The Student Affairs Administration (SAA) MA program is a 36-credit hour, cohort-based, in-person program preparing graduate students with the knowledge and skills to work with students in postsecondary education and to cultivate educational environments promoting diversity and multiculturalism.

The Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education (HALE) MA program is a 30-credit hour, 100% online program that promotes professional development among those working in higher, adult, and lifelong education in a variety of local, national, and international settings, including colleges and universities, public and nonprofit agencies, as well as private industry.

Most students in the program are full-time students (they enroll in 9 credits/semester) and typically complete the program in two academic years.

The HALE/SAA faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars. Information about each faculty member can be found via the EAD Faculty website, the CHAE website, as well as the MSU Directory.

Information about the Ann Marie Bolger Memorial Scholarship in Student Affairs and additional opportunities for funding (including graduate assistantships) can be found in the Funding section of the website.

In the spring, admitted students have the opportunity to interview for graduate assistantships. The SAA MA Program Coordinator provides additional information about the assistantship application process to admitted students.

No, students are not required to have a graduate assistantship, though most have them. Having a GA is a beneficial professional development opportunity that allows students to directly connect their coursework to practical experiences, gain institutional insight, and develop an in-depth working knowledge of a functional area within the field of student affairs.

You can calculate your tuition estimate with the MSU Student Aid Calculator. The Office of Financial Aid also has tools for calculating tuition estimates and provides sample budgets.

Information about MSU’s DEI initiatives can be found on the Office of the President website as well as MSU’s Office for Institutional Diversity & Inclusion website. Within the College of Education, our Office for Diversity, Inclusion, & Community Partnerships also contributes to the vitality of our community.

Interested applicants should review the Prospective Students webpage for details about applying to the SAA MA program. 

Prospective international students should review the Graduate School International Applicants webpage for a list of requirements for international applicants. Note that additional resources, support, and general information can also be found on the Office for International Students and Scholars website.

Prospective students are encouraged to begin by reviewing the SAA MA website, paying particular attention to our Prospective Students webpage, the Funding webpage, and the SAA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage. The program also suggests visiting our LinkTree, following us on Instagram (@saa_msu), and connecting with us on LinkedIn for additional insights. 

Prospective students may also consider adding themselves to our e-mail list for prospective students. The program sends emails in the fall announcing virtual prospective student events that provide prospective students opportunities to meet with SAA faculty, students, alum, and campus partners to learn more about the program.

After reviewing the website, prospective students with additional questions may contact the SAA MA Ambassador.

Review the course transfer policy provided on the SAA MA Handbook webpage.

Students admitted to the SAA MA Program are invited to participate in Spartan Preview Days (SPD). SPD, held annually in the spring, includes an optional on-campus visit weekend, various virtual welcome and informational events, virtual interviews for graduate assistantships, and more. SPD helps the SAA MA Program welcome newly admitted students and gives them the opportunity to get to know the campus, faculty, student affairs partners, and their future cohort. 

It is customary for graduate students to inform graduate programs of their intent to enroll by April 15th. Graduate students offered graduate assistantships must inform the assistantship provider of their decision to commit to the assistantship by April 15th.

For detailed information about degree requirements, visit the SAA MA Requirements webpage and review the SAA Master’s Checklist.

Most HALE/SAA faculty offices are located on the 4^th floor of Erickson Hall. Specific information about faculty can be found via the EAD Faculty website, the Center for Higher and Adult Education (CHAE) website, as well as the MSU Directory.

Advising assignments are made by the SAA MA Program Coordinator in consultation with the SAA faculty. Students are informed of their assigned faculty advisor before the beginning of their first semester.

Your faculty advisor’s main role is to help you meet your educational goals as an SAA MA student. The SAA faculty follow the advising recommendations provided in the Guidelines for Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Relationships. Over your time in the program, you and your advisor will develop the collegial relationship necessary to keep you on track to earning your degree. Advisors’ curricular decisions include the selection of elective courses.

In the first year, you should plan to meet with your advisor during your first semester to establish student/advisor expectations, review the SAA MA Checklist, develop a course plan, and help answer any questions you have about the program. Your first spring semester you are required to meet with your advisor to discuss your Annual Review of Academic Progress (a.k.a. Annual Progress to Degree).

The advisor assigned to you as you begin your SAA academic journey is not necessarily permanent. As you get to know the program faculty, you may find that your goals are better aligned with a faculty member other than your assigned advisor. Changing advisors is possible, and SAA faculty are supportive of these transitions. Graduate education is a personal journey for every student, and your advising relationship should align with your goals and objectives.

To change your advisor, you will need to discuss the change with your current advisor and the advisor to which you hope to be reassigned. If all parties are in agreement, the current advisor will email the HALE Academic Program Coordinator at haleadm@msu.edu, cc’ing the new advisor and the student, to advise them of the change.

SAA MA students must complete a 135-hour practicum experience and pass a certifying exam as part of their graduation requirements. There is no thesis or capstone requirement.

The SAA MA practicum requirement is designed to give students an opportunity to apply theory to practice and gain professional development. Students are required to complete one 135-hour practicum during the program while simultaneously enrolled in EAD 893. The program provides a practicum fair every Fall to help SAA MA students explore practicum opportunities.

The Student Affairs Graduate Association (SAGA) is the student organization providing educational, professional, and social opportunities for SAA MA students. Prospective and current students and SAA MA alum can connect with SAGA on Instagram (@msusaga).