About the Program

The Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) program is a professional preparation program for individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in college and university settings, supporting students in and out of the classroom in functional areas such as academic advising, residence life, student engagement, financial aid, study abroad, and many more. The HESAA degree is a multifaceted program that blends counseling and student development knowledge with administrative and assessment skills, to prepare professionals to work with an increasingly diverse college population. The HESAA program prepares professionals who are socially just, authentic, reflective and collaborative, who will transform systems of higher education for greater student success. The program prepares scholar practitioners who possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to advocate for full and equitable participation of all individuals in post-secondary institutions.

About the Higher Education Administration Department

214C Bacon Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-3789
Fax: (716) 878-5833
https://hea.buffalostate.edu/

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree but do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may be granted provisional acceptance based on the additional requirements.

2. A current resume. Consideration can be given to work-related experience and involvement in the field.

3. Two letters of recommendation, of which at least one must be from a former faculty/instructor who can speak to your academic and classroom performance.

4. A Statement of Purpose which addresses your understanding of and interest in the HESAA program, identifies qualities and characteristics you will contribute as a member of the program, and addresses your academic preparedness for graduate course work. If your GPA falls below the required 3.0 GPA, please address this in your statement of purpose. Your statement will be evaluated as a writing sample.

5. An interview with HESAA program faculty may be required.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to create inclusive learning environments, while seeking to address and acknowledge issues of oppression, privilege and power.
2. Be able to design an assessment plan, articulate learning and development outcomes, understand the distinctions between qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and select appropriate data collection and management methods.
3. Have fundamental knowledge of theories and principles of fiscal management, strategic planning, supervision, organizational administration, and an understanding of the cultural and political landscape of higher education.
4. Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively, combining analytical and experiential learning. Graduates will be able to connect information from disparate contexts and perspectives.
5. Develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to demonstrate and maintain integrity in their personal and professional lives.
6. Have a command of the complexity of American higher education and will understand the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, and class on the evolution of higher education.
7. Understand the major theories of student development and learning and be able to apply the theories and frameworks inside and outside the classroom, construct learning outcomes, and design of programs to enhance student affairs and teaching practice.
8. Develop the requisite knowledge, skills and dispositions for advising and supporting groups and individuals through direction, feedback, critique, referral and guidance.
9. Develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions that support digital literacy and the use of digital tools, resources and technologies for the advancement of student learning and success.

Program Requirements

Required Courses (27 credit hours)
HEA 616 AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION 3
HEA 617 STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING 3
HEA 618 STUDENT AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION 3
HEA 620 PLANNING AND FINANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION 3
HEA 622 INCLUSIVE ADVISING AND SUPPORTING 3
HEA 624 SUPERVISED PRACTICE I 3
HEA 625 SUPERVISED PRACTICE II 3
HEA 650 ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND STUDENT AFFAIRS 3
HEA 689 METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH 3

Elective Courses (9 credit hours) *1
Select three from any of the following areas: 9

HEA 504 COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
HEA 588 TOPICS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 590 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-6)
HEA 591 GENDER, INTERSECTIONALITY, AND HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 615 SURVEY DESIGN FOR PROFESSIONALS
HEA 619 MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 623 COUNSELING TECHNIQUES FOR DIVERSE CULTURES
HEA 630 GROUP COUNSELING
HEA 632 CAREER DEVELOPMENT
HEA 651 THE LAW AND HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 670 MOVEMENTS OF RESISTANCE: COLLEGE STUDENT ACTIVISM
HEA 694 CURRENT ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 695 MASTER'S THESIS
HEA 703 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 725 FUNDAMENTALS OF DATA MANAGEMENT AND DECISION SUPPORT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
HEA 789 ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Other elective courses may be selected from related courses/workshops in various disciplines or interdisciplinary areas with adviser approval.

Total Credit Hours 36
*1 Selected under advisement


Graduation Requirements
A minimum of 36 credit hours are needed for degree completion: 27 credit hours of required coursework and 9 hours of electives. Students must complete two supervised practice experiences for credit as part of the curriculum and successfully complete the culminating experience.