College Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Total Credits Required = 36 (9 Core credits + 6 Research Core credits + 21 CSA credits) 

Core Coursework – 9 credit hours

EDLD 500 - Introduction to Educational Leadership- 3 credits

EDLD 501 - Organizational Behavior and Program Development- 3 credits

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

Research Core– 6 credit hours

EDLD 590 - Educational Research and Writing- 3 credits

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

College Student Affairs track – 21 credit hours

CSA 505- Professional Helping in College Student Affairs- 3 credits

CSA 521- Student Development Theory- 3 credits

CSA 522- Foundations and Functions of CSA- 3 credits

CSA 515 - Small Group Leadership - 3 credits

CSA 525 - Multicultural Counseling- 3 credits

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

CSA Program Check Sheet

CSA 505 - Professional Helping in College Student Affairs: Exposes students to components of professional helping with a focus on the college student and their setting. Incorporating active use of helping skills through role playing, students will apply a three-stage helping model to interactions with college students. In addition, students will examine student mental health disorders, culturally responsive helping, reflective practice, crisis counseling, and legal and ethical issues. Primarily an in-person course, some sessions may be offered via distance education.

CSA 515 - Small Group Leadership in Student Affairs: Examines leadership of small groups that occur in student affairs and higher education. Topics include group development and dynamics, culturally competent group leadership, legal and ethical issues, power considerations, facilitation techniques, planning, and assessment. Students will also explore leadership of experiential activities, committee and task groups, and student organizations.

CSA 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 institutional and student demographics; analyze the influence of mission, curriculum, and organizational type on the nature of student affairs work; and consider essential partnerships with stakeholders in CSA work.

CSA 521 - Student Development Theory: Examines and critiques college student development theories and how the college experience shapes the formation of one’s identity.  In keeping with our scholar-practitioner model, this course also applies these theories and models to current college students and considers their use in student affairs administration. This course is foundational to the Educational Leadership and College Student Affairs graduate program and aligns with the Council for the Advancements of Standards.

CSA 523 - Assessment & The College Student Experience: Provides a comprehensive examination of the experiences of post-secondary 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 student learning.

CSA 524 - Ethical, Legal, and Leadership Issues in College Student Affairs: Examines and critiques an array of contemporary issues in college student affairs specifically and higher education in general. This course emphasizes the ethical, legal, and leadership issues present in real case studies and how these concepts relate to and influence college student affairs practice.  

CSA 525 - Multicultural Counseling Competency: 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.

CSA 530 - Special Topics in Higher Education: Provides graduate students with in-depth instruction and student research within selected areas of interest not available in other courses.  Topics may include a continuation of coursework beyond what is offered in a selected course or an intensive look at a topic such as Title IX, campus safety, higher education governance crises, equity and access to education, under-represented populations, and multicultural competence.  Requires extensive reading and development of the students' ideas on the topic, and expression of those ideas in written and oral form.  Students may take this course up to two times with different topics

EDLD 500 - Introduction to Educational Leadership: Provides students with rudimentary foundations regarding the functions and tasks of educational leadership. Issues include leadership theory; the evolving school and college setting; the meaning, development, and work of school and college administrators; educational systems analysis; school and college personnel administration; and career ladders in educational administration.

EDLD 501 - Organizational Behavior & 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, emotional intelligence, and professional development.  Using needs assessment data for action planning for effective program implementation is established.  

EDLD 590 - Educational Research & Writing: Examines various concepts, theories, and methods related to research in an educational setting.  Students will review, analyze, and critique existing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research.  Students will also develop and refine their educational writing through course assignments and completion of a comprehensive, professionally relevant literature review.
 

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 the CSA Program Coordinator for information about available GA positions.
 

Candidates can upload application materials, in PDF format, into Slate. Paper versions of official transcripts can be mailed to: Graduate Admissions, 161 Arts and Administration Building, Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg, Bloomsburg, PA 17815

The College Student Affairs (CSA) program is a hybrid program that is comprised of face to face, online, and dual location/multi-modal classes.   The CSA program is currently NOT accepting any international students, as the program cannot guarantee a minimum of six (6) credits face to face per semester, which is a required to obtain a federal visa.