College Student Personnel (Archived 2016-17 Graduate Catalog)

Chair and Graduate Coordinator: Maureen E. Wilson
330 Education Building
Phone: 419-372-7382
College Student Personnel Program Website

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts

Program Offered

The Master of Arts in College Student Personnel, offered by the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs, is designed to prepare individuals for employment within the general area of student affairs and student development services in postsecondary education. Candidates are prepared as generalists and are qualified for positions in such areas as academic advising, admissions, orientation, residence life, student activities and organizations, career services, and alumni affairs. This program offers both rigorous academic preparation and extensive experiential learning opportunities. All students are required to successfully complete a two year internship, which they may complement with additional practicum experiences. Full-time employment in student affairs may serve as the internship.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work

There is no specific undergraduate major required as a prerequisite for application for the College Student Personnel Program. However, it is helpful for applicants to have completed some course work in the behavioral sciences, such as psychology or sociology. The quality of the applicant's undergraduate program, letters of recommendation, and employment or other such experiences within student affairs are important factors in determining the admissibility of an applicant to the program. Invited applicants must also interview successfully for an internship assignment before a recommendation is made to the Graduate College for regular admission to the program. Applicants for part-time study should consult with the program chair.

Admission Procedure

Applicants seeking admission to the College Student Personnel Program should follow the instructions outlined in the Graduate Admission section of this catalog and should contact the CSP Program directly for additional supplemental application materials.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts

The M.A. degree program allows some flexibility based on the individual student's needs and goals. CSP courses emphasize the social, psychological, and philosophical foundations of student affairs practice in postsecondary institutions. Although most of the course requirements are met by offerings in the College of Education and Human Development, candidates are encouraged to take advantage of elective courses in other colleges.

The required 42 semester hours of graduate credit include six CSP core courses, one course each in statistics and research methodology, and additional elective courses selected in consultation with a faculty adviser. Students may choose courses that provide concentrations in such areas as counseling or administration, or that focus on the needs of diverse student populations.

In addition to the requirement of the Graduate College to maintain a minimum 3.00 grade point average, students must earn a minimum 3.00 grade point average in the CSP core courses plus an A or B in at least five of the six CSP core courses. If necessary, a core course may be retaken to meet this requirement. The CSP core courses are CSP 6010, 6020, 6030, 6035, 6040, and 6050.

Appointment to a required internship position is earned through a competitive interview process arranged by the CSP program. These internships include positions on the BGSU campus and nearby institutions.

Graduate Courses

Please access graduate courses online. Graduate courses offered by College Student Personnel use the prefix: CSP.