Prospective Students

The master's and doctoral programs emphasis on leadership, professional competencies, and scholarship will position you to excel in a wide range of leadership positions in higher education, and will give you a broader, multicultural perspective that will serve you in your career and in life.

HESAL students will have opportunities to work directly with award-winning, research faculty who all have higher education or student affairs administrative backgrounds. If you want a program that values a practitioner-scholar model, different lived experiences, and directly relating coursework to practice then our program may be a fit for you! 

• Why HESAL?
  • Core Competencies: Our curriculum focuses on developing the necessary competencies for professional advancement in higher education and student affairs in today's changing, diverse higher education environment
  • Theory, Research, Practice: The HESAL faculty is dedicated to offering a program that values a practitioner-scholar model, mentoring, and advising; along with coursework that integrates theories and research into professional practice
  • Gain Experience: Students engage in practical experiences under the mentorship of experienced higher education and student affairs leaders through graduate assistantships, field experiences, and/or internships
  • Equity & Inclusion: The program maintains a commitment to equity and social justice through the inclusion of multiple perspectives and pedagogies. The faculty promotes an educational environment that values diverse lived experiences, inclusivity, and social justice
• What You'll Learn
  • Culturally inclusive perspectives related to research, practice, and leadership
  • Strong understanding of organizational dynamics
  • Excellence in professional practice and scholarly writing
  • Research design and methodology
  • Ways to contribute to improving education systems
• Application Information

  Master of Arts Admission Requirements

            

  Doctor of Philosophy Admission Requirements

• Sample Courses
  • College Student Development: Examines foundational and life span theories of college student development and applies them to students' lives and higher education and student affairs practice
  • Culturally Responsive & Transformational Learning: Develop understanding of learner centered approaches examining theories of culturally responsive pedagogy and transformative learning
  • Introduction to Leadership in Higher Education: Focuses on leadership theory to assist ethical scholar/leaders preparing for leadership roles in diverse organizations
  • Law and Higher Education: Relate statutory provisions, court decisions, common law principles and constitutional requirements to legal problems affecting public and private higher education institutions and systems
  • Higher Education Finance: Analyze issues of financing public and private higher education; examine alternative financing sources and methods; develop skill in resource allocation and management
  • Full M.A. Program Courses and PhD Program Courses lists
• Resources

  Office of Financial Aid: Connects you and your family to financial solutions such as Grants, Scholarships, Student Employment and loans to help you bridge the gap between what you can afford to pay for your college expenses and the cost of attending.

  Graduate Assistantships: Applicants will have the opportunity to interview for GA positions at Interview Days, these positions may include partial or full tuition coverage and/or a monthly stipend. Check our Funding page for last year's positions, and the Graduate School GA website for any current postings. 

  Disability Resource Center: The center collaborates with the University in its commitment to recognize disability as a valued aspect of diversity and to embrace access to the University of Northern Colorado community as a matter of equity and inclusion. The office provides the University with resources, education, and direct services to design a more welcoming and inclusive environment.

  Resource and Cultural Centers: The people of UNC are diverse in background, culture, and view point and our student cultural centers and other student services provide support in a personal and caring manner. These centers include:

  • Asian Pacific American Student Services
  • César Chávez Cultural Center
  • Center for Women's & Gender Equity
  • Gender & Sexuality Resource Center
  • Marcus Garvey Cultural Center
  • Native American Student Services
  • Stryker Institute for Leadership Development
  • Veterans Services

  Graduate Student Association: A student-run organization that seeks to advance the interests of UNC graduate students through representation of their needs and support of activities central to graduate education. Resources include research and conference grant funding, social and professional development programs, campus and community partnerships, and general support.