Student Affairs in Higher Education

Program description

The Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) Master of Science degree program at Missouri State University (MSU) was develped to meet the staffing needs of colleges and universities throughout the nation. Our goal is to develop self-authored, reflective scholar-practitioners who are equipped to successfully enter and demonstrate leadership in the field of student affairs administration and are prepared for long-term career success in higher education. Students in our program will:

integrate a theoretical understanding of student affairs history, values, and traditions into their emerging practice as professionals in higher education;
participate actively in and contribute meaningfully to a variety of supervised practice experiences (i.e., graduate assistantships and practicums); and
develop proficiency with regard to the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (AER) professional competency area.

Program admission requirements

In addition to the Graduate College admission requirements, the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) M.S. program requires the following:

A grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work.

Prospective students who intend to pursue full-time graduate study in the SAHE program are required to obtain a graduate assistantship. A grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, OR at least a 3.00 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic coursework is required.

Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores of 550 on the paper-based or a comparable score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL are required for admission.

Required Application Materials

To apply to the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) M.S. program, the following materials must be submitted via GradCAS:

Application to MSU’s SAHE program, including application fee.
Transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education.
Statement of purpose
- Your written personal statement (minimum of 300 words) should describe your professional and/or personal goals, discuss how the degree will contribute to those goals, and indicate the experiences that have prepared you for graduate study in student affairs.
Resume or curriculum vita (CV)
Three letters of recommendation
- These letters should be written by individuals familiar with your academic abilities and professional potential.

Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Standards

The Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) M.S. program is aligned with the Council for Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) and prepares graduates that demonstrate professional competenvies outlined by College Student Educators International (ACPA) and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA).

Degree requirements:

Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 34 approved graduate hours with a minimum overall GPA of 3.00.
Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination (SAE 771: Capstone Seminar.
No more than 9 credit hours of 600-level course work may be applied to the Student Affairs in Higher Education master’s program as approved by the program director.
The total number of transfer credits will not exceed 30% of the total credit hours required for the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) M.S. degree and must be approved by the program director. Proposed transfer courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university, with a grade of B or higher, and within five years of the student’s first semester in the SAHE program.

Graduate assistantships:

Students admitted by February 1 with at least a 3.00 GPA will receive priority consideration for a graduate assistant position. Students enrolled in the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) M.S. program should be employed in a graduate assistantship or a full-time position at Missouri State University or a post-secondary educational institution.