Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs (MA)
Master of Arts
A pathway to meaningful, important work with college students, providing a curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning and prepares you to begin or advance your career in student affairs
- Delivered entirely online
- Begin coursework any term; next cohort starts Summer 2025
- Apply now!
Features
Entirely Online | 36 Credits | Part & Full-time options
- Develop lasting connections while studying with the same group of peers
- Flexible, online program designed for working professionals, with opportunities to build a professional network through community and institutional partners for mentorship and support.
- Competency-based curriculum ensures a deep understanding of the student affairs profession
- Focus on enhancing skills needed in residence life, student activities, career services, admissions, financial aid, academic advising, multicultural student affairs, and other student affairs fields
Placement Rate
Graduates are finding positions where they do what they love: serving and impacting students.
Part-time & full-time options - Start any term
Build relationships and connections for years to come.
Years of Experience
Two full-time faculty bring 35+ years as experienced practitioners, complemented by working administrators as adjunct faculty.
As an Online & Distance Education student, you’ll have a dedicated Enrollment Contact and Program Coordinator to assist you with registering for classes, navigating the course sequence and billing process, preparing for graduation and much more.
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David 'Schmiddy' Schmid Program Coordinator Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, Foundations, & Leadership Studies |
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Janelle Finke Enrollment Contact janelle.finke@uni.edu |
Request Information
Fund Your Degree
You can have the opportunity fund your degree while learning through hands-on experiences, earning monetary awards or a combination of both.
Courses are offered entirely online using a combination of Zoom video conferencing on select evenings and Blackboard, a learning management system. Our team of support specialists is available to provide technical assistance and resources. Throughout the course sequence, you'll explore topics such as: the philosophies and history of student affairs, college student development, research and assessment in the field, social justice and inclusion, higher education law, leading, and advising
Our program prepares you to serve as a student affairs professional in a number of functions, including, but not limited to:
- Housing and Residence Life
- Multicultural Student Services
- Admissions
- Academic Advising
- Financial Aid
- Registrar
- Student Support Services
- Orientation
- Dean of Students
- Student Outreach
- Student Health Services
- TRIO Services
- Student Activities
- University Unions
- Student Accessibility Services
- International Student Services
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
Courses are offered entirely online using a combination of Zoom video conferencing on select evenings and Blackboard, a learning management system. Our team of support specialists is available to provide technical assistance and resources. Throughout the course sequence, you'll explore topics such as: the philosophies and history of student affairs, college student development, research and assessment in the field, social justice and inclusion, higher education law, leading, and advising
Our program prepares you to serve as a student affairs professional in a number of functions, including, but not limited to:
- Housing and Residence Life
- Multicultural Student Services
- Admissions
- Academic Advising
- Financial Aid
- Registrar
- Student Support Services
- Orientation
- Dean of Students
- Student Outreach
- Student Health Services
- TRIO Services
- Student Activities
- University Unions
- Student Accessibility Services
- International Student Services
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
To be admitted, students must have:
- 2.75 is the minimum GPA to be accepted without provision; applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 may still be admitted provisionally, at the discretion of the program and the Division of Graduate Studies.
Along with the application, you’ll need to submit:
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Applicant statement
- Resume
- Two recommendation forms (at least one from a former professor is encouraged)
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
Next Steps
Express Interest
Complete our online information request form. We'll send program updates, important information and application deadlines directly to your inbox!
Submit Your Application
Along with the application, students must submit the required additional application materials listed above.
Contact Us
Our team of support staff is available to help you throughout your UNI journey.
Contact us at 319-273-7206 or online@uni.edu for assistance.
Delivery of this program is contingent on a sufficient number of students being accepted into the program.
Shelby Kaingu
"I found the PSE: Student Affairs graduate program to be a great fit for me. Having a program that understands your needs as students and adapts to meet those needs reflects well on the values and integrity of the program. Undoubtedly, UNI’s offering of an online program helped me maintain the healthy work/life balance I needed."
Class of 2023, Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs
Kelcie Smith
The PSE: Student Affairs graduate program has really helped me to grow confident personally and professionally. I enjoyed being able to have class from the comfort of my room after working 30 hours a week. Being in the Zoom breakout rooms and working on projects together really helped my relationships develop with my classmates. Everyone I’ve met in the program has been a positive influence in helping me figure out who I want to become and what expectations I want for myself professionally.
Class of 2022, Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs
Taija Tucker
As a student worker in financial aid, Taija Tucker loved helping fellow students understand it. Then she found out through the UNI course "Exploring Student Affairs" that this could be a career. She did her research and, as she says, "I knew this was my fate," adding, "Giving back to students, being there to solve problems and seeing that smile or light in their eyes makes me feel confident that I found my career path."
Class of 2021, Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs