Post Master's HESA Certificate

The post master’s certificate is offered on the University of Portland campus to individuals who already hold a master’s degree.

The post master's higher education and student affairs (HESA) certificate provides professionals an opportunity to advance their career goals as an effective administrator, educator, and leader in higher education. The courses are designed to prepare students to be impactful higher education practitioners through professional skill development, practical experiences, program development, evaluation, and assessment based on best practices.

This post master's certificate program may be completed in as little as one year and students may apply to begin coursework in any semester (fall, spring or summer). For details about the post master’s certificate application requirements, please see the Graduate School's Application Requirements webpage. Questions about enrolling should be directed to Anne Rasmussen at rasmusse@up.edu or 503.943.8257.

Post Master's HESA Certificate Requirements - 18 hrs

The following 2 courses are required:

ED 520 History, Organization and Student Personnel in Higher Education (3 hrs)
ED 527 Applied Studies in Higher Education and Student Affairs (3 or 6 hrs*)
*Students may enroll in ED 527 once for 3 credits, once for 6 credits, or twice for 3 credit each time. Each student's curriculum plan will be individualized according to his/her needs and interests.

Additionally, if ED 527 is taken once for 3 credits, students must choose 4 of the following courses:

BUS 512 Leadership and Higher Level Management (3 hrs)
ED 521 Student Career Development and Planning (3 hrs)
ED 522 Legal Issues in Higher Education (3 hrs)
ED 523 Developmental Theory, Identity and College Populations (3 hrs)
ED 555 Teacher as Researcher (3 hrs) -OR- ED 558 Educational Research for Improved Student Learning (3 hrs)
ED 528 Foundations of Counseling and Student Affairs (3 hrs)

Or, if ED 527 is taken once for 6 credits or twice for 3 credits each time, students must choose 3 of the following courses:

BUS 512 Leadership and Higher Level Management (3 hrs)
ED 521 Student Career Development and Planning (3 hrs)
ED 522 Legal Issues in Higher Education (3 hrs)
ED 523 Developmental Theory, Identity and College Populations (3 hrs)
ED 555 Teacher as Researcher -OR- ED 558 Educational Research for Improved Student Learning
ED 528 Foundations of Counseling and Student Affairs

Course descriptions are available in the University of Portland Bulletin.

Note: HESA is also offered as as a master of arts program and as an area of concentration option in the doctor of education (EdD) program.

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