Frequently Asked Questions
The Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) unit at Michigan State University (MSU) is a dynamic community of scholars within the Department of Educational Administration (EAD). It is comprised of nationally and internationally recognized faculty members and dedicated master and doctoral students. In conjunction with the affiliated Center for Higher and Adult Education (CHAE), HALE scholars work to address real-world problems in postsecondary education.
For more information, visit the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education page.
The HALE unit offers three distinct degree programs:
The HALE unit offers a Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education.
The Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education (HALE) MA program is a 30-credit hour, 100% online program that promotes professional development among those working in higher, adult, and lifelong education in a variety of local, national, and international settings, including colleges and universities, public and nonprofit agencies, as well as private industry.
The Student Affairs Administration (SAA) MA program is a 36-credit hour, cohort-based, in-person program preparing graduate students with the knowledge and skills to work with students in postsecondary education and to cultivate educational environments promoting diversity and multiculturalism.
HALE programs enroll students from across the U.S. and around the globe. Across the three degree programs and the graduate certificate, students come from a variety of academic disciplines and with a range of professional and para-professional work experiences.
The HALE faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars. Information about each faculty member can be found via the EAD Faculty website, the CHAE website, as well as the MSU Directory.
You can calculate your tuition estimate with the MSU Student Aid Calculator. The Office of Financial Aid also has tools for calculating tuition estimates and provides sample budgets.
Please visit the individual program’s contact page for appropriate contact information:
HALE faculty welcome student participation in their research projects. Some opportunities are paid while others are volunteer. In some instances, faculty will advertise research opportunities and interested students are encouraged to reply to these postings. Students can also contact individual faculty to inquire about possible opportunities. A good place to start is to review faculty research interests on the Center for Higher and Adult Education (CHAE) website.
For admissions and application process information, visit the application page for the specific degree program/certificate to which you are intending to apply:
For course transfer policies, review the information provided on the respective program web pages:
MSU degree programs/certificates require a resume or curriculum vitae as part of an application for admission.
The Graduate School requires a minimum 3.0 GPA (from applicants’ undergraduate/bachelor’s degree program) for admission to graduate-level programs at MSU. However, applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission. Please review the program’s specific GPA requirements found on programs’ respective admissions webpages for more detailed information.
A paid application fee or waiver is required for application review. While HALE does not offer any fee waivers for any of our programs, MSU’s Graduate School does have a few options. Check your eligibility for an application fee waiver on the Graduate School website or otherwise pay the required application fee.
Prospective international students should review the Graduate School International Applicants webpage for a list of requirements for international applicants. Note that additional resources, support, and general information can also be found on the Office for International Students and Scholars website.
Passport Information: International applicants planning to attend MSU on an H1 or J1 visa need to enter their passport information in the Graduate Application portal after submitting their application. Applicants should visit the Graduate School website to find specific information about international student applicants.
English Language Competency: International applicants may be required to submit proof of English Language Competency. Those international applicants who may be eligible for a waiver of the English Language Competency policy should review the Procedure to Request a Waiver for English Language Competency.
Affidavit of Support: International applicants must provide financial proof in order to comply with U.S. Government regulations. The Graduate School provides an Affidavit of Support form and information under the “Financial Proof” drop-down. Applicants do not need to upload this information to the Graduate Application portal for their applications to be reviewed by the faculty for admission recommendation decisions. International students recommended for admission will need to submit an Affidavit of Support before MSU can officially admit them.
Most students in the program are full-time students (they enroll in 10 credits/semester) and typically complete the program in two academic years.
It is customary for graduate students to inform graduate programs of their intent to enroll by April 15th. Graduate students offered graduate assistantships must inform the assistantship provider of their decision to commit to the assistantship by April 15th.
Full-time, first-semester students should register for the following courses (9 credits total):
For detailed information about degree requirements, visit the SAA MA Requirements webpage and review the SAA Master’s Checklist.
Information about the Ann Marie Bolger Memorial Scholarship in Student Affairs and additional opportunities for funding (e.g., graduate assistantships) can be found in the Funding section of the website.
