Educational Administration - Student Affairs Administration Master of Arts (M.A.)
Program Length
2 years
Credits
43
Format
On Campus
GRE/Entrance Exam
Not Required
Towards the Future of Student Affairs
College students today, the subjects they learn, and the learning environment are continually changing. Student affairs professionals must not only be familiar with promising practices for supporting students today, but they must be prepared to visualize the future and create programs, services, and policies for that evolving reality. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Master of Arts (MA) in higher education administration with a specialization in student affairs offers students the opportunity to grow their understanding of various student experiences and be the future leaders of the profession. They learn approaches to advising students, planning programs, and developing policies through a deep exploration of current literature, applying theory to practical situations, and implementing solutions that account for the diversity of the student body and the importance of equity in education.
The Nebraska Difference
We’ve built a program aligned with CAS Standards and ACPA/NASPA competencies. Students connect their own lived experiences in college and professional experiences with a deep understanding of the research on college student experiences and the higher education environment. Students complete a paid assistantship, which is a learning lab where students make meaning of current research discussed in the classroom through hands-on experience in offices across campus. The cohort structure allows students to develop strong relationships with each other and full-time program faculty.
We prepare the future leaders in student affairs by mentoring how to serve a wide diversity of college students and how to implement policies and practices in higher education to serve the full breadth of students. We do this in part by encouraging students to complete original research on their interests. We call it The Nebraska Difference.
Our Unique Program
Faculty
- Students learn from faculty who conduct and share leading research on contemporary challenges and opportunities in higher education. These scholars have devoted their careers to teaching, researching, discovering, and sharing what works in higher education administration.
- Students also learn from faculty with decades of combined experience as higher education administrators and leaders who have lived and breathed the work of directors, coordinators, and supervisors at a variety of higher education institutions.
Courses and Schedule
- Full time students take this program while completing a part time assistantship that pays tuition, health benefits, and a small stipend.
- Courses meet in person daily either from 2-5 pm or 4-7pm.
- Student complete this program in two years.
Individual Attention, Support, & Hands-on Learning
- Students apply student development theory and other current research to their unique work environments while building supportive relationships with faculty and colleagues. Students leave the program with an expanded network of support, connections, and perspective.
- Multiple opportunities to grow through additional learning opportunities such as the Women in Educational Leadership Conference (WELC), the Critical Issues Forum, and the Sybouts Student Research Symposium.
From Day One
- With a thorough background in theory and experience with its application, our graduates are Day-One-Ready for student affairs positions like multicultural affairs, student involvement, residence life, academic advising, campus recreation, career services, and many more.
"Coming from a smaller size undergraduate institution, I was a little overwhelmed with the size of UNL and how things worked differently from what I was use to. I like that my professors especially Dr. Rumann and Dr. Bondi helped with my adjust to UNL by always being available to discuss concerns that I had or just being that listening ear. I love how open EDAD is to new ideas to use for future programs and encouraging graduate students to step outside of their comfort-zone."
Mya' Lesley-Drakeford, J. Gaughan MC/Diversity & Inclusion UNL

Launching Your Journey
Program Curriculum
The student affairs administration specialization is an on-campus program, beginning in the fall semester, designed for students that will be enrolled full-time for two consecutive academic years and hold graduate assistantships
This program is a unique, two-year (full-time students) master's preparation program for student affairs professionals. Students complete and defend a thesis (Option 1) or complete six credit hours of electives (Option 3) and a capstone.
If accepted you receive:
- Close interactions and mentor relationships formed with professors
- The tight bond you have with your cohort and the others in the program, built-in friends and support system from the start
Students who are awarded a graduate assistantship receive:
- Full tuition waiver and stipend
- Majority of premiums of a comprehensive health insurance program covered
- EDAD 879 Introduction to Student Affairs Current professional issues related to the organization and administration of student personnel within higher education. Exploration of research literature, some field experiences, and in-depth examination of special topics.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 842 College Students in America This course is designed to provide students an understanding of a broad range of facts and issues pertaining to undergraduate college students in America.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 800 Foundations of Research & Methods of Inquiry in Educational Administration A written report is required. Investigation and analysis of current problems in education administration and supervision.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 880 Student Affairs Seminar Student Affairs Program cohort members meet to discuss and review current issues in order to become more familiar with special topics related to professional practice and best practice in the field of student affairs.
- Credit Hours: 1
- EDAD 843 Counseling Principles for Educational Leaders This is an introductory level counseling course designed specifically for educational administrators. It is not intended to prepare individuals to become professional counseling practitioners. It offers a broad overview of counsel principles. This is a theory-to-practice course.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 840 College Student Development Introduction to human development theories; psychosocial, cognitive, and structural theories, with a focus on learning to use theory to improve skills in working with students.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 838 Program Evaluation and Assessment of Student Affairs Review of a variety resources used to evaluate programs and assess student learning in student affairs programs. Presentation of theory and practice with various tools for the assessment and evaluation of student affairs programs.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 880 Student Affairs Seminar Student Affairs Program cohort members meet to discuss and review current issues in order to become more familiar with special topics related to professional practice and best practice in the field of student affairs.
- Credit Hours: 1
Internship and Possible Summer Elective Options (6 hrs of summer tuition provided with assistantship)
- EDAD 998: Student Affairs Internship
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 922 Finance in Higher Ed Federal and state government funding, institutional planning, technological and community influences, human resources finance, budgeting, and sources of financial support as they relate to higher education institutions and agencies.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 830 Administrative Theories in Educational Organizations Introduction to classic and contemporary administrative theory as applied to educational organizations. The theoretical nature of the course content is relevant to those with an interest in a broad variety of educational institutions. General organizational theory, organizational models, historical schools of administrative theory, authority, power, motivation, and leadership. Frequently students are involved in studying problems of practice as a means of testing theory.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 899 Master’s Thesis (option 1) OR Elective in consultation with advisor (option 3)
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 880 Student Affairs Seminar Student Affairs Program cohort members meet to discuss and review current issues in order to become more familiar with special topics related to professional practice and best practice in the field of student affairs.
- Credit Hours: 1
- EDAD 925 Law and Higher Ed Examination of legal principles applicable to higher education institutions. Overview of the legal system, higher education institutions as legal entities, authority for governance and administration, faculty rights and responsibilities, student rights and responsibilities, institutional and personal liability, and other selected issues.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 832 Higher Education in America History and development of America's colleges and universities and a study of some recent trends and problems in higher education.
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 899 Master’s Thesis (option 1) OR Elective in consultation with advisor (option 3)
- Credit Hours: 3
- EDAD 880 Student Affairs Seminar Student Affairs Program cohort members meet to discuss and review current issues in order to become more familiar with special topics related to professional practice and best practice in the field of student affairs.
- Credit Hours: 1