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College of Education
Dept of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education & School Psychology

Curriculum and Degree Plans

The Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education requires 42 credit hours. Some students choose to pursue the degree in a total of 2 years while holding a Graduate Assistantship, while others choose to pursue the degree part-time over the course of 3 years while working full-time in the field. The core courses are offered in-person on the San Marcos campus. There are online options available for elective courses. 
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    • SAHE 5179: Topics in Student Affairs Administration (varied topics)
    • SAHE 5340: College Student Development: Theory and Practice
    • SAHE 5387: Research Methods in Student Affairs
    • SAHE 5390: Student Affairs Functions and Professional Orientation

    • SAHE 5322: Legal Issues and Governance in Higher Education
    • SAHE 5323: Assessment, Strategic Planning, and Evaluation in Student Affairs
    • SAHE 5335: Leadership in Student Affairs
    • SAHE 5354: Basic Helping Skills
    • SAHE 5392: Student Affairs Capstone
    • SAHE 5393: Inclusion and Belonging in Student Affairs

  • Students participate in two internship experiences. Each internship includes 135 hours in a student affairs or academic affairs department at Texas State or at nearby colleges or universities.
    • SAHE 5388: Internship I - Student Affairs
    • SAHE 5389: Internship II - Student Affairs

  • Each summer elective courses are offered through the SAHE Program, and students are welcome to also consider courses offered through other graduate programs on campus. Students also have the option of participating in an independent study, research project, or study abroad for elective credit.

    Many students take classes in the departments of:

    • Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology (CLAS)
    • Curriculum and Instruction
    • Health and Human Performance
    • Sociology
    • Political Science
    • Communication Studies

Sample Degree Plans

Students typically complete the graduate program over the course of two years or three years. Below are sample degree plans. 

2-Year Degree Plan (PDF)

3-Year Degree Plan (PDF)

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  • Sample 2-Year Degree Plan

    • SAHE 5343: Basic Helping Skills (3 credits) 

      SAHE 5387: Research Methods in Student Affairs (3 credits) 

      SAHE 5390: Student Affairs Functions and Professional Orientation (3 credits)

    • SAHE 5340: Student Development Theory (3 credits)

      SAHE 5388: Internship 1 (3 credits)

      SAHE 5393: Inclusion & Belonging in Higher Education (3 credits)

    • Elective 1 (3 credits)

      Elective 2 (3 credits)

      Online elective courses available. Adjustments to degree plan can be made to complete Internship 2 during summer. 

    • SAHE 5179: Topics in Student Affairs Administration (3 x 1 credit courses; 3 credits total) 

      SAHE 5323: Assessment, Strategic Planning, and Evaluation in Student Affairs (3 credits)

      SAHE 5389: Internship 2 (3 credits)

    • SAHE 5322: Legal Issues and Governance in Higher Education (3 credits)

      SAHE 5335: Leadership in Student Affairs (3 credits)

      SAHE 5392: Student Affairs Capstone

      Hooding Ceremony and Graduation 

  • Sample 3-Year Degree Plan

    • SAHE 5387: Research Methods in Student Affairs (3 credits) 

      SAHE 5390: Student Affairs Functions and Professional Orientation (3 credits)

    • SAHE 5340: Student Development Theory (3 credits)

      SAHE 5393: Inclusion & Belonging in Student Affairs (3 credits)

    • Elective 1 (3 credits)

      Elective 2 (3 credits) 

      Online elective courses available, and one or both can be taken early in the summer before Year 1 Fall. 

    • SAHE 5323: Assessment, Strategic Planning, and Evaluation in Student Affairs (3 credits)

      SAHE 5354: Basic Helping Skills (3 credits) 

    • SAHE 5322: Legal Issues and Governance in Higher Education (3 credits)

      SAHE 5335: Leadership in Student Affairs (3 credits)

    • Elective 3 (3 credits, Online elective courses available)

      Begin Internship (starting semester for internship is flexible)

    • SAHE 5179: Topics in Student Affairs Administration (3 x 1 credit courses; 3 credits total) 

      Complete Internship (dates/semester(s) for Internship are flexible) 

    • SAHE 5392: Student Affairs Capstone (3 credits)

      Hooding Ceremony and Graduation 

    • This is just a sample degree plan. Students are able to adjust number of credits taken each long semester and summer term. The Internship can also be spread across more than one semester if needed. We work with students' needs to craft a degree plan that works for them. We find that those who work full-time while pursuing the degree part-time are most successful when they have a supportive supervisor.