PROGRAM STATEMENT
Master of Arts Program
The Higher Education Program's mission in offering a Master of Arts degree is to develop entry- and mid-level professionals for college and university service or other agencies related to postsecondary education. This effort provides prospective students with three concentrations, each with its own distinctive strategies to prepare competent practitioners. For those interested in general administration, the program offers opportunities to learn about the current condition of higher education, administration, curriculum, history, finance, and public policy. For those interested in student affairs, the program enables students to gain knowledge about higher education and student development, to develop counseling abilities for both traditional and nontraditional students, and to experience practicums and internships in student-related areas. In addition, opportunities are available for those interested in admissions and academic advising, which often come under student affairs at many campuses to gain additional understanding of the special needs of students through knowledge about student development, counseling, and admission activities. Further, for those interested in collegiate sports administration, our program enables students to understand college and universities as institutions of higher learning, to integrate wellness and athletics in these settings, to develop communication and business skills necessary to operate sports programs, and to know the legal and ethical norms appropriate for sports administration. This degree provides theoretical as well as practical knowledge, with opportunities for grounding these studies in at least two different work-related settings. The learning outcomes of these graduate experiences prepare specialist and generalist professionals who are able to work in a variety of traditional, nontraditional, and adult-oriented postsecondary settings.

Doctor of Philosophy Program
The Higher EducationProgram's mission in offering the Doctor of Philosophy degree is to educate and develop entry, mid-, and advanced level professionals for college and university service, postsecondary agencies related to higher education, or corporate, government, or other adult-oriented postsecondary organizations. At the doctoral level, students gain knowledge about higher education administration through advanced course work, develop research competence in various qualitative or quantitative research methods, demonstrate their knowledge through qualifying and comprehensive examinations, and complete a dissertation consisting of original research. Their graduation testifies to their professional academic competence in higher education as a field of study with related specializations in public policy or other disciplinary or multidisciplinary area.

PROGRAM MISSION
Not provided.

PROGRAM UNIQUENESS
The College Student Development program focuses on preparing educators. Furthermore, master's students are expected to take courses related to curriculum and advising which reflects a serious effort to educate future student affairs professionals to assume a larger role in the student learning imperative for their campuses. For master's students who are specializing in student development, they have the opportunity to take a 10 quarter credit hour cognate with faculty from the American Psychological Association approved program, one of 61 in the country. Students have found that the counseling skills learned through these courses are particularly helpful in their professional positions.

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

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Master's Application GPA Requirement:  2.75 (from Bachelor's) GRE 3 letters of recommendation Interview (by telephone or in person) Related work experience required Deadline -- February 1, for full consideration for graduate assistantships and financial aid; Higher Education applicants are reviewed and admitted on a monthly basis.

Doctorate Application GPA Requirement:  3.0 (from Master's) GRE 3 letters of recommendation Interview (by telephone or in person) Appropriate managerial and/or professional experience highly desired Deadline -- February 1, for full consideration for graduate assistantships and financial aid; Higher Education applicants are reviewed and admitted on a monthly basis.

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Program Required Hours: Master's -  49 quarter hours beyond the bachelor's Doctorate -  90 quarter hours beyond the master's

 

Master's Curriculum Core Courses: Leadership and Administration College Student Development Educational Measurement Curriculum Development in Higher Education College Student Personnel Administration The American College Student Students and the Law Ethical Issues in Higher Education Counseling Techniques Diversity Issues in Counseling Group Counseling Theory The Role of the Advisor in the Learning Process Program Development, Budgeting, and Assessment Practicum and Internship Electives Is a thesis required? No (optional)

Doctorate Curriculum Leadership and Administration One other foundational studies course (3 hours) Nature and Methodology of Educational Research Statistical Methods in Education and Psychology One research method sequence Dissertation Research Current Issues of Higher Education I Current Issues of Higher Education II Curriculum Development in Higher Education History of American Higher Education College Organization and Administration Seminar in Higher Education Higher Education Research and Dissertation Designs Elective Hours in Higher Education (9 hours) Cognate (15 hours)

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

	Total Number	# of Males	# of Females	# of Whites	# of Persons of Color
Master's
Doctoral
	% of part-time students	% of full-time students	% of students enrolled in the program who also hold some form of financial assistance (graduate assistantship, fellowship, tuition waiver, scholarship)
Master's			no information provided
Doctoral

PROGRAM FACULTY - Faculty members with areas of specialization and percentage of time devoted to the program.

James R. Davis, Ph.D., curriculum and adult studies; 30% - M.A.; 70% - Ph.D.
Lester F. Goodchild, Ph.D., the history of higher education and foundations; 20% - M.A.; 80% - Ph.D.
Cheryl D. Lovell, Ph.D., college student development and postsecondary public policy; 80% - M.A.; 20% - Ph.D.
Kerry McCaig, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, learning strategies, academic admissions, and sports administration; 30% - M.A.
Wendy Wendover, M.S.,  college student development, conflict management, and adult studies; 50% - M.A.

Last modified 06/03/2005
Information submitted by: Cheryl Lovell

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