Curriculum Overview

The Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate program curriculum is deliberately designed to encourage learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom; address the interests, skills, and aspirations of each student; and prepare students for leadership roles in higher education institutions.

The program curriculum reflects the educational policy of philosopher John Dewey, University of Vermont class of 1879. Central to Dewey's philosophy are the links uniting the learner with others in the educational environment. These links are emphasized in three areas of the UVM program: between theory to practice; University and its environment.

Theory to Practice

The core curriculum, practicum internships, and graduate assistantships combine to integrate conceptual knowledge with administrative practice. With the assistance of a faculty advisor, each student builds an experience to meet his or her interests and professional aspirations. The core curriculum enables students to gain understandings of the student affairs profession, student development, pluralism, history of American higher education, and administration of colleges and universities.

Practicum internships, offered by over 60 University and local administrative office sites, enable students to integrate theory with professional practice. During these practicum internships, nine hours per week are dedicated to an administrative office of the student's choosing. Students negotiate a project(s) or set of responsibilities to be completed within the time frame of the semester-long practicum. By selecting a different practicum site over three semesters, students develop professional skills as well as learn about a specific student affairs or higher education functional area.

Graduate assistantships are 20 hours per week positions held by many full-time HESA students. These assistantships represent a wide array of higher education and student affairs functional areas such as First Year Experience, the LGBTQA Center, ALANA Student Center, the Davis Center, Center for Cultural Pluralism, and Honors College or student affairs departments such as Residential Life, Orientation, Center for Heath and Wellbeing, Leadership and Civic Engagement, and Student Life. Remuneration for the assistantship includes a tuition waiver (20 credit hours per year) and a semi-monthly stipend.

The HESA program is available to admitted students who do not hold an assistantship.  Full-time students without an assistantship have a unique program with opportunities for theory to practice through required summer internships, additional practica experiences, and volunteer or paid on campus work experience.

Students, Faculty, and Alumni/ae

The Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration graduate program enrolls approximately 18 students per year in the two-year program. This small size encourages strong and enduring relationships among students and faculty. The class cohorts represent a wide spectrum of undergraduate majors, geographic locations, previous experiences, and cultural backgrounds. These diverse perspectives enrich the educational environment and expand social awareness.

Students are guided academically and professionally by a faculty adviser. The six core faculty members represent a diverse combination of former practitioners and career-long faculty who possess a range of experiences within higher education. Together, students, faculty, and program-affiliated practitioners contribute their unique perspectives and high expectations to the HESA program.

An integral part of the University of Vermont HESA program is the strong support of its alumni. The Vermont Connection, a student-produced scholarly journal, features articles by former and current students, administrators, and program faculty. The students' activities in relation to the journal promote professional community among alumni, students, and local administrators. See Alumni page.

The following courses comprise the 40 credit hour program of study required for completion of the master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. The course sequence varies depending on the student's enrollment status (e.g., full- or part-time) and enrollment in summer classes.

*Note: EDHI courses are those that have a higher education focus, and EDFS courses are foundational courses within the College of Education and Social Services.

Courses:  Full-Time Two-Year Sequence (no summers). 
Curriculum as of incoming class fall 2012.

Part-Time Curriculum: Recommended 5 Year Sequence (no summers)

Part-Time Curriculum: Recommended 3 Year Sequence (with summers)

*The third practica may be substituted by part-time students with a suitable course with permission of the HESA faculty depending on the work experience of the student.

Comprehensive exam: During the last semester of study, students present and defend a selected piece of their scholarly work before a committee of faculty, students, and practitioners.

Educational Foundations: All students in the College of Education and Social Services are required to take 6 credits of EDFS courses. In the HESA program, EDFS 302 meets this requirement.The second EDFS course can be selected from offerings in the Educational Foundations program.

Multicultural requirement: The College of Education and Social Services requires that graduates of all undergraduate and graduate programs fulfill a multicultural requirement as defined by the individual program. EDHI 375, Cultural Pluralism, meets that requirement in the HESA program.