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Teachers College, Columbia University
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Degree Requirements > Master of Arts

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Master of Arts

The M.A. requires a minimum of 32 points of graduate coursework. Students pursue one of three domain sequences: Academic and Developmental Analysis, Organizational and Institutional Analysis, or Social and Comparative Analysis.

Course requirements common to all sequences include:

  • ORL 5521 Introduction to research methods in education (3) or equivalent with advisor approval
  • ORLH 4010 Purposes and policies of higher education (3)
  • ORLH 4011 Curriculum and instruction in higher education (3)
  • ORLH 4040 The American college student (3)
  • ORLH 5525 Advanced professional seminar: College student development theories (3)

Additional requirements for Academic and Developmental Analysis include the following coursework as well as a culminating project:

  • ORLH 4041 Student personnel administration: Organization, functions, and issues (3) or other with advisor approval
  • ORLH 4042 Student personnel administration: Programs and services (3) or other with advisor approval

Two (2) courses from the following:

  • ORLH 4012 The community college (3)
  • ORLD 4051 How adults learn (3)
  • ORLH 5011 College teaching and learning (3)
  • ORLH 5044 Theories of diversity in higher education (3)
  • ORLH 5522 Advanced professional seminar: Contemporary student issues and policies (3)
  • ORLH 5524 Advanced professional seminar: An analysis of student cultures (3)
  • ORLH 5527 Advanced professional seminar: The college professoriate (3)
  • Other ORLH courses with advisor’s approval (3)

Other Courses: M.A. students with internship must take ORLH 5241, Observation and Supervised Fieldwork in Higher and Postsecondary Education (1 point).

Non-internship students elect another Teachers College course with advisor approval (1 point).

Minimum of two out-of-program Teachers College elective courses — one 3-point course and one 1-point course — for a total of 4 points. These courses require advisor approval (4 points).  

Additional requirements for Organizational and Institutional Analysis include the following coursework as well as a culminating project:

  • ORLH 4031         Financial administration of higher education institutions (3)

Three (3) courses from the following:

  • ORLH 4012 The community college (3)
  • ORLH 4020 College and university organization and administration (3)
  • ORLD 4051 How adults learn (3)
  • ORLH 4199 Special topics in higher education (topic/section to be designated with advisor approval)
  • ORLH 5011 College teaching and learning (3)
  • ORLH 5527 Advanced professional seminar: The college professoriate (3)
  • ORLH 6521 Advanced seminar in the community college (3)
  • ORLH 6551 Advanced seminar in higher education (3)
  • ORLH 6556 Educational leadership: Research, art, and practice (3)

Other Courses: M.A. students with internship must take ORLH 5241, Observation and Supervised Fieldwork in Higher and Postsecondary Education (1 point). Non-internship students elect another Teachers College course with advisor approval (1 point).

Minimum of two additional out-of-program Teachers College elective courses — one 3-point course and one 1-point course — for a total of 4 points.  These courses require advisor approval (4 points).

Requirements for Social and Comparative Analysis include the following coursework as well as a culminating project:

Three or four courses from the following:

  • ORLD 4051 How adults learn (3)
  • ORLH 4199 Special topics in higher education (3) with advisor approval
  • ORLH 5011 College teaching and learning (3)
  • ORLH 5044 Theories of diversity in higher education (3)
  • ORLH 5522 Advanced professional seminar: Contemporary student issues and policies (3)
  • ORLH 5524 Advanced professional seminar: An analysis of student cultures (3)
  • ORLH 5527 Advanced professional seminar: The college professoriate (3)
  • ORLH 6551 Advanced seminar in higher education (3)
  • ORLH 6556 Education leadership: Research, art, and practice (3)

Other Courses: M.A. students with internship must take ORLH 5241, Observation and Supervised Fieldwork in Higher and Postsecondary Education (1 point). Non-internship students elect another Teachers College course with advisor approval (1 point).

Minimum of two to three additional out-of-program Teachers College elective courses — one 3-point or 2-point courses and one 1-point course — for a total of 4-7 points.  These courses require advisor approval.  

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