This course provides a basic foundation in the administration of colleges and universities in modern-day America, including an exploration of the role and purpose of various functions, departments, and major organizational constituent groups (e.g., faculty, students, administration/staff, board) as well as the different types of institutions and their organizational models. Current and emerging issues affecting college and university functioning are explored and the impact of state and federal policy on institutions is assessed. In this course students will learn or hone their APA writing skills, examine critical issues in higher education from the perspectives of key stakeholders, apply organizational models to analyze institutions, and interview campus staff to develop a unique case study paper.

This course examines curriculum, including key elements and practices in how curriculum is designed, planned, and implemented, and how varied curriculum affects learners. We consider the differentiated role and operation of undergraduate and graduate curricula, theoretical perspectives on curriculum design, and emerging curricular trends at American colleges and universities. The goals, practices, and impacts of curricular assessment, program assessment, and institutional accreditation are emphasized, and students analyze emerging curricular practices. An original project assignment allows students in the course to explore areas of their own interest.

Higher education has undergone vast changes in the last century. Student access to higher education has broadened significantly, bringing new opportunities and challenges to the design of college services and the educational process. In this course students develop an understanding of the characteristics, experiences, and outcomes of college students in higher education today and in the near future. We examine varied higher education campus environments and their impact on student learning, the impact of rapidly changing technology on course delivery models, and various cultural contexts which shape and influence the student experience. Specific attention is given to administrative practices within colleges and universities, including student services, enrollment management, academic affairs, and institutional marketing.

This course is designed to assist students in becoming knowledgeable about the fundamentals of American law that directly and indirectly impact the teaching, learning, and administrative environments of higher education institutions in both the public and private sectors. There are diverse sources of law that affect American higher education and this course is designed to enhance student understanding and appreciation for this complexity, as well as for the ethical issues which surround the application of law in the college or university or setting. Students will identify resources to use when facing legal and ethical issues on their campus, become an active consumer of legal advice, build competence engaging in informed dialog with legal counsel, deepen their understanding of social justice issues and ethics on college campuses, and engage in self-reflection regarding professional and personal ethics in the professional setting.

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the principles, practices, and strategies essential to effectively attract and retain students in higher education. Students in this course will gain a deep, holistic understanding of enrollment management and retention theory while examining how marketing, communication, recruitment, financial aid, and student success initiatives intersect to shape institutional practices. Students will analyze real-world enrollment and retention strategies, exploring factors that influence students' decisions to enroll and persist in higher education. The course emphasizes the importance of evidence-based, institutionally-appropriate enrollment and retention practices, the organization of enrollment and retention efforts within an enrollment management model, and the role of technology in managing these processes.