UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT MASTER'S PROGRAM

GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM STATEMENT

The Department of Educational Leadership of the Neag School of Education, in cooperation with the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Connecticut offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs. This program is designed to prepare students for a variety of student affairs positions in post-secondary institutions.

PROGRAM MISSION

The UConn HESA master's program is a reflective, practitioner based educational experience. Graduates of this program experience a learning environment that combines traditional instruction with graduate assistantships and practicum experiences. This curriculum facilitates opportunities for mastery of fundamental skills in areas including but not limited to the following:

• College Student Needs and Development
  • (Student development theory and research, application of theory and research, demographic trend need analysis)
• Student Learning Initiatives
  • (Teaching college students, developing new programs/services, leadership development)
• Multicultural Educational Environments
  • (Diversity issues in academia, inter-/intra-group dynamics, organizational impact, appreciating differences)
• History and Foundations of Higher Education
  • (Historical context of the student affairs profession, institutional culture, the academic mission of higher education)
• Resource Utilization and Management
  • (Human resources, budgeting/financial management, use of information technologies, strategic planning)
• Problem-Solving Abilities
  • (Processing conflict, responding to crisis situations, communicating effectively, coping with ambiguity and change)
• Research Strategies and Program Assessment
  • (Interpretation and application of quantitative/qualitative research techniques, on-going process improvement, quality assurance)

PROGRAM UNIQUENESS

• Each student has a 20-hour/week assistantship in a student affairs or related department.  Assistantship opportunities include cultural centers, student activities, first year programs, leadership, student activities, residential life.
• Students take two practica in a student affairs or related department.
• The curriculum emphasizes application of concepts to contemporary practice using experiential strategies.
• Students complete a year long assessment project to help resolve a genuine issue in a student affairs department.

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• GPA: 3.0
• Entrance Exams: none
• 3 Letters of recommendation
• Interview
• Personal statement
• Bachelors Degree
• Resume
• HESA graduate assistantship (see web-site for details)
• Deadline – January 2

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Program Curriculum:

Semester 1
Assessment, Evaluation, and Research in Student Affairs I
Structured Group Interventions in Student Affairs
Senior Year Experience Practicum
College Student Development: Programs and Services

Semester 2
Assessment, Evaluation, and Research in Student Affairs II
The Law, Ethics and Decision-Making in Student Affairs
The College Student
Practicum in Higher Education

Semester 3
Leading Toward a Multicultural Educational Environment
Leadership Challenges in Higher Education
Practicum in Higher Education
Elective

Semester 4
Resource Management Issues in Student Affairs
Seminar in Higher Education
Elective

Is a thesis required? No  

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Students in student affairs or higher education administration programs  (2009-2010):

PROGRAM FACULTY (Name, title, typical number of coursed taught annually, interests)

Dr. Sue Saunders, Ph.D., Program coordinator for the master’s program, 100%

Dr. George Allen, Ph.D., research and assessment, 15%

Dr. Philip E. Austin, Ph.D., President emeritus, current issues in higher education and student affairs, 15%

Dr. Julie Bell-Elkins, Ed.D., multicultural educational environments, alcohol and other drugs, leadership challenges; 15%

David Clokey, M.Ed., practicum facilitator, 15%

Catherine Cocks, M.A., Senior Year Experience facilitator, 15%

Dan Doerr, M.A., Director of Senior Year Experience, 15%

Dr. Cynthia Jones, Ed.D., higher education administration, college student development, 15%

Donna Korbel, M.Ed., multicultural and disability issues, 15%

Dr. Jennifer Lease, Ph.D., group interventions, college student development; 15%

Dr. John Saddlemire, Ed.D., college student development, higher education foundation, small college experience; 15%

Dr. Marie Saddlemire, Ph.D., law, ethics, and decision making in higher education, 15%

Dr. Barry Schreier, Ph.D., current issues in higher education and student affairs with a focus on helping skills, 15%

Dr. John Sears, Ph.D., current issues in higher education and student affairs, 15%

Todd Sullivan, M.S., Senior Year Experience facilitator, 15%

Dr. Lee Williams, Ph.D., leadership theory and challenges in higher education, 15%

Dr. Christine Wilson, Ph.D., structured group interventions, 15%

Last modified 12/6/2008
Information submitted by: Caroline McCall

Directory Main Page  ● Alphabetical Listing ● Geographical Listing ● Contact Directory Editors ● Other Career Information ● Directory Sponsor Website

© 2006 ACPA Professional Preparation Commission. Disclaimer.