HESA Graduates Core Competencies and Outcomes
The HESA program is a reflective, practitioner based educational experience. Graduates of our program experience a learning environment that combines classroom instruction with graduate assistantships and practicum (internship) experiences. This curriculum promotes mastery of essential skills that enable exemplary professionals to:
- Apply research and theories to promote success of college students
- Create programs that foster student learning, such as teaching college students or facilitating leadership experiences
- Work effectively advising and helping individual students and student groups
- Demonstrate an understanding of multicultural issues and competencies in higher education and act in ways that promote inclusive practice
- Integrate an understanding of the context of higher education, including the history and organization of the student affairs profession, legal principles, and the academic mission of colleges and universities
- Manage and develop resources, including program budgets, staff, information technologies, and strategic plans
- Solve problems that require effective communication, thoughtful decision making, coping with ambiguity, and managing conflict
- Assess genuine professional issues by interpreting and applying qualitative and quantitative research techniques and by developing evaluations of programs and services
- Develop a professional identity based on ethical principles, career goals, and careful reflection