Online Higher Education Student Affairs Degree

Program-at-a-Glance (Graduate)

Credit Hours:

Total Hours: 36

Cost per Credit Hour:

$519.12

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Completion Time:

2 years

University Accreditation:

SACSCOC

Special Requirements:

No GRE required

Learn more about this program:

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If you have a passion for helping college-level students navigate campus life, then the Higher Education Student Affairs Administration MEd from The University of Southern Mississippi can help you do what you love for a living. This degree can lead you to a career of ushering the next generation through their university experiences and into the next stage of their lives.

This affordable, fully online Higher Education Student Affairs degree will introduce you to new ideas in the history of higher ed, social justice, and legal issues. This program will give you the tools you need to work directly with collegiate students in a wide range of areas. Graduates go on to work between American college students and universities in these areas of student services:

Admissions
Administration
Activities
Career Services

Recruitment
Residence Life
Fraternity and Sorority Life

If you’re interested in making a difference in higher education from the institutional side, check out our Higher Education program. Looking for more? Our enrollment coaches are here to help. Click here for more info! This is your life, plus college!

A number of scholarship opportunities are available for online students! Our Online Student Scholarship gives first time, fully online students an opportunity for $500 towards their first semester. To get started with our Online Student Scholarship, or to view our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, visit our Student Scholarship page now!

Course Requirements (36 hours)

Course	Credits
Helping Skills in Student Affairs Practice	3 hrs.
Administration in Student Affairs	3 hrs.
The American College Student	3 hrs.
Foundations of Student Affairs Administration	3 hrs.
Supervised Practice in Student Affairs	6 hrs.
Social Justice in Higher Education	3 hrs.
History of Higher Education	3 hrs.
Legal Issues in Higher Education	3 hrs.
Student Development Theory and Research	3 hrs.
Educational Research: Interpretation and Applications	3 hrs.
Assessment in Student Affairs Practice	3 hrs.
Advisor Approved Electives	3 hrs.

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer courses toward completion of this degree?

At the discretion of the academic program, the Ed.D. program will accept up to 18 transfer hours so long as the credits have not been applied to a previously conferred degree. Programs may accept fewer transfer hours. Any requested transfer credits must meet the following restrictions. The coursework to be transferred is time limited; it must have been taken within the time period allowed for the graduate degree program. The credit must carry a letter or numeric grade of “B” or better; courses assigned the grade pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, incomplete “I”, or other ungraded designation cannot be transferred. Course credit applied toward another earned degree cannot be transferred. Non-content courses, such as thesis or dissertation research, cannot be transferred. Transfer grades will not be calculated in the USM GPA. Transfer credit is not automatic and will be awarded only after course content is evaluated and approved by the graduate committee chair and/or graduate committee, school director, and graduate dean. Students will supply syllabi, course descriptions, and other requested materials for review. For doctoral programs, final evaluation and acceptance of transfer credit will be made after the student has been enrolled for one semester. A total sum of no more than one-third (33%) of combined transfer and non-degree coursework may be applied toward a graduate degree.

What about my GPA?

While we require all previous transcripts, the GPA we review most is your last 60 hours of undergraduate.

How can I apply to this program?

The prospective student must complete the Graduate School admission application online and pay the application fee at http://apps.usm.edu/graduate-school/grad-school-apps/.

We accept applications for the fall and spring.

If I am admitted, how will I know what courses to take?

Once admitted, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who will guide you in meeting program requirements.

Can I transfer courses toward completion of this degree?

The University of Southern Mississippi will accept up to 12 hours of transfer credit. The courses cannot have been credited toward a previous degree to be admissible for transfer.

What is the Academic Schedule?

The University of Southern Mississippi follows a semester system for fall, spring, and summer semesters. Information on specifics of the university calendar can be found at https://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars

What are the program requirements?

Degree requirements may be found at http://catalog.usm.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=20&poid=9397

Where can I learn about the course titles and descriptions?

The Graduate Bulletin contains this information and can be accessed at http://catalog.usm.edu/index.php?catoid=20

What are the costs to obtain this degree?

To find pricing information, visit our pricing page. For financial aid information, view our financial aid page. For detailed tuition information, visit our business services page.

Are scholarships available for grad students?

Yes! To view all the funding resources available to graduate students, please visit the Graduate Admissions Funding Resources page.

Admission Requirements

The Graduate School will be authorizing standardized test waivers. That means no GRE score is required.

Admission Requirements
In addition to the requirements detailed in Admission Requirements and Procedures, applicants must submit the following documents:

Statement of Purpose – In a letter or essay format, describe your professional experiences and goals and how obtaining this degree will help you to realize those goals.
CV/Résumé
Three Letters of Recommendation

This program admits new students each fall and spring term. The application deadline for Fall semester is August 1 and December 1 for the Spring semester. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Program Requirements and Academic Policies
See General Degree Requirements and General Academic Information.

The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). That means you can expect a program with the highest standards and quality.

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