College Student Personnel
2015-2016

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements |Profile

Chairperson: Gloria Delany-Barmann
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Thomas Cody
CSP Program Coordinator: Tracy Davis
Office: Horrabin Hall 115
Telephone: (309) 298-1183  Fax: (309) 298-2786
E-mail: CSP@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/csp
Location of Program Offering: Macomb

Graduate Faculty
Professors

  • Thomas J. Cody, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
  • Tracy L. Davis, Ph.D., University of Iowa
  • Stuart Yager, Ph.D., University of Iowa

Associate Graduate Faculty
Associate Professor

  • Ronald Williams, Ph.D., Tennessee State University

Assistant Professor

  • Sarah Schoper, Ph.D., University of Maryland

 Program Description

The Department of Educational Studies offers a Master of Science in College Student Personnel. This course of study is applicable for both emerging professionals through CSP: Student Affairs track (in-person classes held on the Macomb campus) and advancing professionals through CSP: Higher Education Leadership track (blend of on-line and in-person classes through the Quad Cities campus). The values of theory-to-practice, ethical action, self-authorship, social justice, and transformative learning provide the framework for the curricula which is designed to advance the understanding and application of student learning and leadership development through an exploration of development and leadership theory, group dynamics, philosophy and history of higher education, organization and administration of student affairs, multicultural competency, counseling theory and techniques, and research methods. Additionally, academic and professional growth is facilitated through student, faculty, and student affairs professional partnerships in the classroom and in practical experiences in the field of student affairs as a full-time professional or through assistantships, practicums, and summer internships.

All of this preparation is aimed at helping degree-seeking students develop and grow as effective leaders and reflective practitioners performing socially responsible practice as student affairs professionals. Graduates are prepared to begin and advance their student affairs careers in a variety of student settings, including residence life, student activities, Greek affairs, admissions and student recruitment, academic advising, orientation, multicultural student programs, study abroad, student retention, gender programming, career development, and experiential education.

 Admission Requirements

Grade point average(s), leadership, academic and supervisor references, personal interviews, and evaluation of admission essays will be used to determine admission to the program with an eye toward fit between candidate and their goals, and the program itself. Due to the sequence of courses, only fall semester admission is considered for the Student Affairs (Macomb-based) track with a January 15 deadline. Fall semester bi-annual admission (Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Fall 2019) with a June 1 deadline is considered for the Higher Education Leadership (Quad Cities-based) track. For specific admission requirements, processes, and deadlines visit wiu.edu/csp.

 Degree Requirements

The curriculum for the College Student Personnel program is rooted in the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies, Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) Graduate Preparation Program guidelines, as well as an advisory board, providing you the most current information, tools, and techniques used in the field.

College Student Personnel: Student Affairs Track

The Student Affairs track consists of 48 semester credit hours including a specialization core of 36 hours, two hours of practicum, and six hours of internship. Four hours of electives from the behavioral sciences, counseling, and other related areas are selected in consultation with your advisor. Core courses are offered in a sequential fashion, and have a high-residency approach – typically 16 in-person meetings per semester for three and four credit hour courses. Completion time for this track is four semesters.

College Student Personnel: Higher Education Leadership

The Higher Education Leadership track consists of 42 semester hours of credit including a specialization core of 36 hours, six hours of application through hands-on student affairs work, a thesis or a mixture of one of these experiences with electives from the behavioral sciences, counseling, and other related areas are selected in consultation with your advisor. Core courses are offered in a sequential fashion (six credit hours per semester and nine credit hours for the summer sessions), and have a low-residency approach – typically five in-person weekend course meetings per semester (four weekend meetings per summer session) with the remaining coursework facilitated through WesternOnLine allowing you to continue in your professional student affairs (or closely related) work while pursuing your graduate degree. Completion time for this track is four semesters and two summer sessions.

Student Affairs Option

I. Core Courses: 22 s.h.

EIS 500 Methods of Research (3)
CSP 550 Legal Issues for Professionals in College Personnel (3)
CSP 553 Organization and Administration of College Student Personnel Services (3)
CSP 554 Higher Education in the United States (3)
CSP 559 Student Development Theory and Application I (4)
CSP 560 Student Characteristics and College Impact (3)
CSP 600 Professional Development Seminar (3)

II. Student Affairs Requirements: 26 s.h.

CSP 552 Introduction to College Student Personnel Work (3)
CSP 555 Counseling Theories and Practices for College Student Personnel (4)
CSP 561 Practicum in Student Affairs (2)
CSP 565 Student Development Theory and Application II (4)
CSP 581 Group Dynamics—Process and Analysis (3)
CSP 597 Internship (3)
CSP 598 Internship II (3)

