Jump to HeaderJump to Main ContentJump to Footer
Michigan State University
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • Strategic Plan
    • Points of Distinction
    • Leadership
    • Academic Departments, Centers, Institutes & Offices
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Inclusion & Diversity
    • Outreach Efforts
    • Buildings & Facilities
    • Career Opportunities
    • Ways to Give
    Dean Jerlando Jackson stands in front of a sign that reads Michigan State University.

    Meet Dean Jackson

    Meet Dean Jerlando F. L. Jackson
  • |
  • Academics
    • Majors & Degree-Granting Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Master's Studies
    • Doctoral Studies
    • Online Studies
    • Graduate Certificates & Specializations
    • Undergraduate Student Support
    • Graduate Student Support
    • Assistantships
    • Scholarships
    • Accreditation
    Five Spartans pose for a photo in a row during an awards ceremony; three are holding paper awards and wearing medallions around their neck with a turquiose ribbon.

    Record-setting KIN Spartans

    Alums make history with national KIN honors
  • |
  • Certifications
    • Become Certified or Add an Endorsement
    • School Psychologist Certification
    • Student Affairs Office
    • MSU Academic Programs Catalog
    • MSU Office of Accreditation, Assessment, Curriculum & Compliance
    Individual bikes on MSU's campus

    Educator Preparation & Accreditation

    Explore our efforts
  • |
  • Research
    • Office of Research Administration
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Student Research Opportunities
    • Research & Award News
    • Faculty Directory
    Individual holds scans of a brain in two hands.

    Uncovering processes that lead to learning outcomes

    Read about our research
  • |
  • Outreach
    • Policy
    • K-12 Schools & Districts
    • Urban Areas
    • International Areas
    • Alumni
    • Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
    • Office of Access & Community Engagement
    • Office of International Studies in Education
    • Office of K-12 Outreach
    • All Offices, Centers & Institutes
    Young children line up for an activity in IM Sports circle. The children wear bright green shirts.

    Detroit youth learn about movement at MSU

    Explore the KIN Day of Action
  • |
  • News & Events
    • News
    • New Educator Magazine
    • Subscribe: ReviewED Newsletter
    • Events Listing
    Kristen Bieda wearing a blue blouse and glasses. There is a bookshelf full of books in the background.

    Celebrating: Kristen Bieda

    Bieda named Department of Teacher Education Chair
College of Education
  • About
  • Academics
  • Certifications
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • News & Events

< About

  • Mission & History
  • Strategic Plan
  • Points of Distinction
  • Leadership
  • Academic Departments, Centers, Institutes & Offices
  • Faculty and Staff Directory
  • Inclusion & Diversity
  • Outreach Efforts
  • Buildings & Facilities
  • Career Opportunities
  • Ways to Give
Dean Jerlando Jackson stands in front of a sign that reads Michigan State University.

Meet Dean Jackson

Meet Dean Jerlando F. L. Jackson

< Academics

  • Majors & Degree-Granting Programs
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Master's Studies
  • Doctoral Studies
  • Online Studies
  • Graduate Certificates & Specializations
  • Undergraduate Student Support
  • Graduate Student Support
  • Assistantships
  • Scholarships
  • Accreditation
Five Spartans pose for a photo in a row during an awards ceremony; three are holding paper awards and wearing medallions around their neck with a turquiose ribbon.

Record-setting KIN Spartans

Alums make history with national KIN honors

< Certifications

  • Become Certified or Add an Endorsement
  • School Psychologist Certification
  • Student Affairs Office
  • MSU Academic Programs Catalog
  • MSU Office of Accreditation, Assessment, Curriculum & Compliance
Individual bikes on MSU's campus

Educator Preparation & Accreditation

Explore our efforts

< Research

  • Office of Research Administration
  • Centers & Institutes
  • Student Research Opportunities
  • Research & Award News
  • Faculty Directory
Individual holds scans of a brain in two hands.

Uncovering processes that lead to learning outcomes

Read about our research

< Outreach

  • Policy
  • K-12 Schools & Districts
  • Urban Areas
  • International Areas
  • Alumni
  • Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
  • Office of Access & Community Engagement
  • Office of International Studies in Education
  • Office of K-12 Outreach
  • All Offices, Centers & Institutes
Young children line up for an activity in IM Sports circle. The children wear bright green shirts.

