On-Campus M.Ed.

If you’re just starting your higher ed administration journey and want a classroom experience, our on-campus Student Personnel in Higher Education (SPHE) program blends theory and practice in a vibrant campus environment. This full-time program emphasizes mentorship, ensuring our students receive personalized support to prepare them for leadership roles in student affairs across higher education institutions.

Program Overview

Focused on developing student affairs professionals, the UF master’s in Student Personnel in Higher Education readies graduates to manage students’ out‑of‑classroom programs and services. We prepare our graduates to work in the “classroom outside of the classroom,” including:

While our program thoroughly covers student affairs, we designed our coursework to meet the needs of a wider set of student-centered positions across higher education. Because of this, our master’s in higher ed administration alumni are also ready to pursue careers in:

• Academic Advising
• Enrollment Management
• Academic Affairs

There is no ideal applicant for our multifaceted program, and our students come from many different academic backgrounds. Some of our students have worked in student life or campus engagement during their undergraduate experience. Most entering this program are recent graduates who have never had a full-time higher-education job. But the one thing they all have in common is a passion for improving student experience in higher education. We help them channel that passion and find their niche within higher ed.

We no longer require the GRE for admission to our on-campus master’s in higher ed administration. Prospective students who want to continue working while earning their M.Ed. might be more interested in our part-time, online program.

Learn from Leaders, Lead in the Real World

The UF on-campus master’s in student affairs program requires completing 36 credit hours. The program includes 33 credit hours of core coursework that culminates in a 3-credit-hour supervised practicum. In the classroom, our students learn about student development and success, educational environments, current issues, higher education administration and history. Many courses in our student affairs program are taught by adjunct or affiliate faculty who work in the field at UF.

In addition to coursework, our students work 20 hours a week in on-campus graduate assistantship positions determined after meeting with prospective employers during VisDays. This approach reinforces classroom concepts while students gain real-world experience in student affairs administration. This approach prepares our graduates to work in program and service areas throughout colleges and universities.

EduGator VisDays

Visitation Days, or VisDays, allow prospective M.Ed. students to visit UF’s campus and learn more about the Student Personnel in Higher Education (SPHE) program. Candidates will be able to network with current SPHE students and faculty, learn more about SPHE program requirements and interview for Graduate Assistantships/Positions. Visitation Days are by invitation only, and we will have a virtual version for prospective international students. Final admissions decisions are made after Visitation Days and Graduate Assistantship/position interviews. Details available on the Application Instructions page.

On-Campus Master’s in Student Affairs Course Requirements

New cohorts start each Fall semester and follow a carefully coordinated, lock-step schedule. This model guides students through a two‑year sequence of three courses (9 credits) each Fall and Spring semester. There is an option to complete a summer internship between Year 1 and Year 2 of the program. In Year 2, we help our students identify the practicum setting that best matches their interests and ambitions. 

Our on-campus Student Personnel in Higher Education (SPHE) program fosters a strong sense of community and mutual support. Every student is paired with a faculty advisor when admitted to the program to ensure personalized guidance throughout their academic journey.

Get in touch to find out more about the program and application process.