Learn about gospel-centered leadership and young adult discipleship in higher education and ministry contexts. Higher Education & Student Development (M.A.)

Pursue a higher calling in higher education: promoting whole-person formation in Christ's image through spiritual formation, discipleship, and communal learning. This robust graduate program is geared toward anyone dedicated to developing young adults and cultivating transformative environments in college and ministry settings.

Credential Type

  • M.A.

Major Credits Required

  • 36

Duration

  • 2 years

Format

  • Hybrid or Residential

20+ Graduate Assistantships Available

Our compensation packages help students earn extra income during graduate school.

40% Tuition Discount

Gain valuable higher education admin experience while saving on tuition.

Internship & Job Placement

Our strong relationships with institutions help you find internship and career opportunities.

Request Information

Or reach out to us anytime at graduate.admissions@wheaton.edu.

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Dr. Dietlin teaching outside

Helping emerging adults through their formative years. Why Wheaton for Higher Education & Student Development?

As our society shifts and cultural changes impact how our youth transition into adulthood, the Wheaton College Graduate School has developed a program to equip and inspire those who mentor emerging adults and lead in diverse developmental settings, including higher education, church, community organizations, and nonprofit sectors.

The M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development utilizes enduring principles and the latest practices and research to educate current and aspiring practitioners on the holistic and spiritual formation of college students during their critical formative years, preparing them to build a solid foundation for an ever-evolving world.

Program Overview

We equip academically grounded, spiritually maturing, and practically skilled professionals who humbly, compassionately, and wisely develop emerging adults, minister the Gospel, and build up God's people in a constantly changing world.

Our program prepares you to:

  • Articulate a foundational understanding of the profession’s history, philosophy, roles, and values and how the Christian faith animates the mission of higher education professionals.
  • Identify central tenets of relevant development and learning theories, key characteristics of emerging adults, and their application to work with diverse populations.
  • Exhibit knowledge, dispositions, and skills essential to effective professional helping relationships and conflict resolution in residential and remote college settings
  • Integrate personal strengths and values with leadership, organizational, and legal knowledge to lead student and professional teams.
  • Engage in self-reflection, study, and identifiable collaborative action in preparation for serving, developing, and discipling students of all backgrounds.
  • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and utilize research and assessment methodologies to inform practice and advance scholarship in higher education.
  • Apply the principles and practices of discipleship and Christian spiritual formation to building the foundation for effective ministry in higher education.

Pursuing Student Development at Wheaton

This brief video gives you a glimpse into the rewarding and sacred career of student development in higher education.

Student Features

Matthew Holgate Headshot

Matthew Holgate ‘24

Matthew, a Navajo from Flagstaff, Arizona, is the son of the Native American Assemblies of God pastors Jackie and Lenora Holgate, who lead Mountaintop Church in Flagstaff and engage in compassion relief efforts. While Matthew knew at a younger age that he was called to address the hardships in his native community, as a student leader and eventually the student body president at Vanguard, he found a new way of advocating for the change – through holistic support of Native American college students.

Abram Erickson Headshot

Abram Erickson ‘23

Abram Erickson first arrived on Wheaton's campus as a freshman in 2017. His four years as an undergraduate were impactful, exposing him to numerous leadership opportunities and formative experiences; and instilling in him a desire to work in Higher Education, paying it forward by supporting college students as he had been supported. This led him to apply and enroll in Wheaton's graduate Higher Education and Student Development program, where he is completing his final semester and conducting thesis research.

Esther-Pruitt

Esther Pruitt ‘23

Esther prioritized learning about international higher education. After meeting with the HESD Program Director, Dr. Olga Dietlin, she learned of an opportunity to serve as a Summer Residence Director at LCC International University.

Our Faculty Compassionate and Intelligent Educators

With Wheaton’s M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development, you’ll find mission-focused educators, gratefully co-laboring in redemptive work. 

Olga Dietlin, Ph.D. Headshot

Olga Dietlin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Development, Guest Instructor for Christian Formation and Ministry, Program Director of HESD
Dan Haase Headshot

Dan Haase

Senior Lecturer in Christian Formation & Ministry, Department Chair
David Setran, Ph.D. Headshot

David Setran, Ph.D.

Price-LeBar Chair of Christian Formation & Ministry

Faculty Publications

Neuroscience of Connection cover.
Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood by David Setran

Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood

Dr. David Setran bridges the gap between academic and popular literature on emerging adulthood and offers concrete ways to facilitate spiritual formation among emerging adults.

Our Curriculum

In this program, you will engage in coursework related to higher education and student affairs, organization and administration of student affairs, discipleship and spiritual formation, characteristics and development of emerging adults, kingdom diversity and justice, student and staff wellbeing, legal issues in higher education, and program evaluation and research.

Please see the graduate course catalog for current requirements as well as the most up-to-date course numbers, titles, and descriptions.

Sample Courses

Higher Education and Student Development core and elective courses include:

  • Holistic Growth in College Leadership in Higher Education
  • Well-Being in Young Adults
  • Diversity & Student Development
  • Emerging Adult Development

Success After Wheaton What Can You Do With a Master's in Student Development?

Our alumni are highly sought-after, with a 100% job placement rate in recent years, especially with faith-based schools. Beyond these opportunities, our Center for Vocation and Career helps students discover opportunities in student development, church and parachurch ministries, and more.

Careers

A master's degree in higher education and student development could lead to a range of professional roles within colleges, universities, and related organizations in residence life, student engagement, orientation, academic advising, discipleship ministries, and many other areas.

  • Area Coordinator
  • International Student Services Coordinator
  • Resident Director
  • College Chaplain
  • Dean of University Ministries
  • Director of Outdoor Education
  • Director of Student Activities

Institutions & Organizations

Our alumni are leading students at institutions and educational and ministry organizations in the United States and around the world, including the leading institutions within the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), churches, and non-profit organizations.

  • Azusa Pacific University
  • Biola University
  • Cornerstone University
  • Covenant College
  • Harvard University
  • Mercy Ships Academy
  • Taylor University
  • University of Illinois Chicago
  • Westmont College
  • Wheaton College

Alumni Perspective

"God used this program to provide me with a foundation for how to do ministry with this particular age group. More importantly, God used the community to help me to realize my gifts and talents and encourage me to be the person that God created me to be."

- Kristal Dove M.A. '12, Professor, Milligan College in Johnson City, TN

Graduation Cap in Air
Investing in You

Financial Wellness

The Wheaton College Student Financial Services team can help you understand how much your graduate studies will cost and what scholarships, loans, and other financial assistance may be available to you. 

Residential student in the M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development program are invited to apply for a graduate assistantship position, a role which not only offers professional experience, but also assistance toward tuition, housing, meals, and other related expenses.

 

Learn About Graduate Financial Aid

Next Steps

Interested in working with emerging adults? The M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development at Wheaton might be right for you. Request more information or start your application today.