College Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Total Credits Required = 39 (9 Core credits + 6 Research Core credits + 24 CSA credits) 

Core Coursework – 9 credit hours

EDL 500 - Introduction to Educational Leadership- 3 credits

EDL 501 - Organizational Behavior and Program Development- 3 credits

EDL 524 - Ethical, Legal and Leadership Issues in CSA 3 credits

Research Core– 6 credit hours

EDL 590 - Educational Research and Writing- 3 credits

EDL 523 - Assessment and The College Student Experience- 3 credits

College Student Affairs track – 24 credit hours

EDL 520- Professional Helping in CSA- 3 credits

EDL 521- Student Development Theory- 3 credits

EDL 522- Foundations and Functions of CSA- 3 credits

COUNSEL 510 - Group Counseling and Leadership Skills- 3 credits

COUNSEL 525 - Multicultural Counseling- 3 credits

EDL 599 - Field Experience in CSA- 6 credits (3-credit course completed twice)

Elective approved by Program Coordinator – 3 credits

COUNSEL 510 - Group Counseling and Leadership Skills
Examines group processes and their application to counseling. This course also offers practical experiences in facilitating and leading support groups in an educational organization. Students will also participate as a member in a group setting. Prerequisites: COUNSEL.500 or COUNSEL.501.

COUNSEL 525 - Multicultural Counseling
Focuses students' attention to the presence of personal resistance, biases, prejudices, stereotypes, judgmental thought processes, and racist tendencies in society and how that affects practicing counselors and student affairs professionals. The development of knowledge and understanding regarding characteristics and concerns of diverse populations, the attitudes and behaviors affected by dominant group membership, and the individual and group approaches/interventions appropriate within the multicultural helping settings will be explored. The course will also provide students with a comprehensive overview of the theoretical approach concerning knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes toward seeking mental health services that counselors and student affairs professionals will need in order to demonstrate multicultural competence. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 500 - Introduction to Educational Leadership
Focuses on examination of the functions and tasks of educational administration. Issues include the evolving school and college setting; the meaning, development, and work of school and college administrators; educational systems analysis; school and college personnel administration; administrative and organizational behavior; and career ladders in educational administration. Three hours lecture per week. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. This course satisfies PDE guidelines for Inclusive Classrooms and Standards Aligned System (SAS). Three hours lecture per week. Perquisite: None.

EDL 501 - Organizational Behavior and Program Development
Explores the various attributes and impacts of organizational behavior with a core focus on effectively creating programs and leading change within an organization. Main topics included are: vision, mission, communication, conflict, renewal, accountability, power, building capacity, change, culture, and professional development. Using needs assessment data for action planning for effective program implementation is established. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 520- Professional Helping in College Student Affairs
Exposes students to components of professional helping with a specific focus on the college setting and the college student. Incorporating active use of helping skills, students will apply a three-stage helping model to interactions with college students. In addition, the topics of student mental health, multicultural competence, student diversity, reflective practice, facilitation of discussion, crisis counseling, and legal and ethical issues will be examined. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 521- Student Development Theory
Examines and critiques theories of college student development and how college shapes the formation of one's identity. In keeping with our scholar-practitioner mode, this course also considers how these theories are applied in a contemporary college setting. This course serves as a foundation for all college student affairs coursework and subsequent field experiences. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 522- Foundations and Functions of College Student Affairs
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of college student affairs and its role in American higher education. This course examines the underpinnings of the college student affairs profession specifically, and higher education generally, including history, philosophy, roles, and functions. Students will also explore college student characteristics, analyze the influence of organizational type and culture on college students and the nature of student affairs work, and consider essential partnerships with stakeholders in college student affairs work. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 523 - Assessment and The College Student Experience
Provides a comprehensive examination of the experiences of postsecondary students including the nature and characteristics of the population, the effects and outcomes of college, the roles and responsibilities of student affairs practitioners in measuring programmatic outcomes, and step-by-step procedures for assessing learning outcomes. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 524 - Ethical, Legal and Leadership Issues in College Student Affairs
Examines and critiques an array of contemporary and historical issues in college student affairs specifically and higher education in general. This course has a special focus on ethical, legal and leadership issues and how these concepts relate to and influence various issues in college student affairs. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 590 - Educational Research and Writing
Surveys various concepts, theories and methods related to research conducted in an educational setting. Students will review, analyze, critique and design research using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods strategies. Critical analysis of existing research literature and research ethics are also presented. Students will develop and refine their educational writing through course assignments and completion of a comprehensive and professionally relevant final paper. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Prerequisites: None.

EDL 599 - Field Experience in College Student Affairs
Exposes students to a comprehensive, pre-professional experience spanning two academic semesters for advanced graduate students in the College Student Affairs specialty within the counseling program. Students must complete 150 hours (per term) of supervised professional level work in a college student affairs department. Graduate students are required to secure their own field placement, which must be approved in advance by the instructor or the program coordinator, as appropriate. Periodic seminars, either online or in person, will be conducted to complement the practical experience. May be offered in traditional and distance education formats. Prerequisites: None.

Admissions Information

Applicants must satisfy the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies.  Standardized tests are not required for admission to the College Student Affairs program.

A complete application includes:

1. A completed graduate school application. Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts (minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA for full admission. Provisional admission may be possible with a GPA between 2.7 and 2.99.)
2. A 500-word admission essay. A core value of the College Student Affairs program concerns the ability to reflect on our academic endeavors, our practical experiences, and our progress toward professional competence. The essay provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your current abilities as a reflective practitioner. Please choose either prompt A or prompt B and respond in the form of a well-written essay of no more than 500 words. Move beyond description and critically reflect on the meaning of the experience.
   
   Prompt A: Describe an experience that influenced your development in college, what you learned from that experience, and how you might use that lesson to support current college students.
   
   Prompt B: Provide insight into an important life experience that may be mentioned in your application materials (as a line in your resume, for instance, or an academic struggle you faced) but deserves further explanation.
   
   _{With thanks to Miami University and the University of Connecticut for their essay prompt ideas.}
3. A current resume
4. Contact information for two references – Provide the names, titles, relationship, and contact information for a person who can address the applicant’s ability to complete graduate-level work (typically a faculty member) and the second from someone who can speak to the applicant’s potential as a student affairs educator.
5. An interview with a CSA faculty member to discuss your professional goals, evaluate your academic record, and clarify program philosophy and requirements.

The application process is competitive, and candidates are evaluated based on verbal communication, confidence, alignment with program goals, academic and professional potential, and other criteria. We have a rolling application deadline; completed applications are reviewed as they are received. However, early application is preferred, particularly for candidates interested in a graduate assistantship.

Applications for CSA-related GA positions are made directly to the relevant department. Completion of the application form is not necessary. You can speak with Mark Bauman, Program Coordinator, for information about available GA positions and Graduate Assistantship Interview Day.
 

Application materials should be uploaded with your online application. Or, you can log back into your online application after submission to upload materials to your Supplemental Form. All uploads MUST be in PDF format; the system will not allow other formats. Paper versions of academic transcripts can be mailed to: Graduate Admissions, Bloomsburg University, 161 Arts and Administration Building, 400 E. Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.