Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, M.A.

Saint Louis University's Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration integrates theory and practice to prepare students for professional leadership roles in student affairs and higher education administration.

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) at Saint Louis University is a nonthesis program grounded in a social justice framework. The program includes site-based learning experiences aligned with coursework and three one-credit internships. Students must complete 33 credits of coursework and a comprehensive written examination.

The M.A. prepares graduates for professional entry-level and mid-level positions in academic and student affairs, higher education administration and public policy.

Social Justice Framework

Our programs are grounded in a social justice framework. Social justice has been a significant lens for Jesuit institutions since 1965 and remains central to higher education, student affairs and educational leadership. Although definitions of social justice vary, David Hollenbach, S.J., wrote that “social justice concerns institutionalized patterns of mutual action and interdependence that are necessary to bring about the realization of distributive justice.”

In educational contexts, distributive justice affirms that all individuals should have access to the public good of education. Accordingly, we seek to address systemic injustice by challenging and transforming oppressive structures into systems that promote equity and human dignity for all.

As educators, we recognize our responsibility to prepare higher education leaders who can critically examine and dismantle systems of oppression while shaping colleges and universities into inclusive, life-giving educational communities, particularly for those historically marginalized by bias and injustice. Our program is informed by the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of social justice and guided by the Universal Apostolic Preferences adopted by the Society of Jesus in 2019.

Two of these Preferences especially inform our work: Walking with the Excluded and Journeying with Youth (Society of Jesus, 2019).

Walking with the Excluded shapes our program’s framework by challenging students — personally and professionally — to confront systemic inequities in higher education and society through a commitment to reconciliation and justice.

Journeying with Youth calls the Jesuit community, including Saint Louis University and the School of Education, to remain open to mutual formation with those who are new to our community and with younger generations, including students, faculty and staff.

As scholars and educators, we strive to co-create a learning environment in which students are holistically prepared to:

1. Identify and analyze processes that dehumanize individuals and work collaboratively to dismantle oppression
2. Reflect critically on the socialization that shapes their identities and professional practice
3. Elevate and honor the lived experiences of diverse communities
4. Contextualize individual and collective experiences within broader sociopolitical histories
5. Critically examine the systems, structures and impact of higher education

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

The M.A. program includes internships and offers research opportunities in existing areas of higher education.

Careers

Graduates of SLU's master's program in higher education and student affairs administration work in many areas of student affairs, including enrollment management, housing and residence life, academic advising, and student services roles at two- and four-year institutions.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree.

Application Requirements

Apply Now

• Transcript(s)
• One letter of recommendation
• Résumé
• Interview
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students 

All Saint Louis University admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students applying to SLU must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English language proficiency
• Academic records must include an English translation. Unofficial copies may be accepted in some cases for initial admission review, however official copies must be received prior to enrollment. Course-by-course transcript evaluations are accepted and are required in some cases.

Students must submit financial documents to be issued an I-20 for their F-1 visa application. Proof of financial support must include:

• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.

Application Deadline

Domestic applicants should apply by August 1 for fall entry, January 1 for spring entry, and May 1 for summer entry. International applicants should apply by May 1 for fall entry, October 1 for spring entry, and February 1 for summer entry.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed upon completion by a committee. Graduate assistantships in student development and partner offices are also available. The priority deadline for these applications is Feb. 1. 

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For more information about Saint Louis University scholarships and financial aid, please visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will use student development, organizational and environmental theories to analyze issues related to students and higher education student personnel administration practice.
2. Graduates will interpret and apply research to higher education and student affairs administration practice.
3. Graduates will apply leadership, communication, organizational, financial, assessment and management practices to professional work in higher education student affairs administration functional areas. 

Non-Course Requirements

• Students must pass a comprehensive written examination.
• Students must complete an exit interview.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact:
Saint Louis University School of Education
314-977-3292
slued@slu.edu