What Can You Do With an Online Master of Arts in HESA?

Graduates with a master’s degree in higher education can work in various administrative positions in virtually all departments at public and private colleges and universities. This is also ideal for those who want to strengthen their skillset to navigate and improve higher education policies, opportunities, and more. Furthermore, the median pay for post-secondary administrators is projected at $97,500 annually (bls.gov).

Graduates have pursued university positions including:

• Executive Director, Academic Success
• Academic Advisor
• Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
• Director of Financial Aid
• Director of Athletics
• Business Affairs Officer
• Instructional Design & Technologies Manager
• Curriculum Planning Officer
• Dean of Students
• Director of Institutional Research
• Grants & Contracts Manager
• Multicultural Affairs Director
• Registrar Office Administrator
• Title IX Coordinator

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Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs Application Deadlines

Note: We admit students on a rolling basis. The preferred deadlines help you complete the application process on time, be notified of acceptance and enroll before the term begins. We review applications as they become complete, and admit students for a specific term up to the day classes start. We recommend you work on and submit your complete application well in advance of the preferred deadline, as obtaining transcripts and other materials may take more time.

How to Apply for the Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs

1. Start your application for graduate admission
2. Submit $65 non-refundable application fee
3. Upload required materials^*
4. Request official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities. Transcripts are only accepted directly from the institution(s) by email: gradadm@louisville.edu (recommended) or mail: University of Louisville, Graduate School, 2211 S. Brook St., Louisville, KY 40292.
5. Create a financial plan

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Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs Admission Requirements and Materials

To be considered for admission, applicants must have:

• a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.
• a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA may inquire about conditional acceptance)

^*Required application packet materials include:

• a one-page professional goals statement describing the applicant’s background and interest in this master’s program
• two letters of recommendation
• a professional resume

*Your Application Portal:
Once you have started the graduate application, you can check the status and review any additional checklist to-do items. Log in to your application using the email address you used to apply for admission and your password. Your checklist items may include additional materials or documentation that facilitate a smooth admissions process. You will also have access to important contact information and next steps after an admissions decision is made.

Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs for International Students

• If you live outside of the United States and intend to complete an online academic program from your home country, be sure to view special requirements for international students
• International applicants must take the TOEFL, IEFLS or DuoLingo exam if applying from countries where English is not the native language
• Bachelor's degrees earned internationally must be assessed to ensure that entrance requirements are met
• International students will not be issued a U.S. visa if admitted to the online structural transportation certificate program, since there are no campus attendance requirements.

For more information on the admission and application process, please contact our Online Learning Enrollment Counselor at 800.871.8635 or by email at online@louisville.edu.

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Online Master or Arts in Higher Education Administration & Student Affairs

The MA in HESA degree has the choice of two online concentration options both requiring 30 credit hours. The Administration concentration requires completion of 24 credit hours of core courses (core consists of practice and advanced classes) and six credit hours of electives. The Sport Administration Concentration requires the completion of 27 credit hours of core courses and 3 credit hours of electives. Courses are 100% online, asynchronous and delivered in 8-week terms, except LEAD 690 and 697 (standard term length).

The typical degree path includes:

1. Practice core courses
2. Advanced core courses
3. Concentration elective courses
   • Administration
   • Sport Administration
4. Exit requirement

Administration Concentration:

Sport Administration Concentration:

* Exit requirement vaires depending on concentration

For more information about specialized concentrations please contact our enrollment counselors at 800.871.8635 or online@louisville.edu.

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Course Descriptions

Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs Success Team

Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs Featured Faculty

Online Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs FAQ

The set of questions and answers outlined below can help you learn more about our program, delivery method, application and admission process, financial aid options and how to succeed as an online student at UofL.