In the spring, admitted students have the opportunity to interview for graduate assistantships. The SAA MA Program Coordinator provides additional information about the assistantship application process to admitted students.
No, students are not required to have a graduate assistantship, though most have them. Having a GA is a beneficial professional development opportunity that allows students to directly connect their coursework to practical experiences, to gain institutional insight, and to develop an in-depth working knowledge of a functional area within the field of student affairs.
Students admitted to the SAA MA Program are invited to participate in Spartan Preview Days (SPD). SPD, held annually in the spring, includes an optional on-campus visit weekend, various virtual welcome and informational events, virtual interviews for graduate assistantships, and more. SPD helps the SAA MA Program welcome newly admitted students and gives students the opportunity to get to know the campus, faculty, student affairs partners, and their future cohort.
Advising assignments are made by the SAA MA Program Coordinator in consultation with the SAA faculty. Students are informed of their assigned faculty advisor before the beginning of their first semester.
Your advisor’s main role is to help you meet your educational goals as an SAA MA student. The SAA faculty follow the advising recommendations provided in the Guidelines for Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Relationships. Over the course of your time in the program, you and your advisor will develop the collegial relationship necessary to keep you on track to earning your degree.
In the first year, you should plan to meet with your advisor at least once each term to establish student/advisor expectations, review the SAA MA Checklist, develop a course plan, and help answer any questions you have about the program. Each Spring you are required to meet with your advisor to discuss your Annual Review of Academic Progress (a.k.a. Annual Progress to Degree).
The advisor assigned to you as you begin your SAA academic journey is not necessarily permanent. As you get to know the program faculty, you may find that your goals are better aligned with a faculty member other than your assigned advisor. Changing advisors is possible, and SAA faculty are supportive of these transitions. Graduate education is a personal journey for every student, and your advising relationship should align with your goals and objectives.
To change your advisor, you will need to discuss the change with your current advisor and the advisor to which you hope to be reassigned. You and the advisors will complete the Changes in Advisor: Master’s Degree Programs form. This form requires signatures from both the advisor you are switching from and the advisor you are switching to, along with your own signature. Once completed, the form needs to be submitted to the HALE Program Assistant.
The SAA MA practicum requirement is designed to give students multiple opportunities to apply theory to practice and gain professional development. Students are required to complete one 150-hour practicum during the program.
SAA MA students must pass a certifying exam as part of their graduation requirements.
Michigan State University requires that all graduate students be trained in the responsible conduct of research as part of their educational experience. An explanation of the RCRSCA and how to complete it for the SAA MA program is in the Responsible Conduct of Research section of the Handbook & Forms section of the website. If you have more questions, please contact your advisor.
The Student Affairs Graduate Association (SAGA) is the student organization providing educational, professional, and social opportunities for SAA MA students.
There are funding opportunities available for HALE Ph.D. students, such as fellowships, scholarships, and research/graduate assistantships. Students interested in graduate assistantships in the Educational Administration Department (EAD) should contact the HALE Unit Coordinator. The College of Education website also provides information on graduate assistantship availability. Students may also apply for graduate assistant positions across campus.
The College of Education website provides information on graduate assistantship availability. Students interested in graduate assistantships in the Educational Administration Department (EAD) should contact the HALE Unit Coordinator. Students may also apply to graduate assistant positions across campus. Some offices on campus may also post graduate/research/teaching assistantships or other paid work opportunities on the MSU Handshake website.
For information on program requirements, visit the Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education Requirements webpage and review the Ph.D. Checklist on the HALE Ph.D. Handbook and Forms webpage.
Michigan State University requires that all graduate students be trained in the responsible conduct of research as part of their educational experience. All HALE doctoral students are required to complete four (4) CITI modules in their first year, three (3) additional CITI modules in their second year, six (6) hours of discussion-based training before entering candidacy status, and three (3) hours of refresher/discussion-based training in each subsequent year. The components of the training may be a mixture of online and face-to-face educational experiences. For more information on the RCRSCA requirement, visit the HALE Ph.D. Handbook and Forms webpage.
