HESA Certificates

The Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) offers three different certificates:

(1) Administration of Higher Education,
(2) Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education, and
(3) Research and Assessment in Higher Education. 

These certificates serve as continuing education for professionals currently working fulltime in administrative roles in colleges and universities, or a specialized concentration for another degree program at the master’s or doctoral level.

They allow working professionals in higher education and/or student affairs with an advanced degree in another field of study to gain foundational knowledge of theory and  practice,  and those with a degree in higher education administration or student affairs to select a focus area to enhance their academic background.

Since they were designed with the working professional in mind, the classes are offered in the evening, and some are online.  Please contact the department for specific course times.

Our certificates are open to individuals in the field of higher education as well as in community agencies, K-12 schools, and beyond.  A master's degree is preferred for admission.  

Apply now!

Administration of Higher Education

Requirements:  

• Minimum of 12 hours required for a Graduate Certificate in Administration of Higher Education
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

    Required courses (12 credits):

• CSP 6600: Assessment in Higher Education and Student Affairs
• HIED 7110: Governance and Organization of Higher Education
• HIED 7120: Administration of Higher Education
• HIED 7210: Law in Higher Education 

Expected learning outcomes of this certificate:

1. Understand the history, philosophy, sociology and law pertaining to governance, administration, and leadership in higher education institutions and systems
2. Articulate how higher education is differentiated by mission, sector, curriculum, size, and stakeholders
3. Evaluate and apply organizational theories and models to create and lead effective organizations
4. Understand and interpret results from programmatic and institutional data
5. Apply best practices of assessment and evaluation in postsecondary education
6. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of research and assessment studies
7. Create and implement at least one assessment project
8. Effective writing and presentation skills

Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

Requirements:  

• Minimum of 12 hours required for a Graduate Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Required Courses (12 credits):

Students are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours (4 courses) from the following list of elective courses:

• CSP 6035: Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs
• CSP 6500: Social Justice Education and Training
• CSP 6600: Assessment in Higher Education and Student Affairs
• EDFI 7010: Comparative Higher Education
• EDLS 7310: Diversity and Cultural Leadership
• HIED 7105: Foundations of Higher Education
• HIED 7800: International Study Tours
• HIED 7035: Equity and Justice in U.S. Higher Education

Expected learning outcomes of this certificate:

1. Articulate the experiences of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups in higher education in the United States
2. Understand issues of diversity, equity, and social justice in higher education
3. Evaluate and create socially just policies and practices in higher education
4. Understand a non-US higher education system in the context of its culture
5. Understand how US higher education is similar to and different from other higher education systems
6. Understand the role of globalization in higher education
7. Effective writing and presentation skills

Research and Assessment in Higher Education

Requirements:

• Minimum of 12 hours required for a Graduate Certificate in Research and Assessment in Higher Education
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Required courses (12 credits):

Students are required to take the following 6 credits (courses):

• CSP 6600: Assessment in Higher Education and Student Affairs
• HIED 7520: Applied Inquiry in Higher Education Administration

Students are required to fill the remaining 6 credit hours (2 courses) from the following list of elective courses:

• EDFI 6410: Statistics in Education
• EDFI 6420: Research in Education
• EDFI 7510: Advanced Quantitative Methods I
• EDFI 7520: Advanced Quantitative Methods II
• EDFI 7560: Mixed Methods Research
• HIED 7510: Qualitative Methods I
• HIED 7530: Qualitative Methods II

Expected learning outcomes of this certificate:

1. Articulate paradigmatic assumptions that underlie
2. Understand and interpret results from programmatic and institutional data
3. Apply best practices of assessment and evaluation in postsecondary education
4. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to address research questions
5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of research and assessment studies
6. Create and implement at least one assessment project and/or research study
7. Effective writing and presentation skills

Questions?

If you have questions, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. If you have further questions about the application process, or the status of your application, please contact us at hesa@bgsu.edu.