FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University has created a master of arts degree in higher education & student affairs for people who want to work with students on a college campus.
Sara Connolly, assistant dean of the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development, led the effort to gain faculty approval for the degree and is overseeing course materials preparation and online placement.
Degree-holders would be suited to pursue jobs in higher education, particularly in the field of student affairs. “New graduates often take jobs in residential life, campus activities, academic advising, Greek life, student leadership, career development, enrollment management and, financial aid, or as bursar or registrar,” Connolly said.
Students must pass 12 classes (36 credits) to obtain the degree, though one class is waived for those who hold a graduate assistantship or work full-time in higher education. “The program is fully online and asynchronous, which allows flexibility for students to gain experience while earning the degree. Students who take two courses in each eight-week term can finish in one year,” said Connolly.
The social justice in higher education course is particularly important as it prepares students to work on a college campus with diverse groups of individuals. “The course allows students to examine the role of higher education in American society using social justice framework informed by critical theory,” Connolly said. “Students examine societal influences that allow for inequity in higher education, apply a social justice lens to higher education practices and policies, and conduct research on access or equity in higher education.”
Connolly said the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education suggests that a high-quality higher education & student affairs program have an extensive study of theories that address racial, cultural, ethic, gender, abilities, sexual identity, the intersection of multiple identities and learning styles. SHU’s program implements this study across the curriculum with courses such as student development theory, global perspectives in higher education, today’s college student and social justice in higher education.
The degree is an important addition to teacher preparation, educational leadership and counseling degrees Farrington College already offers. “We are currently preparing teachers and leaders in the K-12 classroom, as well as licensed counselors. Offerings to prepare student affairs leaders for college campuses is a natural extension of our current educational offerings,” Connolly said.
To learn more, visit the master of arts degree in higher education & student affairs webpage.
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About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 387 Colleges–2022 Edition, “Best Northeastern” and Best Business Schools–2021 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu