Curriculum Requirements

The Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs (MS HESA), a 45-minimum credit hour program, includes:

• 15 credit hours of core student affairs required coursework
• A 3-credit hour research methods course
• 21 credits of electives
• A minimum 3-credit hour internship
• Required 3-credit capstone course SAA 524 - New Student Affairs Professionals

To graduate, HESA students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 and receive a B or higher in all required courses. It typically takes two years for full-time students to complete our program.

Required course plan for full time HESA students 

Fall I: 12 credits SAA 510 - 3  (only offered fall) SAA 511 - 3  (only offered fall) SAA 515 - 3  (only offered fall) Elective - 3	Spring I: 12 credits SAA 512 - 3 (only offered spring) SAA 513 - 3 (only offered spring) SAA 514 - 3 (only offered spring) Elective - 3
Fall II: 12 credits SAA 595 - 3* Elective - 3 Elective - 3 Elective - 3	Spring II: 9 credits SAA 524 - 3 (only offered spring) Elective - 3 Elective - 3

*Internship can also be completed over summer 

The program curriculum was designed to meet the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Professional Preparation Commission Standards.  

Core curriculum requirement

Higher Education and Student Affairs

• SAA 510 - Intro to Stdnt Personnel Srvcs

  This course provides a comprehensive study of the organizational structure, functional units, and administrative relationship of personnel services in two- and four-year institutions of higher education. These include understanding the relationships among admissions, academic advising, career services, counseling centers, judicial affairs, multicultural affairs, orientation, residence halls, student activities, financial aid and student health to name a few. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: fall only. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 511 - Clg Std Dev Thry, Rsrch, Pract

  The primary purpose of this course will be to explore current programs, issues, practices, research, and trends in college student development. Special attention will be given to the historical, philosophical and theoretical foundations of student development as it relates to practice. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: fall only. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 512 - Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

  This is a core (required) course for the SAA Degree. The purpose of this course is to prepare students for integrating critical reflection, multicultural research, and social justice advocacy in student affairs practice. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered spring only. 3 Credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 513 - Orgnztn & Admin in Higher Edu

  This course will focus on the organization and administration of higher education. The course is designed to provide basic information about the organizational and function of major administrative units and administrators in institutions of higher education. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: spring only. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 514 - Law in Higher Education

  This course will explore some of the pressing legal issues that today confront American institutions of higher education. Special attention will be given to how courts have attempted to balance the sometimes competing rights and responsibilities of institutions, faculty, staff, and students. Issues to be explored include: first amendment rights of students, academic freedom of faculty, search and seizure issues in residence halls, affirmative action in admissions, regulation of athletics, privacy issues, religious freedom on campus, rights of students with disabilities, employment discrimination and institutional liability for student behavior. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: spring only. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 524 - New Student Affair Professiona

  The purpose of this course is to provide you with a structured opportunity to reflect on and synthesize your learning in the SAA master’s program and to prepare you for the transition to a professional role. Emphasis will be placed on reflection and synthesis, understanding your professional strengths and interests, the student affairs job search, and transition from a student role to a professional role. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: spring. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

Educational Research Requirement

• SAA 515 - Research Mthds in Higher Ed

  The course will introduce students to research methods used in the social sciences. Topics include competing epistemologies; quantitative and qualitative research methods; concept development; valid and reliable measures; and data analyses. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: fall. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• PAFF 510 - Research Design and Methods

  This course is intended as an introduction to research methods. It focuses on the ""logic of inquiry""--how one goes from theory or research interest to empirical results. Upon completion, students are able to: 1) construct a research hypothesis/research question; 2) identify appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative method(s) for investigating that question; 3) collect and analyze data; and 4) present research results. Offered: fall and spring. 4 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

Other research methods courses are considered with advisor approval.

Electives

Students are offered the opportunity to choose elective courses suited to their specialized academic interests from various other graduate academic departments. Many students choose to take electives through the Graduate School, the Department of Public Administration or other departments with advisor approval.

