Graduate Catalog 2003-2004

Degree: Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in College Student Personnel, offered by the School of Leadership and Policy Studies, is designed to prepare individuals for employment within the general area of student affairs and student development services in postsecondary education. Candidates are prepared as generalists and are qualified for positions in such areas as admissions, orientation, residence life, student activities and organizations, counseling and career development, alumni affairs, financial aid, and placement. This program offers both rigorous academic preparation and extensive experiential learning opportunities. All students are required to successfully complete a two-year internship, which they may complement with additional practicum experiences. Through elective course work, students may also complete a specialized emphasis focusing on the needs of returning adult learners.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work

There is no specific undergraduate major required as a prerequisite for application for the college student personnel program. However, it is helpful for applicants to have completed some course work in the behavioral sciences, such as psychology or sociology. The quality of the applicant's undergraduate program, letters of recommendation, and employment or other such experiences are important factors in determining the admissibility of an applicant to program. Invited applicants must also interview successfully for an internship assignment before a recommendation is made to the Graduate College for regular admission to the program.

Admission Procedure

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in college student personnel should follow the instructions outlined in the "Graduate Admission" section of this catalog and should contact the College student personnel program directly for additional supplemental application materials.

Degree Requirements
Master of Arts

The M.A. degree program allows some flexibility in planning based on the individual student's needs and goals. College student personnel courses emphasize the social, psychological, and philosophical foundations of student affairs practice in postsecondary institutions. Although most of the course requirements are met by offerings in the College of Education and Human Development, candidates are encouraged to take advantage of appropriate courses in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Technology, and the College of Business Administration.

The required 45 semester hours of graduate credit include a series of college student personnel core courses, one course each in statistics and research methodology, and additional courses from multidisciplinary sources in consultation with a department adviser. Students may select courses that provide concentrations in such areas as counseling or administration, or that focus on the needs of special student populations, such as returning adult learners.

Appointment to a required internship position is earned through a competitive interview process arranged by the college student personnel program. These internships include positions on the University campus and at nearby cooperating institutions.

Students may pursue the M.A. degree in college student personnel under one of two plans.