Coordinator:
Dr. Stephanie Brescia - stephanie.brescia@gse.rutgers.edu
Please visit the website.
The master's degree program in college student affairs (CSA)
prepares students for professional positions in student affairs at a variety of
post-secondary institutions. Learning opportunities for students include
combinations of classroom instruction, project-based learning, and
individualized learning.
The CSA program has an applied focus: the integrated
learning experience helps students develop the requisite knowledge, skills, and
work experience to be successful student affairs professionals and leaders.
Student affairs professionals work directly with students in a wide range of
specialty areas that include, but are not limited to: housing and residence
life, campus unions or student centers, student activities, volunteer student
services, educational programming, counseling and advising, career development
and placement, new student orientation, admissions and enrollment management,
services for students from underrepresented groups, retention programs,
assessment offices, parent and family programs, student judicial programs,
service learning, academic advising, disability services, fraternity and
sorority affairs, campus recreation programs, veterans services, cultural
centers, and health and wellness services.
Students may enroll in the full-time or part-time track,
completing a total of 33-42 credits. Full-time students are expected to
maintain full-time enrollment while being employed in an approved graduate
internship. The part-time tracks are open to entry- and mid-level professionals
working in student affairs who are looking to obtain their master's degree in
the field. Applicants seeking admissions as part-time students must be
currently employed full time in student affairs work by an accredited
post-secondary institution.
COURSE OF STUDY
Part-Time Entry-Level Track
The part-time CSA entry-level track (CSA-PT) requires a
total of 39 credits and allows full-time, entry-level student affairs
professionals to complete the program as part-time students. This track is ideal for newer, entry-level professionals
with less than five years of experience.
Ongoing full-time professional employment in student affairs and
completion of 6 credits of Field Experience will meet the program's aims to
combine practice with coursework.
Required Core (30 credits)
15:230:606 Higher
Education Law (3)
15:230:620
Organization and Administration of Higher Education (3)
15:245:501
Introduction to Student Affairs (3)
15:245:502 Student
Development and Learning: Theory and Research (3)
15:245:601 Field
Experience (6)
15:245:602 Student
Leadership, Workshop, and Program Development (3) or approved equivalent
15:245:603
Introduction to Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (3)
15:245:604 Capstone
Course (3)
15:297:501
Introduction to Counseling and Interview Skills (3)
Electives (9 credits)
Electives are chosen in consultation with faculty adviser.
Six out of the 9 credits must be Special Topics in College Student Affairs
courses. These electives may include:
15:245:640-645
Special Topics in College Student Affairs (BA,BA)
15:295:580 Psychology
of Learning (3)
15:297:505 Group
Counseling: Theory and Practice (3)
15:297:507
Multicultural Issues (3)
15:297:510 Career
Counseling and Development (3)
Part-Time Executive Management Track
The part-time CSA executive management track (CSA-EMC)
requires a total of 33 credits and allows full-time, managerial-level student
affairs professionals to complete the program as part-time students.This track is ideal for mid-level
professionals with five years or more experience in student affairs. Ongoing
full-time professional employment in student affairs will meet the program's
aims to combine practice with coursework.
Required Core (24 credits)
15:230:606 Higher
Education Law (3)
15:230:620 Organization
and Administration of Higher Education (3)
15:245:501
Introduction to Student Affairs (3)
15:245:502 Student
Development and Learning: Theory and Research (3)
15:245:602 Student
Leadership, Workshop, and Program Development (3) or approved equivalent
15:245:603
Introduction to Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (3)
15:245:604 Capstone
Course (3)
15:297:501
Introduction to Counseling and Interview Skills (3)
Electives (9 credits)
Electives are chosen in consultation with faculty adviser.
Six out of the 9 credits must be Special Topics in College Student Affairs
courses. These electives may include:
15:245:640-645
Special Topics in College Student Affairs (BA,BA)
15:295:580 Psychology
of Learning (3)
15:297:505 Group
Counseling: Theory and Practice (3)
15:297:507
Multicultural Issues (3)
15:297:510 Career
Counseling and Development (3)
Application Requirements
Completed application materials for the part-time college
student affairs program may be submitted electronically via the Graduate
Admissions website. Applications are accepted for fall or spring admission. The
application deadline is December 15 for the fall start date, and October 15 for the spring start date; all application materials must be received by the
deadline.
Applicants for admission must have an earned bachelor's
degree from an accredited college or university; competitive applicants have a
3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA. In addition, all applicants must submit:
- Official
transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- A personal
statement. Applicants should tailor
their personal statements to reflect integration of their professional goals,
their professional experience in student affairs, and their interest in the CSA
program.
- Résumé
-
Three
letters of recommendation. At least one must come from a faculty member and at
least one must be from a student affairs professional. The third letter may be
from another faculty member, another student affairs professional, an academic
or student organization adviser, or a work supervisor.
Additionally, part-time applicants:
- Must be
currently employed full time as a student affairs professional by an accredited
college or university.
-
For executive management track applicants: Must have completed five years full-time
employment as a student affairs professional.
- Must
commit to completing all the required coursework specified in a timely manner.
Master of Education (Ed.M.) Programs with No State Certification 
