BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY MASTER'S PROGRAM

GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM STATEMENT

Bucknell University offers a Master of Science in Education, with a concentration in College Student Personnel. The purpose of the degree program is to prepare aspiring student affairs professionals for entry-level positions in residence life, student activities, career services, admissions, financial aid, and various other areas of practice. The program is also designed to prepare those aspiring to faculty and upper-level administrative positions in academe for doctoral level study in higher education administration.

PROGRAM MISSION

The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Division of Student Affairs, aims to prepare theory-based practitioners, who are equipped with the foundational knowledge and habits of mind necessary to meet the demands facing American higher education, both today and in the future. A comprehensive program of graduate coursework provides a theoretical understanding of the processes of learning and development that occur in later adolescence and throughout adulthood, as well as the social, cultural, and organizational contexts in which these processes take place. This program of courses also introduces skills of intervention and inquiry, which are further refined through the completion of multiple internship experiences and a major scholarly project.

PROGRAM UNIQUENESS

Bucknell is distinctive in offering professional preparation in student affairs within the context of a predominantly undergraduate national liberal arts institution. Ranked among the top 30 liberal arts institutions in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Bucknell holds as its primary mission the provision of “wide educational opportunities within a collegiate setting to a controlled number of talented men and women.” With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,350, and a student-faculty ratio of 12 to 1, the university offers each student a highly personalized educational experience. Whereas 89% of undergraduate students live on campus, student affairs professionals play a vital role in contributing to the educational mission of the institution.

This unique setting is well suited to the study of college student personnel. Previous research suggests that smaller private institutions tend to manifest a number of conditions that are supportive of holistic student development. In numerous studies, lower institutional enrollments, in particular, have been found to be associated with greater opportunities for student involvement in campus leadership and other educational opportunities outside the classroom. With the campus as its laboratory, Bucknell’s master’s degree program provides aspiring student affairs professionals with both a theoretical and a practical understanding of college student development. This perspective is gained through a combination of advanced coursework and first-hand exposure to a sector of higher education that is noted for its exemplary practices in the education of undergraduate students.

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree comparable to one offered by Bucknell, or certification of corresponding achievement from a foreign institution. A final official transcript, verifying final grades and conferral of the baccalaureate degree, must be filed with the registrar before acceptance to graduate standing can be confirmed and finalized.
• Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 (on a scale of A=4.0) in coursework comparable to that offered at Bucknell and a grade point average of 2.8 (a) in the undergraduate major, and (b) in courses of the proposed graduate major.
• Scores on the aptitude test and an advanced test of the Graduate Record Examination.
• Two letters of recommendation to be submitted by individuals who can comment knowledgably on the candidate’s relevant academic and professional qualifications.
• State, in the form of a written essay, professional and educational goals and the basis for interest in pursuing the master’s degree.
• May be expected to complete specific courses in education prior to enrollment or as a condition of enrollment. A candidate’s undergraduate and/or graduate work, application essay, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation will be appraised in relation to graduate objectives in professional education.

CURRICULUM INFORMATION