School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies

Student Affairs in Higher Education Graduate Program

Enhance student life

Get ready for a promising career as a leader in higher education.

Gain practical experience in engaging, supporting and retaining students through student affairs services.
Please be advised that the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) program is not accepting applications at this time. We are in the process of updating our program offerings and will resume accepting applications in the future.

Graduate Recruitment Weekend

All students interested in the SAHE program are welcome to attend Graduate Recruitment Weekend (GRW) at Missouri State University. During the weekend, we will introduce you to faculty and current students, and provide opportunities for you to interview with graduate assistant supervisors. Learn more about our program and GRW by exploring the links to your left!

Why study student affairs in higher education at Missouri State?

  • Our faculty are current and former student affairs and academic affairs administrators and share the real-life applications of the knowledge they teach in the classroom.
  • You’ll receive valuable hands-on experiences through the completion of two semester-long practicums.
  • Many of our students find graduate assistantships within the division of student affairs and other academic support programs. These assistantships lower educational costs, provide work experience, and allow students to pursue their academic studies on a full-time basis; these two-year graduate assistant (GA) positions are equivalent to one year of full-time professional work experience. ACPA and NASPA, the two primary student affairs professional associations, recognize the value of two-year GA experiences with regard to graduate students' job search process. 
  • Our program is aligned with the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies, and the ACPA Professional Preparation Commission Standards.

Developing 21st Century Leaders in Higher Education

The Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) Master's Degree program at Missouri State University (MSU) was developed to meet the staffing needs of colleges and universities throughout the nation. Our goal is to develop self-authored, reflective scholar-practitioners who are equipped to successfully enter and demonstrate leadership in the field of student affairs administration and are prepared for long-term career success in higher education. Students in our program:

  1. integrate a theoretical understanding of student affairs history, values, and traditions into their emerging practice as professionals in higher education
  2. participate actively in and and contribute meaningfully to a variety of supervised practice experiences (i.e., graduate assistantships and practicums), and
  3. develop proficiency with regard to the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (AER) professional competency area. 
Two-Year Degree Plan
Three-Year Degree Plan