Higher Education Student Affairs Administration
Master of Science
Develop the skills to begin or advance a professional career in higher education.
- Learn how college students develop as individuals and within a socio-cultural context, including the context of higher education.
- Develop professional skills through practice via two 200-hour supervised internship and an optional 200-hour elective internship.
- Learn about issues, trends, and challenges in higher education as well as how to implement and assess effective programs.
Highlights
Two daytime required courses; most courses late afternoon or evening; some online options
Full-time or part-time
Complete in as fast as 2 years full-time
Internships at Nazareth or other campuses
Program is Ideal For
- Recent graduates with limited work experience and career changers who need experience and relevant coursework for a successful career in higher education.
What to Expect
- A wide variety of internship opportunities at Nazareth, University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Geneseo, and Monroe Community College offices, including student success, admissions, disabilities services, residential life, international student support, student conduct, diversity and multicultural programs, and athletics.
- Preference is given to full-time students, but some part-time study is possible.
- Learning is grounded in rigorous psychological theory about student development and assessment. The program aligns with American College Personnel Association and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators standards.
Why Nazareth?
“What was strong about my Naz graduate experience was the tie between learning in my courses and applying and developing student affairs skills in my graduate assistantships and internships. My experiences at the Teaching and Learning Technologies office and the Hickey Center on campus gave me practical experience and invaluable skills I still use. My bachelor’s in music therapy and my master’s degree both impact the way I approach my work with students. I love seeing them grow and become their own person, overcoming challenges and obstacles. Having seen them from their start, it is really rewarding to see them walk across the graduation stage.”
— Louise Ly ’17, ’21G, associate director of academic advising and senior academic advisor for undergraduate students at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
Value of Your Degree
- Develop the skills you need to begin (or advance) a professional career in higher education settings such as admissions, student success, career services, civic engagement, enrollment management, financial aid, first-year programming, registrar, residential life, student services, student affairs, student development, and student engagement.
- Graduates of the HESAA program are employed at colleges such as Syracuse University, Vassar College, University of Rochester, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Nazareth University.
- Average salary for advisors and counselors with master's degrees: $61,710, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023). Graduates with this degree can pursue many different roles.
Making Grad School Affordable
Grants, scholarships, veterans benefits, partner benefits, loans, and undergraduate loan forgiveness are options for paying for this grad degree.
Student Perspective
“The HESAA program is hands-on, fulfilling, and has support built into the curriculum. Classes are small, making for great one-on-one connections with professors and colleagues, and the faculty are very accessible. There are also endless networking opportunities. I'm learning so much every day, both in and out of class, including working with current and prospective students in three different roles on campus — in the community engagement office, in my grad program’s department, and in graduate student admissions. The HESAA program is giving me professional opportunities while I'm still taking classes, so my career started the day the courses did! HESAA is a great option for shifting your career. I want to work in higher ed and create safe, inclusive, and fulfilling spaces for college students during an important developmental stage of their lives. This grad program is helping me achieve that goal.”
— Alina Staring '24, '26G