HESA FAQs

Baylor University’s HESA program is the only fully funded master’s program from an R1 institution that incorporates student development theory and the Christian faith into the curriculum. Baylor offers Division 1 NCAA sports, student traditions, 400+ student organizations, large campus events and programs, and so much more!

HESA is a fully funded program. This means that our students are admitted with full tuition remission along with an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship is a highly valued component of our program that allows students to be paid for 20 hours/week. Our students are also welcome to submit the FAFSA to attain additional aid. You can find more information on Baylor’s One Stop Student Financial Services website.

Students who are accepted into the program each fall form a cohort. HESA cohorts progress through the program together by taking the same classes each semester and experiencing life together for two years. Cohorts allow our students to build community with their peers and develop deep connections that thrive after the program is completed.

Students will take three classes during the Fall and the Spring and two classes in the summer. In the Fall and Spring, HESA classes generally meet once a week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in three-hour blocks between the hours of 9:00 and 5:00. The rest of the time during the week is devoted to your apprenticeship, school work, practicums, and other student engagement opportunities offered at Baylor University. In the summer term, students will take one class in June and one class in July, along with their apprenticeship and other HESA opportunities.

Students register for nine hours or three classes during the fall and spring semesters and six hours or two classes during the summer term.

Students are more than welcome to contact Dr. Rishi Sriram (rishi_sriram@baylor.edu) with any HESA programmatic questions! In addition, you can click on this link to find a complete list of HESA faculty. 

If you require any technical help regarding admissions, please check your HESA application status online. 

During the second year of the program, graduate apprentices are granted funding to attend a professional conference, typically NASPA. During this conference, our HESA students can network, take advantage of the NASPA job fair, attend educational sessions, and build lasting community with their cohort before they graduate. 

If you are admitted into the HESA program, you will have the opportunity to visit campus in person in March to meet our incredible students, faculty, and your future apprenticeship supervisor. If you cannot make it that weekend, we would love to host you on campus another time! 

We are also available to meet with students virtually. You are more than welcome to email Tiffani Hoot to set up a virtual meeting to discuss the program. Be sure to connect with us on our Instagram account @baylor_hesa. 

The program prepares students for employment in higher education and private corporations. Graduates have worked at Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Boston University, Magnolia, etc.