Student Affairs and Higher Education Leadership

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Student Affairs and Higher Education (MS SAHE) program at Mississippi State University prepares students for administrative positions in colleges and universities focused on student services, student engagement, and student success.

Community

SAHE students take classes alongside a small cohort of colleagues who represent a wide array of majors, work experiences, and personal backgrounds. Students also develop close relationships with program faculty, campus administrators, and colleagues beyond MSU.

Competency

SAHE students develop expertise on college students, the college experience, and college student support services. They learn to take a student-centered approach to their work, understand how to navigate organizational and managerial complexities, and challenge the status quo.

Career

SAHE graduates work for colleges and universities across the country in offices such as Residential Life, Campus Activities, Admissions, Student Leadership, Study Abroad, Academic Advising, and more. While our primary focus is on your first professional position, we prepare students for advancement in the field and future doctoral studies as well.

Program of Study

Before the list of classes, please add

• Face-to-Face Delivery
• Full-Time and Part-Time Student Options
• New Cohorts Admitted Each Fall
• 39 Credit Hours with Comprehensive Exam

Preferred Applicant Qualifications

• Previous or anticipated undergraduate degree demonstrating a GPA of 2.75 or higher in any discipline or field of study.
• One or more years in an undergraduate student leadership position or undergraduate/post-undergraduate work experience within college/university settings
• Basic understanding of the student affairs field as outlined by professional associations such as NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education or ACPA: College Student Educators International.
• Desire to support college student learning, growth, development, and success via a professionalized career in the applied field of student affairs leadership; or via teaching, research, or policymaking roles adjacent to student-facing roles on a college campus.

Admission Criteria

Eligible applications must meet the basic requirements specified for graduate students at Mississippi State University. Additionally, applications will be evaluated holistically at the program level across the following benchmarks:

1. Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended demonstrating:
   • • an earned bachelor’s degree; or
     • progress toward an earned bachelor’s degree with an anticipated completion date that precedes the intended enrollment term
2. Minimum grade point average (GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale for the last half of the bachelor’s degree
3. State of purpose demonstrating past experiences, current knowledge of, and/or future aspirations related to the practice of student affairs/higher education
4. Current resume or CV that demonstrates direct or transferable experience, skills, or knowledge related to the applicant’s interest in student affairs work. Applicants may consider including the following type of information:
   • • past work experiences in or outside of college contexts
     • undergraduate or post-undergraduate leadership positions
     • other types of engagement in higher education organizations, activities, or experiences
5. Three letters of recommendation from student affairs professionals, other colleagues connected professionally to higher education, or faculty from past academic experiences who can provide insight into one or more of the following:
   • • the applicant’s interest in and/or experience with supporting college student learning, growth, development, and success
     • unique attributes or experiences from the applicant’s undergraduate college experience that support the applicant’s future success as an emerging student affairs leader
     • evidence of leadership (or for potential therein) related to either a specific functional area in student affairs or in the broader student affairs field, overall
     • professional management skills, competencies, or knowledge relevant to student affairs or student affairs-adjacent work on college campuses
     • academic skills related to master’s level inquiry (e.g., reflection, self-knowledge, intellectual curiosity, theorizing, applying theory to solve problems of practice)
     • The admissions committee may require an interview to further evaluate academic and/or career interests aligned with the program’s offerings

International Applicant Guidelines

International applicants are eligible to apply to the MS in SAHE program. Additional materials specific to international applicant (e.g., visas, language proficiency exams, transcript guidance, etc.) required by Mississippi State University’s Graduate School may be reviewed at https://www.grad.msstate.edu/students/admissions/international-studies

Please note that international applicants do not require permission from the faculty or a pre-screening from the program to apply for admissions consideration. All applicants who have submitted a complete application and application fee will be evaluated in accordance to the program requirements and with consideration for the  limited number of vacancies available in a given Fall cohort.

Graduate Application Fee Waivers designated for international applicants are not available from the program or department at this time.

Graduate Student Funding Opportunities

As a graduate-only program, the PhD in SAHE program does not typically offer traditional Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) directly related to the program. At this time, Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) are also not offered through the Higher Education Leadership graduate programs area, itself.

While enrolled in the SAHE master’s program, however, students are encouraged to make theory-to practice connections by working on campus in either full-time jobs or part-time Graduate Services Assistantships (GSAs). Both prospective domestic and international students are eligible and encouraged to apply based the eligibility criteria outlined for each.

Full-time Jobs at MSU

Prospective students may explore opportunities for full-time employment and related tuition benefits with Mississippi State University at https://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/ .

Graduate Services Assistantships (GSAs)

GSA opportunities serving student affairs functions across the university are available to select students based on a competitive application process.

• GSA contracts are supervised by and funded through the individual offices offering vacancies for the upcoming academic year.
• Most GSA contracts begin in the Fall (August) of a given academic year, although some may require on-campus training in the month prior to the beginning of classes.
• GSA contracts vary, and may span 9-month, 10-month, or 12-month appointments.
• GSA funding occurs during contract months; students who are not funded year round must seek out alternative funding opportunities when not funded by a GSA contract appointment.
• GSA appointments require GSA appointments typically require students to work 20 hours per week during contract months.
• At a minimum, most assistantships offer 100% tuition and a small stipend to help minimally defray the cost of books and living expenses during  contract months.

Please note that GA appointments are not guaranteed with admission to the SAHE graduate program. However, faculty work closely with the Division of Student Affairs each Spring term to facilitate their Fall GA recruitment event, Student Affairs GA Insight Days.

Student Affairs (GA) Insight Days

For additional information concerning application procedures, Graduate Assistantships, and our annual visit days for prospective graduate students (GA Insight Days), please visit SA Insight Days.

Self-Funded

Graduate students with funding sources external to Mississippi State University are also welcomed to apply for full-time or part-time enrollment in the HEL PhD program.

Program Deadlines (Admissions & Graduate Assistantships)