• I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?
  Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL adviser approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the Graduate School.
• I applied and was admitted to another program in the College of Education and Human Development but have changed my mind and want to apply for the MA in HESA. Do I have to complete a new application packet?
  Yes, you will need to complete a new application packet for the MA in Higher Education & Student Affairs program.
• I have a bachelor's degree in another content area and want to teach that area in a university or college. Will this degree give me the credential to do so?
  No. This degree prepares people who want to work in university administration and does not satisfy any P-12 or postsecondary teaching certification requirement.
• Tell me about the experiential requirements.
  An important part of your education as a professional in higher education is gaining practical and broad experience. You will complete, under the supervision of the course instructor and a site supervisor, a significant project that allow you to apply what you learned from your program of study. The internship activities cannot include projects within your current scope of responsibilities. In addition, as part of your exit requirement, you will take a course that explores the processes of organizational improvement in higher education, the actors who contribute to such improvements, and the challenges to improvement.
• What is the purpose of the internship class?
  The purpose of an internship is to provide you with on-site work experience in an area of college and university administration. The internship should allow you to gain new knowledge and apply program coursework to a work setting relevant to your academic and professional goals. The experience can also be helpful to the goal of gaining a new position, advancing in a career, or as professional development at your current work site.
• When can I register for the internship class and do my internship?
  The internship is an exit requirement for the program. You may enroll for the class as one of your last nine hours, but no sooner.
• What if I work full-time and cannot take time off to do the internship?
  Ideally, you would do some of the work within the office where your internship is located. If you do not currently work in a higher education setting, you should make every effort to spend a significant amount of time at the site. However, all internships are project oriented, therefore, if the instructor of the internship course approves your internship site and activities, you may do most of the work off-site. You must communicate regularly with your site supervisor regardless of where you do the work.
• I already work at a university. Can I do my internship at my institution?
  Yes, you can but you may NOT do your internship within your department or within the scope of your current responsibilities. Your work supervisor may not be your internship site supervisor.
• When should I start planning for my internship?
  Begin planning your internship during the semester prior to when you intend to take it. At around the same time, reach out to the internship course instructor to go over the requirements, which will help you with your arrangements.
• What are the requirements of internship site supervisors?
  Internship site supervisors must have at least a Master’s degree, be willing to supervise you, evaluate you, and participate in a meeting (in person or by phone for distance education students) early in the semester.
• What are the requirements of the internship course?
  You must complete at least 105 hours, be responsible for a significant project(s), write a learning summary paper, provide reflection journal entries, and respond to discussion board prompts on Blackboard. You must also receive a satisfactory evaluation from your site supervisor.
• How do I find an internship site?
  By this time in your Master’s program, you should have a sense of a department or function in which you want to learn more. Once you have done so, start talking to prospective departments/institutions about your interests and ask if there are projects in that area that are important to them but perhaps have been on the back burner because of lack of time or staff to complete them. You may have found an internship site if there is a fit between their needs and your interests!
• What are some ideas of internship projects that have been completed in the past?
  • Learning to do student financial aid advising and creating a training manual for new financial aid advisors at a community college
  • Conducting a study on solid waste management plans at universities to develop a proposal for a zero-waste university for a research university
  • Creating a resource library on a website on Transformative Education for faculty professional development at a regional university
  • Conducting a study to evaluate current and prospective benchmarks for an Institutional Research office using IPEDS and NCES data at a research university
  • Reviewing best practices in leadership academies and creating a student leadership academy for student-athletes at a Division I institution
  • Conducting a program review for an African American Male Initiative program at a research university
  • Developing a procedures manual by reviewing “best practices” and the policies and practices of a Finance and Administration department at a liberal arts institution
• What are the career options and salary ranges for graduates of this program?
  • Professional-Level Positions

    Professional-level positions in higher education can be across various departments of the University such as academic, student, institutional, athletic and fiscal affairs. Additional departments include facilities, I.T., research, and office personnel. People pursuing professional career options can expect to see annual salaries starting at $31k with a median of $61k and a maximum of $142k (according to HigherEdJobs.com) varying by type of institution.

  • Administrator Positions

    Administrators in higher education fall under such titles as bursar, athletics officer, alumni affairs administrator, student financial aid officer, assistant provost and more. People pursuing administrative career options can expect to see annual salaries starting at $57k with a median of $137k and a maximum of $535k (according to HigherEdJobs.com) varying by type of institution.

  • Executive-Level Positions

    Executive-level positions in higher education fall under such titles as Dean, Chief Academic Affairs Officer, Provost, Executive Vice President, Vice Chancellor, Chief Financial Officer and others. People pursuing executive career options can expect to see annual salaries starting at $59k with a median of $132k and a maximum of $543k (according to HigherEdJobs.com) varying by type of institution.

For answers to any other questions you might have, please submit an Information Request Form.