Detroit youth learn about movement at MSU

Explore the KIN Day of Action

< News & Events

  • News
  • New Educator Magazine
  • Subscribe: ReviewED Newsletter
  • Events Listing
Kristen Bieda wearing a blue blouse and glasses. There is a bookshelf full of books in the background.

Celebrating: Kristen Bieda

Bieda named Department of Teacher Education Chair
Education > Educational Administration > Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education > Student Affairs Administration, M.A. >

Requirements

Programs

  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Master's Programs
  • Doctoral Programs
  • Online Programs

Academic Departments

  • Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education
  • Educational Administration
  • Kinesiology
  • Teacher Education
Michigan State University
College of Education
  • Strategic Plan
  • Resources
  • People Directory
  • Alums
  • Contact
  • Give

College of Education

  • Strategic Plan
  • Resources
  • People Directory
  • Alums
  • Contact
  • Give

Requirements

SAA M.A. students gain a broad perspective of higher education systems from social, historical, and global perspectives. Requirements of the program include: 

  • Thirty-six (36) credit hours comprised of eight (8) core courses and four (4) electives
  • One (1) practicum experience
  • One (1) certifying examination

For more details on each of these requirements, please see the information below. 

Courses

Required Core Courses (24 credits) 

Visit the Office of the Registrar’s Academic Programs website for more information about course requirements.

Course descriptions can be reviewed on the Office of the Registrar’s Course Description website.

Elective Courses (12 credits) 

Elective courses contribute to a student’s professional goals such as academic advisement, training and development, communications, or counseling, and are approved by the student’s academic advisor. At least two (2) of these courses should be from EAD course offerings taught by HALE faculty. 

Examples of EAD courses include:

  • EAD 850: Issues and Strategies in Multicultural Education
  • EAD 860: Concept of a Learning Society
  • EAD 861: Adult Learning
  • EAD 863: Training and Professional Development
  • EAD 866: Teaching in Postsecondary Education
  • EAD 872: Legal Issues in Higher Education
  • EAD 876: Budgeting and Finance in Higher Education
  • EAD 877: Program Planning and Evaluation in Postsecondary Contexts
  • EAD 878: Education in the Digital Age 

Notes
With the approval of their faculty advisor, students may take: 

  • 900-level courses in EAD;
  • Courses in other departments within the university; and/or
  • Up to three (3) credits in upper-division undergraduate courses

*Students may take no more than nine (9) credits of Pass/No Grade coursework. EAD 893 accounts for three (3) Pass/No Grade credits. 

For Students

  • Graduate Support
  • Undergraduate Support
  • Scholarships
  • Assistantships

For Faculty & Staff

  • Communications
  • Data & Analytics
  • Human Resources
  • Policies, Committees & More
  • Tech Services

Our College

  • Office of the Dean
  • Imagin[ED] 2030 Strategic Plan
  • Mission
  • Directory
  • Centers & Institutes
  • Accolades & Awards
  • Rankings
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • "New Educator" Magazine
  • News
  • Jobs

Contact us

(517) 355-1734

Address

Michigan State University College of Education 620 Farm Lane East Lansing, MI 48824

Releases and Statements

Follow Us

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Visit our page on X
  • Visit our Instagram page
  • Visit our LinkedIn page
  • Visit our YouTube page

If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.

Know More: Campus Safety Information and ResourcesTransparency Reporting: Budget & Salary/Compensation
  • Contact Information|
  • Site Map|
  • Privacy Statement|
  • Site Accessibility|
  • Call MSU: (517) 355-1855|
  • Visit: msu.edu|
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination|

SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|

Practicum

The practicum component of the master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration is designed to give students the opportunity to apply theory to practice and to engage in professional behavior in a work setting. Students gain insight into the nature of postsecondary organizations, explore applications of student learning and development theory, observe different administrative styles, and further enhance their praxis of student affairs and higher education administration. Every student must complete one practicum, while registered for EAD 893: Professional Development Seminar, gaining a broad view of the student affairs profession.

Practicum Information 
For more information about the practicum component of the SAA M.A. degree program, download the SAA M.A. Guide to Practica.

SAA MA Guide to Practica

Certifying Examination

The purpose of the SAA M.A. Certifying Exam is for students in the Student Affairs Administration M.A. program to independently demonstrate their ability to connect theory and research about information and issues in the field of student affairs and higher education to practice. Students are challenged to integrate information from core courses and other sources and apply this information to situations that relate to student affairs. The exam consists of two essays. To be eligible for graduation, students must have their final essays evaluated and accepted by the SAA faculty.