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[newb42785]

Hello!  I am 22 and currently working as an admissions counselor at large public university.  I would like to continue my education with an advanced degree.  I really like working in higher education, and my goal is to get a degree that will help enable me to move up in rank and responsibility in administrative positions in higher education. 

I like admissions work, but would also be very open to positions in conflict resolution, student activities, orientation, academic advising, alumni relations or athletics as my career progresses.  (If you haven't guessed, I like variety!)

My question for all of you kind people is:  Is it realistic to think that someone with an MPA (master of public affairs) and work experience in higher ed would be a strong candidate for progressively more responsible positions is higher education? 

I am of course considering student affairs programs, but I worry that the focus of such a degree is quite narrow.  I know my prospects outside of higher ed are much better with an MPA as opposed to a student affairs degree; is it really that much better to have that master's in student affairs?

I would really appreciate any illumination on this topic.  Thank you in advance for responding!

[zharkov]

A graduate degree like an MPA, or MBA, or MEd will be helpful.

Depending on the area, a doctorate is a strong plus for the highest positions.

[koufax33]

My former supervisor was the Associate Dean of Student Affairs - he had an MPA and more than enough student affairs experience. The MPA also is good fall back if you leave academe.

However, if you do the MPA route, it wouldnt hurt for you to take 1-2 student affairs-type courses, especially those dealing with theory as you will not get that in your MPA program....

I also know some joint programs where you can get a Student Affairs-type degree and on in HR or something similar (have seen JD as well, but thats a 5 year gig)...

[roarheels]

I would go with the MPA. While my experience is limited in this area, my father is MPA DPA and works in a totally unrelated field to public administration. In addition, with those degrees he has been everything from a governor's aid, to a professor, a department chair, and now a CEO of a 500 person company he founded based on the doctoral thesis work for that degree. The MPA opens thousands of doors and I think that although we all love academe, we can never foresee when the need may arise to pursue the dollar more aggressively. All of his collegues from his MPA, DPA cohort seem to have had as varied experiences with their careers. Many went into government but others ended up writing and researching. Moreover, most of them finished their DPA's while already working either in government or academia. For some reason, the MPA always seemed like a powerful degree. If you could combine it with a JD then I think you set yourself for an amazing career.

[sctechcollegesystem]

I'm not sure if this interests you but one particular school in the SEC offers an MPA with a concentration in Higher Education Administration.  May be something you want to look in to.