Student Affairs and Higher Education Leadership

Contact

For general inquiries about the program, please contact Dr. Danielle Molina at sahegrad@colled.msstate.edu. 

Program Overview

The program for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Educational Leadership prepares students for positions of leadership and administration in educational organizations spanning P-12 and higher education environments.

Program candidates in the Student Affairs & Higher Education (SAHE) concentration are prepared for careers in higher education management, administration, and leadership with a particular emphasis on the college student experience and services related to supporting college student success. 

Admissions Timeline

Applications received between March 1 and August 2, 2023 may still be considered for Fall 2023 based on availability of Graduate Assistantships still vacant after the initial interviews (if applicable) and/or space remaining in the cohort at the time of application.

Admission Criteria

Eligible applications must meet the basic requirements specified for graduate students at Mississippi State University. Additionally, applications will be evaluated holistically at the program level across the following benchmarks:

1. Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended demonstrating:
   1. 1. an earned bachelor’s degree; or
      2. progress toward an earned bachelor’s degree with an anticipated completion date that precedes the intended enrollment term
2. Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale for the last half of the bachelor’s degree
3. Statement of purpose demonstrating past experience, current knowledge of, and/or future aspirations related to the practice of student affairs/higher education
4. Current résumé or CV that demonstrates direct or transferrable experience, skills, or knowledge related to the applicant’s interest in student affairs work. Applicants may consider including the following types of information:
   1. 1. past work experiences in or outside of college contexts
      2. undergraduate or post-undergraduate leadership positions
      3. other types of engagement in higher education organizations, activities, or experiences
5. Three letters of recommendation from student affairs professionals, other colleagues connected professionally to higher education, or faculty from past academic experiences who can provide insight into one or more of the following:
6. the applicant’s interest in and/or experience with supporting college student learning, growth, development, and success
7. unique attributes or experiences from the applicant’s undergraduate college experience that support the applicant’s future success as an emerging student affairs leader
8. evidence of leadership (or for potential therein) related to either a specific functional area in student affairs or in the broader student affairs field, overall
9. professional management skills, competencies, or knowledge relevant to student affairs or student affairs-adjacent work on college campuses
10. academic skills related to master’s level inquiry (e.g., reflection, self-knowledge, intellectual curiosity, theorizing, applying theory to solve problems of practice)
11. The admissions committee may require an interview to further evaluate academic and/or career interests aligned with the program’s offerings

SA Insight Days

For additional information concerning application procedures, Graduate Assistantships, and our annual visit days for prospective graduate students (GA Insight Days), please visit SA Insight Days.

SA Insight Days

Program of Study