Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (M.Ed)

Engaging in Campus Community. Advancing Diversity & Belonging. Making a Direct Impact on Students’ Lives

Join us as a graduate student for Rosemont College’s M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA). You will earn your degree while engaging with Rosemont’s vibrant and diverse campus in suburban Philadelphia. When you graduate, you will have gained the skills, knowledge, and professional brand needed to be a valued higher education professional with distinct knowledge and experience supporting marginalized student populations.

Rosemont’s M.Ed in HESAA program centers three areas of focus:

Social justice in improving students’ academic and co-curricular journeys
Higher education administration skills and tools
Essential expertise for the student affairs practitioner

Admissions Deadlines

Rosemont College has rolling admissions, meaning that prospective students can apply at any time before the Final Deadline.

Those who submit all application materials before the Priority Deadline will receive an initial response within two weeks.

Fall 2023

Priority Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2023

Final Deadline: Monday, May 15, 2023

All written documents (writing sample, statement of purpose, letter of recommendation) must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document to admissions@rosemont.edu.

READY TO GET STARTED? APPLY TODAY

Immerse Yourself in a Diverse Campus Community

As a master's candidate for Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) at Rosemont, you will delve into course content (including advocacy, social justice, student leadership, legal matters, college budgeting, administration, data evaluation & assessment) that will broaden your worldview and empower you to be a leader who will make meaningful change on college campuses as you support students on their higher education journeys.

So... what else can students expect to gain from the HESAA experience? You will deepen your understanding of systemic bias in higher education, cultural pluralism, and identity development, while learning how to facilitate difficult and emotional conversations about increasingly important topics for college students. You will explore the complexities of organizational structures and cultures, including successes and challenges of cultivating a college community that understands, respects, and invests in an environment where students feel seen, heard, and valued. You will hone your professional brand by advancing your academic writing skills, expanding your network of colleagues, and gaining access to scholarly literature and professional associations. You will gain customizable professional experience through the ability to keep or switch your academic practicum placement to either deepen your work with the same campus department or switch to broaden your experience and resume.

With the higher education administrative skills, understanding of complex social justice topics, and the experience of applying this knowledge in a diverse campus culture, you will graduate the Rosemont MEd in HESAA program as an accomplished higher education and student affairs professional prepared to take the next steps in your career. You will have the opportunity to make a direct impact on students’ lives as you live and work at Rosemont, an intentionally diverse and vibrant campus community.

"Three for Free" - Free Tuition, Free Mealplan, Free Housing

Centering financial equity, HESAA students are eligible to receive the "Three for Free" - Free Tuition / Free Meal Plan / Free Housing (free parking also included). This opportunity allows students to live and learn together, free from student debt, so they can focus on making an impact on the lives of Rosemont students. While all HESAA students receive free tuition and a meal plan, there are a limited number of spaces that include free housing. Those interested are encouraged to apply early.

Academic Practicum for Professional Experience

HESAA students serve as half-time staff members, paired for 15-20 hours per week with a campus department while taking an academic practicum course to create and update your LinkedIn profile, update your resume and cover letter writing, all while personally crafting your professional brand.

Often working directly with undergraduate students, every area of campus is a possibility for your practicum placement: Student Success and Engagement, Diversity and Belonging, Athletics, Advising, Mission and Ministry, Advancement, Admissions, Career Services, Registrar, Residence Life, Health and Wellness. Include your choices in the Personal Statement when you apply. Click here to apply!

At Rosemont, we never want students to feel “locked in” to a graduate assistantship or practicum, so we allow students to switch if another area suddenly piques your interest. Keeping a practicum allows for a deeper connection & mentored experience, while switching allows up to 4 practicum experiences with various departments and supervisors – a great way to earn multiple letters of recommendation for your 1^st post-Masters job search.

Gain Hands-on Experience in a Natural “Learning Lab”

The MEd in HESAA prepares education professionals to effect meaningful change in college communities through a depth of understanding of the historical, social, and cultural foundations of higher education. As a graduate of this program, you will:

Understand the organization, culture, diversity, and history of higher education institutions.
Create diverse environments that foster student learning and development.
Gather higher education data, evaluate it, and use it to assess students/program outcomes, and to inform current practice in higher education, with a focus on equity.
Integrate ethics and social justice into decision-making, practice, and course projects.
Analyze historical and philosophical development trends in higher education and their impact on current practices in the profession, focusing on dismantling systemic bias.
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of law, policy, planning, and finance to guide professional practice.
Identify and apply governance, leadership, organizational, and administrative practices that assist institutions in accomplishing their missions.
Present and write effectively, thoughtfully, and with an awareness of the audience.
Participate in and reflect meaningfully on learning and professional development activities.

Program Highlights

Two year program for full-time students. 39-credit hours (11 courses, plus 4-semester practicum). No summer or winter classes. See degree requirements and course descriptions here.
Fully on-campus course of study with a diverse and engaged student body providing a natural “living and learning lab.”
Opportunity for free tuition, free mealplan, and free housing for HESAA students who work 15-20 hours per week throughout the program, rotating across Rosemont offices.*
Rigorous capstone project will demonstrate a student’s ability to develop solutions to a real-world problem, providing experience that can be applied as a graduate enters the field. No thesis is required.
Emphasis on equity and social justice, including how to support marginalized populations while preparing students to tackle critical issues facing college campuses today.
Delivered on Rosemont’s small campus, a short train ride from Center City, Philadelphia, one of the most diverse cities in the US.

apply today.

*While all HESAA students receive free tuition and a meal plan, there are a limited number of spaces that include free housing in the program. Those interested are encouraged to apply early.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree. Must provide official transcripts from previously attended institutions.
One letter of recommendation, preferably from someone who can address your academic and/or professional competencies.
Resume, which includes demonstrable involvement in student affairs as a student and/or professional.
Personal statement: "Knowing what you have learned about Rosemont College, and this program in particular, please talk about how your experience has prepared you for this program, at this time, at this institution." Please indicate your interest in 2 to 3 departments where you might like to do your 15-20 hours a week for your fall academic practicum.
Interview with the HESAA Program Director.
Note: Demonstrated interest in, and experience with, social justice is preferred.

Admissions Deadlines:

Rosemont College has rolling admissions, meaning that prospective students can apply at any time before the Final Deadline, however to be considered for a funded spot you must apply by the Priority Deadline.

Those who submit all application materials before the Priority Deadline will receive an initial response within two weeks.

Fall 2022

Priority Deadline: Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Regular Deadline: Sunday, May 15, 2022

Applications may be considered after the deadline on case-by-case basis and if space is the program is still available. Please reach out to your admissions counselor to discuss an extended deadline.

ready to get started? apply today