Higher Education and Student Affairs Electives

• SAA 526 - Crtcl & Femn Pedg in Higher Ed

  This course provides an analysis of practices in the education of adults leading to personal and social transformation from the perspective of critical and feminist/womanist pedagogical theory. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: periodically. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 580E - ST: Critical Issues Higher Ed

  This course will focus on current issues facing the field of student affairs/higher education. Students will explore selected trends and challenges within departments/divisions in student affairs that ultimately affect college students, faculty, administrators, and staff in higher education. The course will be conducted in a seminar format with a high expectation that students will participate in the meaning making both orally and in writing. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: periodically. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 580M - Foundations Academic Advising

  In this course students explore academic advising as an essential component of student success in higher education. Topics to be covered include: academic advising foundations, advising skills, advising models and delivery systems, advising diverse populations, and assessment and evaluation of academic advising. No prerequisites. Offered: summer. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 580E - ST: Critical Issues Higher Ed

  This course will focus on current issues facing the field of student affairs/higher education. Students will explore selected trends and challenges within departments/divisions in student affairs that ultimately affect college students, faculty, administrators, and staff in higher education. The course will be conducted in a seminar format with a high expectation that students will participate in the meaning making both orally and in writing. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Offered: periodically. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 516 - Helping Skills in Stud Affairs

  This course will introduce students to helping skills needed by student affairs professionals. Specific attention will be given to topics such as coping skills and active listening. Prerequisite: Admission into a recognized graduate program at Binghamton University, or consent of the SAA department chair. Semester offered varies. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 580O - Leadership for Social Change

  In this course we will explore socially responsible leadership through the lens of the Social Change Model of Leadership Development and its application in student affairs and beyond. In the Social Change Model leadership is viewed as collaborative, non-positional, and concerned with creating change. Focus will be on elements of the Social Change Model, research using the model, and application of the model. Offered: semester varies. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• SAA 581W - Race and Racism in US Educat

  This course focuses on how racism persists and who the arbiters of interpersonal, systemic, structural, and institutional racism. This course offers students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of how racism functions in U.S. education and its social contexts. Although this focus implicitly indicts many, if not most, white people and white institutions, it also alludes to the ways racism and whiteness are internalized and perpetuated by People of Color and the institutions of which they are a part. Students will explore the history and social construction of race in the U.S.; engage in personal reflection concerning their own relationships to the topics covered in this course; explore practices for healing from racism and white supremacy; and learn and apply analytical strategies informed by power-conscious and anti-racist frameworks, critical theories about race, and other perspectives to critique the policies and practices within U.S. educational institutions. Offered: semester offered varies. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

Public Administration Elective Options

• PAFF 521 - Foundations of Public Service

  Concepts and issues of American public organizations and their administration, such as critical thinking and writing, decision making, public planning, budgeting, human resources and information management. Also includes political and environmental contexts and an introduction to international and comparative public administration as well as administrative practices in other countries. Offered: fall and spring. 4 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• PAFF 520 - 21st Century Governance

  Governance focuses on leading and managing organizations in public and nonprofit settings. One key aspect of effective public service today involves understanding and successfully navigating across organizational boundaries essentially functioning within multi-organizational and multi-sectoral networks. In an environment of increased globalization, this requires public administrators possess multiple areas of cultural competency. Skill development will focus on negotiations, project and contract management and oversight. No prerequisites are required. Offered: fall and spring. 4 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• PAFF 526 - Managing Info and Technology

  This course focuses on the evolution of data into information and knowledge and the use of technology to support public service. We discuss establishing and complying with information policies and managing the collection, use and dissemination of information. Issues of privacy, security, access and transparency are considered. Offered: fall and spring. 2 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• PAFF 534 - Human Resource Mgmt: Pub/NonPf

  This course will examine procedures and problems of governmental and not-for-profit personnel administration. Included in the topics are classification, performance appraisal, hiring practices, affirmative action, and pay equity. Studies of governmental agencies are employed to give the students first-hand knowledge of personnel administration. Meets the Managing People in Organizations requirement. Offered: periodically. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• PAFF 535 - Organizational Theory

  This course approaches organization theory through individual, organization, systems and institutional levels of analysis. Focus will be placed on choosing the appropriate level of analysis to address current issues in the administration of public and not-for-profit agencies. Key topics include leadership, motivation, group behavior, work environment, power and organizational change. Discussion of the development of organizational theory concepts as well as current literature in the field. Meets the Managing People in Organizations requirement. Offered: periodically. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• PAFF 536 - Managing Networks

  In public administration, an increasing number of policy objectives are being accomplished through networks of people and/or organizations. This course focuses on both intra- and inter-organizational networks of people, the structure and function of networks, and skills needed for network management. Meets the Managing People in Organizations requirement. Offered: periodically. 3 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate