Higher Education (Student Affairs Administration), M.Ed.

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Students may choose to earn a Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.) in Higher Education. The Student Affairs Administration emphasis is designed to prepare graduates for career opportunities in colleges, community colleges, and universities.

Admission

	Required Criteria	Supplementary Criteria*
	GRE official scores	interview
	GPA on undergraduate graduate work	other official standardized test scores
	three letters of recommendation**	writing sample
	a letter of interest and professional goals
	vita/resumé
	2-page belief statement regarding Student Affairs
	2-page essay regarding a current critical issue facing higher education and/or student affairs
	TOEFL or IELTS scores, if International

*Supplementary materials may be submitted at the student’s discretion or may be requested by the admissions committee.

**Letters should be from persons familiar with the student’s academic ability and/or student affairs administration experience and who can address the applicant’s ability to conduct graduate work.

Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Plan of Study. During the first semester, students will schedule a program planning meeting with their assigned advisor. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study form to the Graduate School by the end of the first semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study forms are available at www.usm.edu/graduateschool/planofstudy.php.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the continuous enrollment and time limitation requirements specified in this Bulletin.

Research and Scholarly Integrity Education

All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RSIE policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page –www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.

Comprehensive Exam

A comprehensive exam will be given at or near the conclusion of coursework.

Graduation

To complete the master’s degree, students must

maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average,
complete all coursework,
have satisfactory performance in the practica in student affairs,
pass the comprehensive exam, and
earn no more than one grade of C or below in any course.

M.Ed. requirements (45 hours)

Required (30 hours):

HE 614 - Administration in Student Affairs 3 hrs.
HE 615 - The American College Student 3 hrs.
HE 619 - Cultural Diversity in Student Affairs 3 hrs.
HE 639 - Foundations of Student Affairs Administration 3 hrs.
HE 654 - Supervised Practice in Student Affairs 3 hrs. To be taken 3 times for a total of 9 hrs.
HE 655 - Capstone Seminar in Student Affairs 3 hrs.
HE 740 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Student Affairs 3 hrs.
HE 743 - Student Development Theory and Research 3 hrs.

Research Tools (9 hours):

CPS or HE Electives (6 hours)

Student Affairs Administration Minor

Doctoral or master’s level students may elect to take a minor in student affairs administration. The objectives of the minor are to provide students with an understanding of the theory and practice of student affairs administration, student development, student diversity, and current issues and trends.

Sections: