Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Leadership Admissions Requirements
Please review the various sections of our 51福利社 HESA website to learn more about the program. You are encouraged to contact HESA at @email before or during your admission process. Wondering if the field of student affairs is right for you, then visit the 51福利社 HESA FAQ page.
Information about HESA Info & Interview Days, graduate assistant (GA) positions, length of the program, full-and part time status, internships, where students find jobs, and more are answered under frequently asked questions (FAQ). HESA applications are typically for Fall semester start. The priority deadline for applications is January 15, annually. Applications received after this are reviewed on a space available basis. If you are applying after Jan. 15 please reach out.
The application process is online. Find us under Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - the concentration is higher education and student affairs.
Apply now to meet the January 15 priority deadline Request info
Deadlines
We are still accepting applications for Fall 2024 for students who are not seeking scholarships or funding. For students seeking funding or GA positions please apply by the priority deadline of Jan. 15, 2025 to have access to HESA Info and GA Interview Days and eligibility for applying for Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions. *Applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis. Typically applicants receive notification of admission within a few weeks of submitting a completed application. To be eligible for HESA Info & Interview Days submit all admission materials (including online reference forms and official transcripts) arrive by the application priority deadline (Jan 15). If applying after the priority deadline please contact HESA at @email to let us know you are considering applying.
HESA INFO & interview day
HESA Info & GA Interview Day is held annually during the Spring semester and offers admitted students a wide array of opportunities to engage with HESA. The program is designed to help newly admitted HESA students become familiar with 51福利社, learn more about HESA and the curriculum, and connect with potential graduate assistant (GA) employers. All newly admitted students are encouraged to attend programming whether participating in GA interviews or not.
The 2024 HESA Info & Interview Day program was held in person Fri. Feb. 16, 2024.
View more information including answers about GA positions and the hiring process under FAQs.
Is HESA right for me & What CAN I EXPECT IN HESA?
Students from any academic major are encouraged to apply. Full and part-time students are also welcomed. Check out the HESA FAQ frequently asked questions website for information about career options, how to know if HESA is right for you, and what you can expect as part of the HESA program.
51福利社 Gradute college Admissions Criteria
In accordance with the Western Michigan University and Graduate College policies, all applicants are expected to meet the same academic standards required for admission consideration. The minimum academic requirements vary, however, by degree level, discipline and admission type. International applicant requirements are addressed below.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, indicated on an official transcript.
An official transcript from the institution from which you received your Bachelor degree is required, as well as a transcript from institution(s) where any graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed.
An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate work. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may be considered (see below).
Evidence of having met any additional admission requirements stipulated by the individual degree program. HESA requires a resume, written statement, and 3 electronic reference forms (see below).
Acceptance by the academic unit offering the master's program and endorsement of the acceptance by the graduate dean.
No conditional admissions will be considered for international applicants.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: HESA application requirements
The application process is online. Find us under Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - the concentration is higher education and student affairs. The application for graduate admission requires the following parts:
GRE - HESA does not require exams for admission into the master鈥檚 program.
GPA - The minimum GPA requirement is generally a 3.0. A student who does not meet this requirement is encouraged to speak to the HESA faculty coordinator about their concerns. Generally we are looking for a record of improved and/or steady academic performance and we need to feel confident in your ability to not only manage challenging coursework but also the demands of a graduate assistantship (GA) and field experiences. Students who fall below this required Graduate College 3.0 GPA requirement should: provide an attachment to their written statement, information regarding their academic performance, and anything they may have done to more recently address the previous academic issues (taken courses, etc.). HESA students , with a GPA under 3.0 will have certain conditional criteria applied to their admittance.
The application process is online. Find us under Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - the concentration is higher education and student affairs. The application for graduate admission requires the following parts:
HESA application instructions
- The application priority deadline to be eligible for GA positions and to participate in HESA Preview Days is Jan. 15 each year. After the priority deadline applications are reviewed only on a space available basis.
- HESA does not require GRE scores.
- In the online application system find HESA under Educational Leadership - the concentration is higher education and student affairs.
Resume: A resume is required and must be submitted within the online application.
Written statement: Applicants will prepare a written statement, also viewed as a writing sample which covers the following information and attach it within the online application. In approximately two-typed, double-spaced pages, address the following areas:
Explain why you are interested in pursuing the 51福利社 HESA leadership master鈥檚 program;
Address how HESA'S mission of preparing reflective, practitioner-scholars committed to the centrality of diversity and inclusion fits your educational and career goals;
Briefly discuss experiences you have had to help prepare you for the HESA program;
Briefly describe any challenges you anticipate if admitted to the HESA program, and how you plan to address them.
Education history information and official transcripts and request for unofficial transcripts
- Within the application list all previously attended higher education institutions.
- An official transcript from the institution from which you received your Bachelor degree is required, as well as a transcript from institution(s) where any graduate level courses or degrees have been taken or completed.
- Within the application system, all HESA applicants (including 51福利社 graduates) are asked to submit an unofficial transcript (or your personal copy of your transcript) from the institution where the undergraduate degree was/will be awarded. An unofficial transcript is a record of your academic work and usually available to you through the institutions web portal, or you may submit a copy from your own records. The unofficial transcript can be uploaded in the application portal under the section for transcripts or other documents. Submitting your unofficial transcript will help speed up the review of your HESA application. HESA requests this due to the length of time it may take to 51福利社 receive and process official transcripts. If you have any questions email elrt_hesa@wmich.edu.
- No GRE scores are required for HESA.
Three recommendation forms submitted via the 51福利社 online recommendation form
- Recommendations are required to be completed through an online form.
- Recommendation forms must be obtained from three different individuals who can address your ability to successfully complete the HESA graduate program. View a sample of the online form here. Inside the online application system, applicants are asked for names, title, and contact information of three recommenders. The online system will send those individuals an email link to complete the online form.
- Recommendation letters are not required, although we suggest that applicants request one positive letter from one of your recommenders to accompany the online from.
Visit the HESA website for more information including program mission, courses and answers to frequently asked questions.
Contact elrt_hesa@wmich.edu for any questions. The application process is online. Find us under Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - the concentration is higher education and student affairs. The application for graduate admission requires the following parts:
International applicants
Due to the length of processing time it is highly recommended that international applicants apply by December 1. Applications for international applicants are due to the Office of International Admissions. See below for admissions criteria. There are no conditional admissions for HESA international applicants. If planning to apply for graduate assistantships please plan to have your application completed by the priority deadline.
English language proficiency requirements (international applicants only) As required by 51福利社, international applicants must provide proof of English competency, unless they have successfully completed either four years of upper secondary school or one year of full-time tertiary (university-level) education. See 51福利社 English language requirements for more information.For international applicants, English proficiency scores may be reported within the online application system and official scores must be sent to 51福利社. Desired minimum English language proficiency scores for this M.A. include: 6.5 on IELTS; 227 on TOEFL (CBT), 567 on TOEFL (PBT), or a 86 on TOEFL (iBt), with the following minimum subscores on the TOEFL (iBT): 20 in reading, 20 in listening, 24 in speaking, and 22 in writing. No conditional admission for international applicants in HESA.