The M.S. in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) is a professional preparation program designed to provide students with an opportunity to pursue entry and mid-level careers working with college students in all sectors of higher education administration.  HESAA students enroll in foundation courses such as student development in socio-cultural context, human resource management, student affairs organization, and history and philosophy of higher education. In addition, students are required to complete structured internships within two different higher education settings, thereby providing them with the opportunity to integrate academic coursework with practical experiences. Students in the HESAA program will also be able to take four elective courses in one of two clusters (depending on their interests and career goals):

Cluster 1: The Whole Student

Cluster 2: Management and Organization

 Drawing on the resources and grounded in the collective expertise of faculty and professionals throughout the Nazareth community, the HESAA program provides students with a broad exposure to both theory and practice in the higher education setting. It is the only program of its kind in the Rochester area.

 Through successful coursework, students will develop an understanding of:

• How college students develop as individuals as well as within the context of a larger socio-cultural environment.

• The underlying dynamics of various collegiate subcultures.

• How organizational dynamics and human resource management can affect the higher education enterprise.

• The forces that have shaped U.S. higher education, its changing nature, and the role it plays in a multicultural society.

 Working in two structured internships, student will have an opportunity to develop their skills as college personnel professionals and practice what they have learned in the classroom.  Students will develop proficiency in areas consistent with the standards of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

 The program curriculum requires 36 credit hours (18 for core courses, 12 for electives, six for internship/practicum).

Program Faculty