Student Affairs Administration Fact Sheet (PDF)

Student Affairs Administration

The Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration (MSAA) degree program is ideally suited for those who wish to pursue careers in higher education. Potential higher education roles include academic advising, admissions and enrollment management, career development and placement, financial aid, health services, judicial affairs, leadership development, multicultural affairs, non-traditional and commuter student services, residential life, services for students with disabilities, student activities, and student development and involvement.

Coupled with sufficient professional experience, the MSAA may also serve as the foundation for students wishing to become deans of students or vice presidents for student affairs. 

The MSAA degree program is grounded in both student development theory and the concept of theory-to-practice-to-theory. Thus, an underlying goal of the program is to prepare professionals who have working knowledge of how student development theory is used in practice, and how practice serves to inform future theory development. A secondary goal of the proposed program is to prepare administrative leaders and personnel who are comfortable working with people of diverse backgrounds in positions that require decision-makers to respond to department/unit situations while taking into consideration how their decisions impact other systems (i.e. departments and/or divisions) within the institution.

The curriculum for the MSAA degree program was designed to meet the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Professional Preparation Commission Standards.

Graduate Degrees Offered

• MS in Student Affairs Administration

Related Degree

• MS in Student Affairs Administration - Master's in Public Administration (Dual Degree)

Application Deadlines

Admission Requirements*

The standards maintained by The Graduate School and individual departments and programs are applied to ensure that applicants admitted to the University are well qualified and trained to study at this institution and have a reasonable expectation of successfully completing a graduate program, and who, with the benefit of graduate education, are most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields.

To be eligible, you must have and provide:

• A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
• Complete set of your undergraduate and graduate transcripts. At minimum, a 3.0 GPA is required. See details.

All applicants must submit the following:

• Online graduate degree application and application fee
• Transcripts from each college/university you have attended
• Two letters of recommendation, which should come from instructors or professors who can attest to the applicant's academic ability for graduate study
  • Applicants who have been out of college for at least three (3) years may submit current letters of reference from employment supervisors or others affiliated with their employment who can attest to their ability to perform successfully and professionally and to the likelihood of success in a graduate program
• Personal statement (2-3 pages), which should specifically address the applicant's interest in the program, career goals, and current skills and experiences relative to their current or intended career in student affairs
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
• Official GRE scores. GMAT scores can be submitted in lieu of GRE scores
• A signed copy of the Student Affairs Administration Contract
  • By signing the above document, you agree, if admitted to the program, to abide by the professional standards of student affairs administration as set forth by the American College Personnel Association's (ACPA) Code of Ethical Principles and Standards that govern our profession. (Review the Code of Ethics before signing the contract.)
• A completed Certification of Information Form

And, for international applicants:

• International Student Financial Statement form (PDF)
• Official bank statement/proof of support
• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores

*This information is subject to change. While we make every effort to keep it accurate and up-to-date, we recommend you contact the department for program-specific requirements.