EAD 960 and EAD 970 are the two core courses required for the first term. If students decide to take a third class, they should consult with their advisor to select an elective or research requirement course. See the Program Requirements webpage for course descriptions.
Advising assignments are made by the HALE Unit Coordinator in consultation with the HALE faculty. The HALE Unit Coordinator does their best to match students with faculty advisors based on students’ research and professional interests as well as faculty availability. Students are informed of their advising assignment before the beginning of their first semester.
Your advisor’s main role is to help you meet your educational goals as a HALE Ph.D. student, starting with your coursework and continuing through to your dissertation. The HALE program faculty follow the advising recommendations provided in the Guidelines for Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Relationships. Over the course of your time in the program, you and your advisor will develop the collegial relationship necessary to keep you on track to earning your degree.
In the first year, you should plan to meet with your advisor at least once each term to establish student/advisor expectations, develop a course plan, and help answer any questions you have about the program. Each Spring you are required to meet with your advisor to discuss your Annual Review of Academic Progress (a.k.a. Annual Progress to Degree).
The advisor assigned to you as you begin your academic journey with HALE is not necessarily permanent. As you get to know the program faculty, you may find that your research goals are better aligned with a faculty member other than your assigned advisor. Changing advisors is possible, and HALE faculty are supportive of these transitions. The Ph.D. is a personal journey and your advising relationship should align with your goals and objectives. To change your advisor before you have formed your Guidance Committee, you need to complete the Change of Advisor: Student Initiated form. This form requires signatures from both the advisor you are switching from and the advisor you are switching to, along with your own signature. Once completed, the form needs to be submitted to the HALE Program Assistant. If you decide to change your advisor after you have completed your Guidance Committee, those changes must be made and approved through the MSU GradPlan system.
The Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education is a professional development program offered by the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) unit and is designed to assist current educators and practitioners from a variety of professional settings and disciplines enhance their understanding of teaching and learning issues for adult learners. For more information, visit the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education webpage.
For admissions and application process information, visit the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education Admissions webpage. For current HALE students who are interested in completing the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education, submit the Intent to Enroll Form to the HALE Program Assistant.
To fulfill the requirements of this Graduate Certificate, students must complete a total of nine credit hours which is equivalent to three courses. All students are required to take EAD 861: Adult Learning. For a complete list of the Graduate Certificate’s course offerings and possible electives, visit the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education Curriculum webpage.
*Although the EAD 861 class is “required” students may request a waiver to substitute one of the other listed courses in its place. To request such a waiver, you must select any one of the three intended courses to serve formally as the “substitute” course.
For information on certificate program completion, visit the Certificate Completion Requirements webpage.
Each student has a NetID which serves as their electronic identity at MSU. New students must set up their NetID and password to get access to their MSU email, to access student information, to register for classes, to access the library, etc. Visit the MSU NetID website and follow the directions to activate your NetID and password.
Your MSU email address is the only email address the university will use to send official communication to students. You may auto-forward all incoming emails to another account if you choose.
MSU student ID cards can be obtained via the MSU ID Office located in the International Center. Visit the MSU ID Office website for current hours of operation as well as policies, procedures, and updates for ordering your MSU ID card. For more information and updates, visit the MSU ID Office website or contact them by phone at 517-355-4500 or by email.
You can access this information through the MSU Student Information System.
Visit the Office of the Registrar FAQ website for helpful resources.
Log into the MSU Student Information System to register for classes. You can also check your account for registration holds and access your enrollment information.
You can access information on enrollment and registration from the Enrollment & Registration page of the Office of the Registrar website.
D2L is a web-based learning management system (LMS) used for instructor/student communication, assignment submissions, supplemental instruction, and online synchronous/asynchronous instruction. To access d2l.msu.edu you must be a registered MSU faculty, staff, or student and have a valid MSU NetID. For student and instructor resources, visit the MSU D2L help page.
MSU students, faculty, and staff have access to a free, executive Zoom account.
Most HALE faculty offices are located on the 4th floor of Erickson Hall. Specific information about faculty can be found via the EAD Faculty website, the CHAE website, as well as the MSU Directory.