Graduate Catalog
Student Affairs Administration
The landscape of higher education is rapidly changing, and the students entering colleges and universities are increasingly diverse. Graduates of the Student Affairs Administration program are prepared to meet this challenge with creative and innovative leadership, the knowledge and skills to help transform organizations, and a deep commitment to creating learning and living environments that offer all students full access to the benefits of college attendance.
Our program focuses on the ways that learning and development occur in and outside the classroom, in all dimensions of life on a college campus. Specifically, our program is concerned with creating intentional, inclusive, democratic communities where diverse student voices are heard and barriers to success are removed. Our graduates foster understanding and respect for diversity and become advocates for the full and equal participation of all students in higher education.
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration will be prepared to serve as coordinators, assistant directors, and directors in a wide range of areas related to student affairs administration, including residence life, judicial affairs, multicultural student affairs, student activities, career services, financial aid, academic advising, disability services, Greek life, and many others. In addition to being prepared for entry into mid-level professional positions in colleges and universities, graduates will be uniquely positioned to work in mission-driven units, programs, and institutions with a commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice.
The curriculum of the MA in Student Affairs Administration is designed to prepare students in the 2015 Professional Competency Areas jointly developed by the ACPA and NASPA, which set out the “broad professional knowledge, skills, and, in some cases, attitudes expected of student affairs professionals.” These include:
- Advising and Helping
- Assessment, Evaluation and Research
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Ethical Professional Practice
- Human and Organizational Resources
- Law, Policy and Governance
- Leadership
- Personal Foundations
- Student Learning and Development
Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration
The Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration is designed for current or aspiring student affairs professionals with a special emphasis on issues of diversity, equity, and social justice.
The curriculum offers coursework that prepares practitioner-scholars who possess both practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of student affairs administration. Graduates will be prepared to work toward creating inclusive democratic communities in higher education settings, where caring, equity, and social justice are guiding principles and diverse perspectives are supported. Faculty employ transformative pedagogies at the individual and group level to enhance student learning and to help students develop a professional identity that demonstrates a commitment to legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities in the student affairs profession.
Students complete coursework together with a small group of committed peers. This cohort structure leads to lifetime friendships and extensive professional networks. Theory is integrated with practice through rigorous coursework, a capstone proseminar project, and two comprehensive, supervised practica that give students hands-on experience in college environments. Program faculty possess extensive field experience as student affairs professionals and deep theoretical grounding in the history and foundations of higher education.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 39 semester hours, including:
Degree Courses
| SAA 501 | Foundations of Higher Education and Student Affairs | 3 |
| SAA 509 | Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education | 3 |
| SAA 523 | Higher Education Governance and Administration | 3 |
| SAA 525 | Higher Education Finance | 3 |
| SAA 530 | Critical Pedagogies and Student Affairs | 3 |
| SAA 535 | Legal Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| SAA 542 | Student Development Theory | 3 |
| SAA 550 | Practicum I | 3 |
| SAA 551 | Practicum II | 3 |
| SAA 557 | Student Affairs Program Planning, Assessment, and Evaluation | 3 |
| SAA 580 | Proseminar in Student Affairs Administration | 3 |
Elective Courses
Students complete the remaining 6 semester hours by selecting from among available elective courses.
Graduate Convocation Requirement
Students must attend Convocation (CORE 500).
SAA 501 Foundations of Higher Education and Student Affairs
Content: This course introduces students to the history and foundational philosophies of higher education with a focus on Student Affairs as a profession. It begins with an overview of the historical development of higher education in the United States and quickly moves to examining the integration of student affairs in the governance and administrative structure of higher education and explores the diversity of roles student affairs professionals play within colleges and universities. The course also introduces students to the function of a practitioner-scholar in the context of this field and informs the class the sense of purpose and culture of student affairs with a focus on the roles held within various offices and departments. Finally, contemporary issues and trends will be explored as student affairs administrators serve as guest speakers introducing their functional areas and discussing the nature of the issues they face.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Admission to the M.A. in Student Affairs Administration program.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 509 Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education
Content: This course introduces the attitudes, beliefs, values, skills, knowledge, and self-awareness necessary for student affairs professionals to serve diverse student populations. In contemporary higher education, diversity plays an increasingly important role in the experience of students, affecting both their full access to various aspects of the college experience and the quality of that experience. For the purposes of this course, diversity shall be defined to include: gender, class, race and ethnicity, language, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion or spirituality, and disability.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 523 Higher Education Governance and Administration
Content: This course introduces students to governance and administrative structures in American higher education. Students will explore how changes in the demographic, legal, financial, and social landscape have impacted the ways that colleges and universities operate. Students will also become familiarized with the use of data and research as it relates to governance and administration.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 525 Higher Education Finance
Content: This three-semester hour course introduces students to financial, economic, and budgetary issues within Higher Education with particular emphasis on student affairs. Students will review the primary political, economic, and social issues influencing higher education finance; examine revenue streams and expenditure patterns; survey tuition and financial aid policies; develop the ability to examine and analyze financial information; and assess the budget as an instrument of strategic planning, resource allocation, and control. This course is grounded in literature, theories, and examples specific to higher education. The goal for this class is to provide students with the knowledge and abilities that empower them to make appropriate decisions as higher education leaders. Through assigned readings, lectures, and webcast materials, and by active course participation, including completion of assigned activities, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their familiarity with the following topics: financing higher education; political influences; higher education revenue sources and uses; and institutional budgeting and planning.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 530 Critical Pedagogies and Student Affairs
Content: This class explores the following propositions from the tradition of critical pedagogy: learning is a shared and collective process that is shaped by social structures and norms of social interaction; higher education institutions fundamentally shape the process of learning, as well as what counts as knowledge; higher education institutions can sustain and reproduce inequitable political and economic relationships; higher education institutions can also provide opportunities to resist oppression, build autonomy, and create a more just society. This class will explore the central concepts and arguments that underlay these claims, and consider their implications for student affairs practitioners who seek to create inclusive learning environments that lead to equitable educational outcomes.
