College Student Personnel - 2020-21 Graduate Catalog

Interim Chair & Graduate Coordinator: Christina J. Lunceford
Address: 310 Education Building
Phone: 419-372-7382
Program Web Page: http://bgsu.edu/csp

Degrees Offered
Master of Arts
Graduate Certificate in Administration of Higher Education
Graduate Certificate in Research and Assessment in Higher Education
Graduate Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education 

Program Offered
The Master of Arts in College Student Personnel, offered by the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs, 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 academic advising, admissions, multicultural affairs, orientation, residence life, student activities and organizations, career services, and alumni affairs. 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. Full-time employment in student affairs may serve as the internship.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master's degree, student in the College Student Personnel program are expected to be able to:

• Evaluate history, role, and purpose of student affairs functions in higher education institutions.
• Assess and analyze models of student learning and development and campus environments, theories to promote student success, diversity, equity, and social justice.
  
• Analyze influence of institutional type on campus mission, programs and services.
• Assess values, knowledge, and skills in relation to professional competencies.

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 academic performance, career statement, letters of recommendation, and background experiences within student affairs are important factors in determining the admissibility of an applicant to the program. Invited applicants for full-time study must also interview successfully for an internship assignment before a recommendation is made to the Graduate College for regular admission to the program. Applicants for part-time study should consult with the program chair.

Admission Procedure
Applicants seeking admission to the College Student Personnel Program should follow the instructions outlined in the Graduate Admission webpage. See http://bgsu.edu/cspadmit for more information.

Degree Requirements
Master of Arts
The M.A. degree program allows some flexibility based on the individual student's needs and goals. CSP 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 may take advantage of elective courses in other academic programs.

The required 42 semester hours of graduate credit include six CSP core courses, one course each in statistics and research methodology, field experience, and additional elective courses (including a study abroad course) selected in consultation with a faculty adviser. Students may choose courses that provide concentrations in such areas as counseling, administration, and  serving diverse student populations.

In addition to the requirement of the Graduate College to maintain a minimum 3.00 grade point average, students must earn a minimum 3.00 grade point average in the CSP core courses plus an A or B in at least five of the six CSP core courses. If necessary, one core course may be retaken to meet this requirement. The CSP core courses are CSP 6010, 6020, 6030, 6035, 6040, and 6050.

Appointment to a required internship position is earned through a competitive interview process arranged by the CSP program. These internships include positions on the BGSU campus and nearby institutions.

Graduate Courses
Please access graduate courses online at http://www.bgsu.edu/registration-records/courses-and-classes/class-course-information.html. Graduate courses offered by College Student Personnel use the prefix: CSP.