Graduate Studies

College Student Personnel
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements |Profile

Interim Chairperson: Eric C. Sheffield
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Julie Brines
CSP-Student Affairs Program Coordinator: Julie Brines
Student Affairs Office: Horrabin Hall Suite 81
CSP-Higher Education Leadership Program Coordinator: Julie Brines
Higher Education Leadership Office: QC Complex 2409
Telephone: (309) 298-2848
E-mail: CSP@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/csp
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Quad Cities (Hybrid)

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Tracy L. Davis, Ph.D., University of Iowa
  • Jeff Hancks, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University

Associate Graduate Faculty

Assistant Professor

  • Julie Brines, Ph.D., Illinois State University

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

 Program Description

The College Student Personnel program offers a Master of Science in College Student Personnel, which prepares professionals to be effective leaders and reflective practitioners doing socially and ethically responsible work in the field of student affairs. Students who graduate from the College Student Personnel program will be able to:

  • Identify approaches to address contemporary issues facing higher education;

  • Articulate histories, values, and philosophies of higher education;

  • Study leadership (as a role and process) to create learning environments that support the inclusion of all students and members of campus communities (virtual or in-person) while attending to issues of privilege, power, and oppression;

  • Define and assess organizational and human resources including, but not limited to: policies, practices, procedures, and structures;

  • Gather, apply, and deploy methods of research and assessment to improve, shape, and benefit student learning and higher education; and

  • Describe the concepts and principles of student development and learning theories that advance intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cognitive complexity.

The curricula 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.

By applying the concepts explored in the classroom to hands-on student affairs work, a theory-to-practice approach, graduates are especially well-equipped to 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, student union management, and experiential education.

This course of study is applicable for both recent college graduates through CSP: Student Affairs track (high-residency, full-time, Macomb based option) and experienced professionals through CSP: Higher Education Leadership track (low-residency, part-time, Quad Cities based option).

 Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Resume
  • Personal goals statement
  • Interview
  • Visit wiu.edu/csp for specific processes and deadlines

Due to the sequence of courses, only fall semester admission is considered for the Student Affairs option with a January 15 deadline. Summer term bi-annual admission (Summer 2025, Summer 2027) with an April 15 deadline is considered for the Higher Education Leadership option.

 Degree Requirements

The curriculum for the College Student Personnel program is rooted in the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies and the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) Graduate Preparation Program guidelines providing you the most current information, tools, and professional skills used in the field. Students must maintain good standing as defined in the CSP Handbook to continue in and graduate from the Program.

College Student Personnel: Student Affairs
The Student Affairs option consists of 42 semester credit hours including practicum and internship. Core courses are offered using a sequential fashion, and have a high-residency approach – typically 16 in-person meetings per semester for three and four credit hour courses.

College Student Personnel: Higher Education Leadership
The Higher Education Leadership option consists of 38 semester hours of credit. Core courses are offered in a sequential fashion (six credit hours per semester/session), and have a low-residency approach – typically three in-person weekend course meetings per semester/session with the remaining coursework facilitated through Western Online allowing you to continue in your professional student affairs (or closely related) work while pursuing your graduate degree.

*Special permission is required to substitute internship with a thesis option. Internship hours can be substituted for significant applicable professional experience.

Student Affairs Option

I. Core Courses: 22 s.h.

CN 515 Research and Program Evaluation (3)
CSP 550 Legal Issues for Professionals in College Personnel (3)
CSP 553 Organization and Administration of College Student Personnel Services (3)
CSP 559 Student Development Theory and Praxis (4)
CSP 560 Student Engagement & College Environments (3)
CSP 581 Group Dynamics & Leadership (3)
CSP 600 Professional Development Seminar (3)

II. Student Affairs Requirements: 20 s.h.

CSP 533 Professional Topics in Student Affairs (1)
CSP 552 Introduction to Student Affairs & Higher Education History (3)
CSP 555 Advising and Helping Skills (3)
CSP 561 Practicum in Student Affairs (3)
CSP 565 Critical Theories in Praxis (4)
CSP 597 Program Design (3)
CSP 598 Theory to Practice Seminar II (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 42 s.h.

Higher Education Leadership Option

I. Core Courses: 22 s.h.

CN 515 Research and Program Evaluation (3)
CSP 550 Legal Issues for Professionals in College Personnel (3)
CSP 553 Organization and Administration of College Student Personnel Services (3)
CSP 559 Student Development Theory and Praxis (4)
CSP 560 Student Engagement & College Environments (3)
CSP 581 Group Dynamics & Leadership (3)
CSP 600 Professional Development Seminar (3)

II. Higher Education Leadership Requirements: 16 s.h.

CSP 533 Professional Topics in Student Affairs (3)
CSP 552 Introduction to Student Affairs & Higher Education History (3)
CSP 555 Advising and Helping Skills (3)
CSP 565 Critical Theories in Praxis (4)
CSP 598 Theory to Practice Seminar II (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 38 s.h.

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

 Course Descriptions

College Student Personnel (CSP)

533 Professional Topics in Student Affairs. (1–3, repeatable to 6) Designed to address professional topics in student affairs to support students in their transition from being student leaders to professional staff working for a college or university. 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 Student Affairs & Higher Education History. (3) An introduction to student affairs in higher education focusing on the historical foundations of the profession, its theoretical base, models of practice, and necessary competencies. An overview of the historical evolution of higher education is also provided. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the Department Chair.

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 Department Chair.

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 Advising and Helping Skills. (3) An exploration of helping skills relevant for student affairs work. Helping skills include, for example, advising, supervising, supporting, giving feedback, critiquing, providing referrals and guidance. Prerequisite: CSP major.

559 Student Development Theory and Praxis. (4) A critical analysis and review of student development as theoretical basis for the student affairs profession highlighting what the theories explore about self-development, meaning-making (cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal dimensions), development processes, and methods. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the Department Chair.

560 Student Engagement & College Environments. (3) Factors impacting student engagement and success, focusing on the needs of underserved students, will be examined. The impact of college environments on students will also be explored. Prerequisite: CSP major or permission of the Department Chair.

561 Practicum in Student Affairs. (3) 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 Critical Theories in Praxis. (4) This course examines various critical theories and their influence on student affairs, student development, self-awareness, institutional dynamics, broader cultural implications, social justice, liberation, and issues of equity. Prerequisite: CSP 559.

581 Group Dynamics & Leadership. (3) The study of group processes: leadership, 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 Department Chair.

597 Program Design. (3) Course work is coupled with a supervised professional experience, encouraging students to apply the program design knowledge gained in courses to the professional work within student affairs. Prerequisite: CSP major.

598 Assessment in Student Affairs. (3) Continuation of CSP 597. Course work is coupled with a supervised professional experience, encouraging students to apply program assessment knowledge gained in the course to the professional work in student affairs. 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 Department Chair.

600 Professional Development Seminar. (3, repeatable to 6) An integrative seminar serving as a Capstone experience in the master’s program and advanced seminar at the doctoral level. The seminar is designed to promote application and integration of concepts from previous courses to current issues in higher education.