice and research.
We offer three degree options: Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Education (Ed.M.), and Doctor of Education (Ed.D). Prospective students interested in learning more about our degrees are encouraged to review the information provided in the degree description and degree requirements sections our website as well as the prospective student tab.