MA Higher Education & Student Affairs

The Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) combines a rigorous academic curriculum with practicum experiences in various areas of student life. Every HESA course is infused with an examination of equity and a passion for social justice. Class conversations and coursework focus on improving access to higher education for first generation and low-income students.

Practicum & Internship Opportunities

Each HESA student is connected to internship and practicum opportunities at USF or other Bay Area institutions. As part of their learning experience, they work in a student affairs division in a position that reflects their professional interests. These hands-on experiences and networking opportunities helped our last graduating cohort achieve 100% job placement in relevant student affairs positions.

Our Faculty

Our faculty are passionate about empowering underrepresented professionals and students of color because they’ve overcome the same struggles. They’re well versed in complex issues of equality and race, inspiring dynamic classroom conversations that leverage real world situations.

Professors also take an individualized approach to their students: providing feedback on resumes and cover letters, conducting mock interviews, leveraging professional connections — providing a level of mentorship that’s increasingly rare in higher education. Meet our faculty.

Course Details

CURRICULUM | 30 CREDITS

Requirements include 24 credits of coursework, 3 credits of practicum and a 3 credit Masters Capstone.

HESA CORE | 21 CREDITS

• O&L 744 Academic and Student Affairs (3)
• O&L 614 Introduction to Organization and Leadership (3)
• O&L 741 American Institutions of Higher Education (3)
• O&L 663 Race, Diversity and Higher Education (3)
• O&L 662 Campus Environments and Cultures (3)
• O&L 656 Student Development in College (3)
• O&L 626 Social and Cultural Theoretical Foundations in Higher Education (3)

RESEARCH METHODS | 3 CREDITS

• O&L 657 Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education (3)

PRACTICUM | 3 CREDITS

Students completing the degree in HESA must complete three credits of practicum experiences during their program. The required practicum commitment is approximately 100 hours per semester or 10 hours per week.

See examples of past practicum placements that HESA students have completed.

• O&L 645 Practicum in HESA I (1)
• O&L 646 Practicum in HESA II (1)
• O&L 647 Practicum in HESA III (1)

MASTERS CAPSTONE | 3 CREDITS

• O&L 667 Capstone Seminar

Program Learning Outcomes

Important objectives of the Higher Education & Student Affairs program are to train professionals who will:

• Situate contemporary issues of access, equity, and oppression in higher education within a broader framework of social inequality.
• Contextualize and critically analyze experiences and challenges facing marginalized students across higher education contexts.
• Develop a professional orientation that integrates theoretical frameworks, student affairs practice, and lived experience.
• Advocate for social justice to transform spaces within higher education to enact more equitable outcomes for all students. 

THE NASPA/ACPA PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS PRACTITIONERS INCLUDE:

• Advising and Helping
• Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Ethical Professional Practice
• History, Philosophy, and Values
• Human and Organizational Resources
• Law, Policy, and Governance
• Leadership
• Personal Foundations
• Student Learning and Development

Visit the MA Higher Education & Student Affairs page on the University of San Francisco website for more details!