Postsecondary Education Administration

Developing Emerging Practitioners in Postsecondary Education

The Master of Arts in Postsecondary Education Administration (PSE) prepares emerging leaders to become transformational practitioners of higher education and student affairs. The mission of the program is to develop influential leaders that understand the comprehensive nature of higher education and can apply alternative solutions to contemporary issues within the field. The PSE program targets those who desire a career in this exciting field as well as individuals with an established career in higher education looking for advancement.

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Developing Emerging Practitioners in Postsecondary Education

Advance your career

The M.A. in Postsecondary Education Administration degree is ideal for secondary school professionals and college personnel. You can finish your degree in two years with full-time and part-time tracks with 36 credit hours. 

  • Full-time and part-time tracks
  • Online and in-person options
  • No GRE required
  • Projected job growth
  • Careers in higher education and student affairs
  • Study abroad opportunities with the Discover Korea program
  • Internships across the United States
  • Graduate assistantship opportunities
  • Dedicated faculty
  • Affordable tuition
  • Download Program Flyer

Get in touch with our faculty and learn more about graduate admissions at Murray State and take the next step toward your dream job in higher education.

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Where can a degree in PSE lead you?

Our students have a 100% placement rate in a variety of areas, with an expected growth in the job market.

Students and alumni of the Murray State PSE program have held internships and employment in the following locations. Click on the state listings below for more details. You can help us add more navy states to this map! Contact us to get started.

Map of PSE Experiences

State Listings

Baylor University (Waco, TX)

Employment: Study Abroad

Texas A&M University at Galveston (Galveston, TX)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)

Internship: Housing & Residence Life

University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)

Employment: Study Abroad

University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)

Employment: Housing and Residence Life

University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

Employment: Disability Services

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)

Internship: First Year Experience

Butler University (Indianapolis, IN)

Employment: Housing & Residential Life

Cincinnati State Community and Technical College (Cincinnati, OH)

Employment: Career Counseling

Ivy Tech Community College - Lafayette (Lafayette, IN)

Employment: Admissions

Miami University (Oxford, OH)

Employment: Career Services

Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Internship: Student Leadership

University of Evansville (Evansville, IN)

Internship: Study Abroad

University of Wisconsin Whitewater (Whitewater, WI)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA)

Internship: Greek Life

Notre Dame of Maryland University (Baltimore, MD)

Internship: Housing & Residential Life

Radford University (Radford, VA)

Internship: Housing & Residence Life

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)

Internship: Student Life & Engagement

Union College (Schenectady, NY)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

University of Vermont (Burlington, VT)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

Virginia Tech University (Blacksburg, VA)

Employment: Student Activities

Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, TN)

Internships: Career Counseling, Greek Life

Employment: Service Learning & Community Engagement

Bethel University (McKenzie, TN)

Internship: Study Abroad

Big Sandy Community and Technical College (Prestonburg, KY)

Employment: Academic Advising

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (Lexington, KY)

Employment: Student Support Services

Brescia University (Owensboro, KY)

Employment: Academic Support, Recruitment

Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (Bowling Green, KY)

Internship: Study Abroad

Dyersburg State Community College (Dyersburg, TN)

Employment: Recruitment

Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL)

Internship: New Student Orientation

Hopkinsville Community & Technical College (Hopkinsville, KY)

Internship & Employment: Student Activities

Kentucky Wesleyan College (Owensboro, KY)

Internship: Student Activities

Louisiana State University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA)

Employment: Student Conduct

Murray State University (Murray, KY)

Internships: Housing & Residential Life, Judicial Affairs, Registrar's Office, Intramurals, Retention Services, Student Support Services, the Women's Center, Alumni Affairs, Study Abroad

Employment: Career Services, Educational Talent Search, Retention Services, Student Disability Services, Student Support Services, Upward Bound

South College (Knoxville, TN)

Employment: Academic Advising

University of Alabama - Huntsville (Huntsville, AL)

Employment: Housing & Residence Life

University of Mississippi (University, MS)

Employment: Greek Life

University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN)

Internships: Greek Life, New Student Orientations, Multicultural Affairs

Employment: Housing & Residence Life, Multicultural Affairs

West Kentucky Community & Technical College (Paducah, KY)

Internships: Academic Advising, Admissions, Recruitment

Employment: Admissions, Veterans Affairs

Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY)

Employment: Academic Advising

California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA)

Internship: Student Life & Engagement

Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA)

Internship: Housing & Residence Life

Idaho State University (Moscow, ID)

Employment: Admissions

Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)

Employment: Housing and Residence Life

University of Alaska - Fairbanks (Fairbanks, AK)

Employment: Recruitment

University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)

Employment: Academic Advising


Hear what our students and alumni have to say about the program

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What advice do you have for future PSE students? "The best advice I have for anyone in this program is to become a 'yes' person. What I mean by this is that you should take advantage of the opportunities the department offers. In the academic program, I was able to work on a research project with a faculty member, attend a SACSA conference, and present at an ACPA convention, which has led me to become even more involved as an ACPA Ambassador Coordinator this year."

Tyler Bradley
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How has the PSE program helped prepare you for the field? "The program helped me prepare for the field by giving insight in budgeting, assessment, and theories to practice. I am applying them without thinking and can carry educated discussion about them now."

Dakota Fields
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Why were you interested in the postsecondary education profession? "I wanted to help students reach success and develop student leaders. I received a lot of help in my time in college, and I wanted to pay it forward. I really enjoyed the college environment and the growth that occurs in this time of students' lives."

Matthew Hicks
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Why did you select the PSE program? "After meeting with Dr. Littlepage and Dr. Bourke, I knew this was the program for me. To have faculty and staff who care about the success of the students and to be part of a program that is flexible and still in its infancy is what cemented my decision to enroll. I wanted a program that I could grow with, and this was it."

Anthony Prewitt
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How has the PSE program helped prepare you for the field? "I have not had an assignment that was not useful. All of the assignments in the program are geared toward real application. Along with the internship experience, I have also been able to work hands-on in processes that will be used often in the field."

Paige Roach
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What advice do you have for future PSE students? "The best advice I can give for prospective or newly admitted students to the PSE program is to come into the program with an open mind! You might think you’re best suited for a certain functional unit of higher education, but this program will open your eyes to the many possibilities. Don’t limit yourself."

Emily Smith
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What is your favorite aspect of the PSE program? "My favorite aspects of this program are that I get to build connections as if I had known each individual for a lifetime, and I know that the information I have learned in my classes will help me to be a successful professional."

Elana Stubbs

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