III. Electives: 4 s.h.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 48 s.h.

Higher Education Leadership Option

I. Core Courses: 22 s.h.

EIS 500 Methods of Research (3)
CSP 550 Legal Issues for Professionals in College Personnel (3)
CSP 553 Organization and Administration of College Student Personnel Services (3)
CSP 554 Higher Education in the United States (3)
CSP 559 Student Development Theory and Application I (4)
CSP 560 Student Characteristics and College Impact (3)
CSP 600 Professional Development Seminar (3)

II. Higher Education Leadership Requirements: 21 s.h.

CSP 533 Special Problems in CSP (3)
EDL 500 Leadership Development (3)
EIS 503 Introduction to Data Analysis (3)
Or
EIS 504 Qualitative Research (3)
EIS 523 Advanced Measurement and Evaluation (3)
EIS 607 Implications for Diversity for Educational Leaders (3)

III. Exit Option (choose one): 6 s.h.

A. Practice Focus

CSP 597 Internship (3)
CSP 598 Internship II (3)

B. Thesis

EIS 601 Thesis (6)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 43 s.h.

Graduate School requirements regarding transfer of credit and extension work will apply.

 Course Descriptions

College Student Personnel (CSP)

533 Special Problems in College Student Personnel. (1–3, repeatable to 6) Designed to provide a group of students an opportunity for further professional growth and to apply problem‑solving approaches in dealing with a specific educational problem. Prerequisite: CSP major.

550 Legal Issues for Professionals in College Student Personnel. (3) A study of the complex problems of law and ethics as they influence the field of college student personnel and the student affairs professional's role. Prerequisite: CSP major.

552 Introduction to College Student Personnel Work. (3) An introduction to student affairs in higher education focusing on the foundations of the profession, its theoretical base, models of practice, and necessary competencies. An overview of specific areas of student affairs practice is provided. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the instructor.

553 Organization and Administration of College Student Personnel Services. (3) An analysis of organizational structure and administrative responsibility of college student personnel workers. Attention will be given to administrative procedures, budgeting, planning, records relationships to students, and relationships to other institutional administrative personnel and academic units. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the instructor.

554 Higher Education in the United States. (3) An overview of higher education in America. The course reflects the historical development of higher education and provides students the opportunity to explore the broader functions, issues, and participants that comprise postsecondary education in the United States. Prerequisite: CSP major. 

555 Counseling Theories and Practices for College Student Personnel. (4) An examination of the major theories of counseling, the development of basic counseling skills central to, and for use in, college student personnel settings. Prerequisite: CSP major.

559 Student Development Theory and Application I. (4) A critical analysis and review of student development as the theoretical basis for the student affairs profession. Consideration is given to formulating a personal philosophy of student development, current research, and methodology, and writings. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the instructor.

560 Student Characteristics and College Impact. (3) Characteristics of college students, focusing on the needs of the diverse student populations on today's college campuses, will be examined. The impact of college on students, including factors related to retention and attrition and the differential impacts of college on various student populations will also be explored. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the instructor.

561 Practicum in Student Affairs. (2) The course consists of two components; work experience in a student affairs setting under the supervision of a student affairs professional and seminar conducted by a member of the CSP faculty in which students focus on the link between academic and environmental aspects of training and related issues for beginning professionals. Prerequisite: CSP major.

562 Advanced Practicum in Student Affairs. (1–2, repeatable) Additional experience in a student affairs setting. Students undertake a special project in an area of particular interest. Prerequisite: CSP major.

565 Student Development Theory and Application II. (4) This course will continue the examination of student development theories and their application to student affairs practice, focusing on newer approaches to student development, implications of theory for diverse student populations, and assessment strategies. Prerequisite: CSP 559.

581 Group Dynamics—Process and Analysis. (3) The study of group processes: communication, decision making, cooperation and competition, cohesion, social facilitation and inhibition, leadership, and group roles. Students participate in a small group experience as part of the course. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the instructor.

597 Internship. (3) Intensive professional experience, under supervision, at an internship site. The purpose of this internship is to gain practical experience in applying the knowledge gained in didactic courses to a field of specialization. Prerequisite: CSP major.

598 Internship II. (3) Continuation of CSP 597. Intensive professional experience, under supervision, at an internship site. The purpose of this internship is to gain practical experience in applying knowledge gained in didactic courses to a field of specialization. Specific topical focus varies. Prerequisite: CSP 597.

599 Independent Study. (1–4, repeatable to 4) An investigation of problems related to the student’s major area.  Ordinarily a substantial written and/or oral report will be required.  Students will arrange the topic, procedures, and methods of reporting with the instructor.  Graded S/U.  Prerequisite: CSP major and/or permission of the instructor.

600 Professional Development Seminar. (3) An integrative seminar taken in the student's final semester. Using a case study approach, the seminar is designed to assist students in applying concepts studied in previous courses to current problems and issues in student affairs. Prerequisite: CSP major.