Prerequisites: SAA 501, SAA 509.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 535 Legal Issues in Higher Education
Content: This course is designed to introduce students to legal issues in higher education. Issues related to the various constituents - faculty, staff, students, and administration - will be addressed. Students will also explore current legal issues facing the higher education community.
Prerequisites: SAA 501, SAA 509.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 540 Student Development Theory I
Content: Having a deep understanding of student development is necessary for anyone who wants to be successful as an administrator or instructor in higher education. You must be aware of factors that affect the development of adults and be able to work with individuals, groups, and organizations within a diverse campus community. This is essential to establishing environments conducive to the development of students from a variety of backgrounds. This course introduces students to practitioner-based student development theories within higher education. Ultimately, the understanding and application of these theoretical frameworks to your work will enable you to enhance student outcomes vis-a-vis programs, services, curricula, and pedagogical techniques.
Prerequisites: SAA 501, SAA 509.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 541 Student Development Theory II
Content: This course is designed to build upon Student Development Theory I and is considered to be second in a two-part series. Coursework will enhance students' understanding of processes of student learning, growth, and development during college. Special focus will focus on recent theories including diversity in development and the extent to which these theories are used to guide empirical research and institutional decision-making.
Prerequisites: SAA 540.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 542 Student Development Theory
Content: As student development theory continues to evolve and has entered the "third wave" of scholarship, having an understanding of the variations of the theory is critical to serving diverse students on college campuses. This course applies a critical lens to introduce practitioner-based student development theories within higher education. Topics discussed will be informed by current issues in higher education. The main objectives for this course are: to examine theories, to explore how theories inform your praxis, and to demonstrate your intellectual understanding of systems of equity and inclusion in higher education settings.
Prerequisites: Take SAA 501 and SAA 509
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 544 Practicum
Content: Supervised, on-site, pre-designed professional experience along with campus seminars involving discussions and presentations. Students explore the essential content knowledge, leadership, collaboration, and research skills of successful educators under the supervision of experienced field and campus supervisors.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Consent of instructor and submission of application for independent practicum to department office.
Credits: 1-4 semester hours.
SAA 550 Practicum I
Content: Practicum I provides you with an opportunity to apply what you have learned in your coursework in the authentic context of a student affairs office or related students affairs position. Central to this approach is your progress toward becoming a practitioner-scholar, a professional who can apply research and scholarship in the field to the everyday demands of a position in student affairs.
Prerequisites: SAA 501, SAA 509.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 551 Practicum II
Content: Practicum II provides you with an opportunity to apply what you have learned in your coursework in the authentic context of a student affairs office or related students affairs position. Central to this approach is your progress toward becoming a practitioner-scholar, a professional who can apply research and scholarship in the field to the everyday demands of a position in student affairs. Practicum II builds on Practicum I by focusing in more depth on a specific career role, objective, or competency.
Prerequisites: SAA 550.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 557 Student Affairs Program Planning, Assessment, and Evaluation
Content: This course is designed to introduce students to planning, assessment, and evaluation in higher education, with a particular emphasis in student affairs. The course will focus on methodologies used to assess student learning outcomes and program evaluation. Student will also become familiar with the fundamentals of strategic planning, as well as data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Prerequisites: SAA 501, SAA 509.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 580 Proseminar in Student Affairs Administration
Content: This course is designed to prepare students in their transition from student to practitioner. The course will provide a reflection, synthesis, integration, and application of prior and concurrent coursework. The focus of the course will be on examining the student's role as a practitioner-scholar and their application of theory to practice. The course will utilize a case-study approach to addressing current as well as future issues in higher education graduates will face once they complete the program.
Prerequisites: SAA 501, SAA 509.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
SAA 598 Special Studies: New Or Experimental Courses
Content: In-depth study of a special topic offered by the graduate school for the first time or on a temporary basis. Prerequisites: None.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1-4 semester hours.
SAA 599 Independent Study
Content: Independent Study enables a student to pursue, in collaboration with a faculty member, an academic course not currently offered. To receive credit for independent study, the student consults with the faculty member before registration to define the course content, title, amount of credit, and academic evaluation. As a general rule, a graduate student may apply no more than three courses of independent study toward a graduate degree or licensure.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Consent of instructor and submission of application for Independent Study to academic department office.
Credits: 1-4 semester hours.
SAA 698 Special Studies: New Or Experimental Courses
Content: In-depth study of a special topic offered by the graduate school for the first time or on a temporary basis. Prerequisites: None.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1-4 semester hours.