ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY MASTER'S PROGRAM

GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM STATEMENT

The Master of Science in College Student Personnel at Arkansas Tech University is a two-year, practitioner-oriented program, philosophically based in college student development and university administration. It is designed to prepare thoughtful, compassionate, first-line student and university service administrators armed with the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to begin a career in the variety of settings in which such services are needed. These include but are not limited to admissions counseling, advising, financial aid, orientation, housing, student programming, alumni affairs and development. The program uses the expertise of practitioners in the field, involving them in the teaching, advising, and supervision of research in concert with full-time faculty. Problem-based learning is used as an instructional and curricular strategy in several courses, and the concluding activity (thesis or additional coursework in lieu of thesis and comprehensive examination or oral examination) involves the faculty working with students on original field-oriented projects and devising practical plans for real world situations.

PROGRAM MISSION

To prepare thoughtful, compassionate, first-line student and university service administrators armed with the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to begin a career in the variety of settings in which such services are needed.

PROGRAM UNIQUENESS

In addition to the requisite academic preparation, the faculty who are teaching in the program have a variety of experiences in student services and higher education administration. The program emphasis is on the practical application of student development and organizational theory to the daily operation of a university environment.

NATIONAL STANDARDS
Meets ACPA Professional Preparation Commission Standards: YES
Meets CAS Standards:
Other/Comments:

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
• Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or a 3.0 on the last 30 hours of undergraduate work or hold a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Previous experience in some area of student leadership or student services (examples of acceptable previous experiences could include, but are not limited to; having been a member of student government as an undergraduate, having been a resident assistant in a residence hall, having been a student worker in a university office which provided contact with college students, having experience as a residence hall director, etc.)
• Official transcripts of prior college level work.
• Three letters of reference from faculty or staff at an educational institution who can attest to the candidate's ability to work with students.
• Recent (within the last 5 years), acceptable scores (to be determined by the faculty) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Essay that elucidates the requisite previous experiences and the applicant's commitment to student personnel as a career path.

The review of the essay will include a focus on both content and the applicant's ability to write clearly and concisely.
The combination of materials submitted for admission must convince the admissions committee that the individual has the personal qualities consistent with those required for effective practice in student personnel work and the academic ability needed to complete graduate work successfully. The standardized examination scores, grade point average for previous college level work, and previous academic success reflect the minimum criteria for consideration of an applicant. Because a variety of factors are considered in the admission process, simply meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance.

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Program Curriculum:

• American Higher Education in Transition
• Introduction to College Student Personnel Work
• Theory and Practice in College Student Personnel
• American College Student
• Legal Issues in College Student Personnel
• Special Topics: College Student Personnel Capstone Seminar
• Counseling with College Students
• Practicum I
• Practicum II
• Thesis in College Student Personnel
• Research Design and Analysis
• Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
• Ethical Leadership in Higher Education

Is a thesis required? No (optional). In lieu of a thesis, the student may elect to complete an additional 6 hours of course work.

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Students in student affairs or higher education administration programs  (2003-2004):

PROGRAM FACULTY (Name, title, typical number of coursed taught annually, interests)

Susan J. Underwood, Ph.D. - accountability, accreditation, college student behavior; 67%
Gary Biller, Ed.D. - retention, student development; 20%
Eldon Clary, Ed.D. - counseling, assessment; 20%
David G. Underwood, Ph.D. - measurement, performance funding, retention, assessment, 20%

Last modified October 23, 2006
Information submitted by: David Underwood 10/22/03

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