About Higher Education and Student Affairs
The Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) M.A. program is focused on developing reflective scholar-practitioners in the higher education setting. The courses and experiences are diverse and reflect the best of contemporary student affairs practice.
The 36-credit-hour HESA curriculum leads to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. Each year, HESA admits approximately 15 to 20 students into the program. These students complete the core academic classes over their two- or three-year plan of study. In addition, students have a variety of elective graduate courses that are offered through the Neag School of Education or the University.
All full-time students who are on the two-year plan of study, are encouraged to hold graduate assistantships to provide the professional and practical experience that allows students to apply theory to practice. We also welcome students who currently work full-time in a higher education and student affairs or aligned role and who wish to further their education with a master's degree. UConn's graduate assistant compensation package is among the most competitive in the nation, featuring a full tuition waiver, highly subsidized medical and dental benefits, as well as an exceptional stipend. More information on UConn's graduate assistantship packages can be found at our Graduate Assistant page and the Graduate School website. Students who are working full-time in higher education and related roles may also enroll in the HESA program on a part-time basis, completing the plan of study over three years.
Core Competencies and Outcomes
The HESA program is a reflective, practitioner based educational experience. Graduates of our program experience a learning environment that combines classroom instruction with practice (full-time employment, graduate assistantships, and practicum experiences). This curriculum promotes mastery of essential skills that enable exemplary professionals to enact the following outcomes.
Graduates will be equipped to:
- Apply research and theories to promote success of college students
- Create programs that foster student learning, such as teaching college students or facilitating leadership experiences
- Work effectively advising and helping individual students and student groups
- Demonstrate an understanding of multicultural issues and competencies in higher education and act in ways that promote inclusive practice
- Integrate an understanding of the context of higher education, including the history and organization of the student affairs profession, legal principles, and the academic mission of colleges and universities
- Manage and develop resources, including program budgets, staff, information technologies, and strategic plans
- Solve problems that require effective communication, thoughtful decision making, coping with ambiguity, and managing conflict
- Assess genuine professional issues by interpreting and applying qualitative and quantitative research techniques and by developing evaluations of programs and services
- Develop a professional identity based on ethical principles, career goals, and careful reflection
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
The HESA program aims to create a learning environment that develops inclusive practitioners by:
Who we are…
- We strongly encourage the participation of students who differ by life experiences and social identities such as race, color, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity or expression
- We value everyone’s lived experiences and perspectives and understand all our experiences and perspectives are shaped by multiple and intersecting social identities
What we seek to teach and learn…
- We aim to deepen our understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion through courses and practical experiences
- We seek to provide students and faculty of the program with opportunities to develop knowledge, dispositions, and skills to engage in and facilitate dialogue across differences
How we aim to learn together…
- We encourage an exchange of learning between faculty, practitioners, and students
- We support continuous reflection and learning about diversity, equity and inclusion
HESA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion supports UConn’s vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and the Neag School of Education’s mission statement.