Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs Program Redesigned to Better Serve Working Professionals

The Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy is proud to announce a newly redesigned Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program, tailored to meet the evolving needs of today’s student affairs professionals. This strategic redesign reflects Morgan’s commitment to responsive, equity-driven graduate education and comes in direct response to the real-world experiences of its applicants and students.

“When we stepped back to think about who our students are and what they need, it became clear that most of our applicants are full-time professionals already working in Higher Ed & Student Affairs,” said Dr. Virginia Byrne, Associate Professor and Program Director. “They’re doing the work, and they’re looking for a program that will help them grow and take the next step in their careers — without putting everything else on hold. So, we redesigned the program with them in mind.”

What’s Different?

The redesigned M.A. in HESA program introduces several key improvements:

• Accelerated Timeline: We shifted our course schedule to better support year-round learning, so students can now finish the program in just 1.5 years.
  
• Reduced Internship Burden: We removed one of the semester-long internship requirements to reduce unnecessary time burdens. Instead, we built more experiential learning directly into the courses.
  
• Hybrid model: All core courses meet in a hybrid format. Students gather once per semester at Morgan State for Residency Weekend, an immersive, in-person experience focused on the HBCU context, community building, and professional development. The rest of the semester’s coursework takes place online in real-time via Zoom.
• Uncompromised Quality: The program continues to reflect Morgan’s high standards for excellence, with all coursework taught by tenure-track faculty and experienced scholar-practitioners.
  
• Professional Alignment: The program remains fully aligned with the professional competencies and standards established by ACPA, NASPA, and the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).

Prospective students are encouraged to explore the program in more detail via the in-progress Program Overview.

Opportunities to Learn More

Morgan State University will host two virtual events this fall for individuals interested in pursuing graduate education in Higher Education and Student Affairs:

Virtual Open House for Prospective Students in Education
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
6:00 PM EDT (Zoom opens at 5:30 PM)
Register Here

HESA-Specific Information Session Webinar
Thursday, December 4, 2025
7:00–8:00 PM EST
Register via Zoom

For questions or more information, please complete this Interest Form (https://forms.gle/YU6U6CcEDYyhSraj8) or email karoline.ruhdorfer@morgan.edu.