HIGHER EDUCATION IN STUDENT AFFAIRS AT NMU ACADEMICS

Admissions requirements Complete the application available through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research website. For regular admission, a p p l i c a n t s must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all completed graduate work. Applicants who do not meet the conditions for regular admission may be admitted conditionally upon a review of their credentials. Conditional students will be expected to complete 12 semester credits with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses designated by their adviser. Refer to the description of conditional admission in the Admission Policies section of this Graduate Bulletin.

Submit a professional resume and cover letter.

Submit transcripts.

Complete a face-to-face, phone, or video interview with the HESA Program Coordinator or their designee as a requirement of admittance to the program.

COURSES YOU WILL TAKE FOR THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Total credits: 36Core Courses: 25

ED500 Educational Research 3 ED506 Cultural Foundations of Ed I: 3Historical & Philosophical Dimensions ED507 Cultural Foundations of Ed II: 3Social Justice & American Schools ED530 Educational Leadership 3 ED574 Seminar in Educational Research 2 ED516 Introduction to Student Affairs 4 ED531 College Student Development 4 ED548B Internship in Higher Education 3

Cognates: 11 credit hours

Selected in consultation with the faculty adviser, these courses will be used to build skills and competencies such as leadership, training and development, communications, finance, public policy, etc. These courses can be taken from graduate programs throughout the university.

Immersive learning

At Northern, we’re all about project-based learning. It’s not enough to learn about organizational theory or the latest in student development theory: We want our students to put those theories to practice. This degree offers students the opportunity to test theories through the internship and capstone graduate seminars, both completed on site with a higher education partnering institution.

Fantastic faculty

The faculty serving in Northern’s School of Education, Leadership and Public Service are top-notch professionals

who bring not just their own experiences from the field to the classroom, but a true desire to help their

students learn and succeed. And with this particular program, you won’t just work with educators from

that school, you’ll also, through the cognate courses, work with faculty in departments

like Business, Public Administration, and Psychology, to name a few.

Special opportunities

As an institution of higher education, NMU gives you the chance to apply

what you’re learning in the classroom through a variety of internships right here

on campus, performing essential functions in such departments as the Dean of Students Office,

Housing, Student Enrichment, Academic and Career Advising, Financial Aid, Registration, and Admissions.

Flexibility

With so many departments in higher education devoted to student affairs, this degree can help you make an impact at your university or community college in any number of ways. From learning the latest theories in student development to creating programming of your own, this degree will give you the tools you need to stand out in any student affairs division. Our highly interactive online program also offers you mobile learning that fits your needs right now and is enhanced with “real-time, face-to-face” Saturday sessions (either in person or via distance technology).

Students in the higher education in student affairs program work with departments throughout the university to learn and experience the situations and skills that are important for each office.

The program Many divisions of academic administration in typical higher education institutions are devoted solely to student affairs. This program will develop well-rounded practitioners able to deliver programs and services across higher education divisions. The courses and experiences are diverse and reflect the best of contemporary higher education and student affairs practice. In preparing to enter a growing field, graduates of the program will learn organizational and leadership dynamics and student development theory and application. Their courses will have them identifying and examining, through writing and on-site engagement, a specific issue related to diversity (e.g. access, affirmative action, educational equity, etc.) in a higher education setting and participating in an internship that requires them to apply theory to practice.

Concentrations

This degree requires 25 credit hours of core subjects. However, it also allows students to tailor the program to their own needs and interests by requiring a further 11 hours of cognate credits. These courses can be completed through a number of graduate programs at Northern, with focuses on skills and competencies such as leadership, training and development, and finance.

A good fit for students who like...

Academic administration

Working with current college/university students

Creating and implementing programs

Working as part of a team

Creative thinking/problem solving

Taking initiative

Uniquely Northern

Classes will be capped at 18 students, giving you that essential low student-to-teacher ratio we pride ourselves on at Northern. You’ll also have a practical attachment to what you’re already doing or would like to do upon graduation. This program will push you outside your comfort zone, focusing not just on theory, but on application of theory. NMU’s online graduate programs in education have also been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as among the Top 50 in the nation.

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INFLUENCE STUDENTS’ COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Here to help

Please call the graduate studies office with any questions or feel free to directly contact the department in which you are interested for program-specific inquiries. Submit your application at nmu.edu/gradstudies.

We look forward to getting to know you and telling you about Northern.

Graduate admissions 906-227-2300graduate@nmu.edu

School of Education, Leadership and Public Service Nancy Carter 906.227.1625ncarter@nmu.edu

www.nmu.edu/education/studentaffairs

Discover the training ground for a generation of fearless minds

Job outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 19% growth in higher education jobs between 2010 and 2020. The BLS also notes that a master’s degree is required for entry into this field.

Salary range Salaries in student affairs vary depending on field and institution. According to a major industry survey (Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey, conducted y the College And University Professional Association for Human Resources), a student residence hall manager’s salary is typically in excess of $37,000 without room and board, an assistant registrant makes more than $43,000, and the head of campus graduate admissions makes more than $65,000.

Where you might work This program will equip you with the unique skills needed to have a successful career in student affairs in higher education. You’ll be ready to start or further your career in housing and residence life, admissions, or student enrichment, services and conduct, and other university or community college departments.

A number of students choose to go on to graduate degree programs to enhance their skills in such area as business administration, public administration, or training and development.

EXCELLENCE & ADVENTURE IN REACH

Fearless in the Face of Learning From ExperienceCollaboration with students, close relationships with faculty, hands-on activities combined with classroom learning – these are the things current graduate student Emily Stulz is loving the most about being enrolled in the Higher Education in Students Affairs Master’s program at NMU.

In just her first semester, she’s already worked on a focus group for first-generation students, allowing her to find ways to relate their experiences back to her own coursework. Every week, she’s interacting with her fellow students and professionals in the field on campus, whether it’s online, during class or through research for upcoming projects.

As she’s earning her master’s degree from NMU, Stulz is also working as a graduate assistant in the university’s Identity, Brand, and Marketing office, further applying her coursework to a real-world setting. Stulz, who earned her undergraduate degree from Northern as well, said earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at NMU was a great decision not just for the academic atmosphere, but the overall culture of the institution.

“Everyone at the university, from the professors in our program to the full-time student affair professionals, are really rooting for us to succeed and helping to give us all the opportunities possible to get the experience and knowledge we need,” she said.

Northern at a glance Northern Michigan University is an exceptional academic experience in an amazing location on the shore of Lake Superior in the award-winning community of Marquette. With about 9,000 students and 180 academic programs, Northern is particularly known for its accessible faculty focused on student success and for its affordable excellence. Each full-time student gets a notebook computer and Wi-Fi access.

NMU graduate student Emily Stulz is gaining hands-on experience inside and outside of the classroom as a result of this graduate degree.

Higher Education in Student Affairs

NMU.EDU/EDUCATION/STUDENTAFFAIRS