Students in the College Student Personnel Administration degree
program
reflect the increasing diversity of today's college campuses with
respect to race, ethnicity, orientation, gender, and age. The CSPA
program includes students who are:
Recent graduates
Career enhancers
Persons seeking a career change
Full-time enrollment is preferred and recommended, yet the program
is flexible enough for those students who wish to attend part-time.
Tuition and fees for the program are determined each year by the
University. These costs exclude textbook or software requirements
for courses. The University also has a
computer
ownership requirement. Courses are offered nights and
weekends to accommodate schedules of full-time educational
professionals. Some online options exist for selected courses.
What are the CSPA goals and outcomes?
The CSPA program provides students with the practical and theoretical knowledge
necessary to enable them to perform the roles of administrator,
advisor,
and programmer in Student Affairs and Higher Education Administration.
After completing the program, a master’s graduate will have acquired
the skills, knowledge, values,
and commitment necessary to succeed at entry- to mid-level student
affairs positions in public and private colleges and universities.
A master’s degree graduate with the CSPA degree will have
the knowledge and skills necessary to:
Be conversant in the historical, philosophical, organizational,
and student developmental issues in higher education and student
services.
Be committed to the continual education, growth, and understanding
of college students.
Facilitate the success of college students and staff through effective
management of personnel, resources, and facilities.
Work successfully in student service settings at 2 and 4 year colleges and
universities
Fulfill the obligation to educate him/herself in order to become
a more informed consumer of research in student affairs and higher
education.
Assess, evaluate, and improve student services in colleges and
universities.
The Specific goals of the
program meet the CAS National Standards.
Admissions
Admissions to the CSPA program is limited to full-time admission for
the Fall semester. Class size is limited to 25 students per
year. Applicants for the CSPA program must submit materials to two
different offices:
Office of Admissions Materials Illinois State
University
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 2200
Normal, IL 61790-2200 (309) 438-2181 or toll free (800) 366-2478 (Voice)
EAF Department Materials 5900 EAF Department
Admissions
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-5900
(309) 438-5422
Complete and submit an
application
to the Office of Admissions (apply online, download and submit,
or request that one be mailed to you). The University has an
application fee that may be waived under certain circumstances.
Submit two official copies of your
transcripts to the
Office of Admissions (not EAF). Preferred
qualifications include:
Have at least a 3.0 GPA*** (on a scale in which A equals 4) for the
last 60 hours of undergraduate work. The preferred GPA is greater
than 3.4.
Undergraduate leadership experiences in both curricular
and co-curricular activities and organizations (if one is
coming from a traditional undergraduate background.)
If one is a nontraditional student working full-time, the
person is expected to have experience in a community
college, college, or University office that works with
students.
TO CHECK YOUR STATUS OF THE ADMISSIONS INFORMATION, Create
Welcome2ISU account. It is an easy, one-time process that will
provide you with quick access to a number of useful services
including an online admission application, application status
check, financial aid information, important reminders, and much
more!
https://www.welcome2isu.ilstu.edu/createAccount.jsp
Submit a current resume that includes, leadership, involvement,
and education history
TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THE EAF SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION,
contact Kelly Peiffer
(kdpeiff@ilstu.edu).
***If one's GPA is below 3.0, one must submit official
Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) scores to Admissions.
Official scores can be obtained from GRE (if < 5 years)
or sometimes from a previous institution (sometimes on a
transcript). Check with the admissions office for what constitutes
an official GRE. Computer-based GRE tests may be taken at any
time at various centers throughout the nation. Visit
http://etsis4.ets.org/tcenter
to select a site. Download the practice
software
The target scores are 900 for combined Verbal and
Quantitative sections, and 4.5 for the writing section. If
scores are slightly lower or are inconsistent (lower verbal but
high writing score--5 or higher) see the Supplemental
information section below. If scores are substantially
below the targets and consistent, one may retake and resubmit
GREs.
Send two letters of references.
Applicants with full-time college or university work experience
should have one's supervisor send a letter discussing
leadership and work experience. If no recent academic reference
is available, ask a second reference in some supervisory role
to address oral and written communication abilities as
well as analytical abilities.
Applicants who are undergraduate students with no full-time
college or university experience should have one reference from
a faculty member who can discuss academic career specifically
addressing oral and written communication skills and
analytical abilities. A second reference should come from a
supervisor/advisor who can describe leadership abilities
and experiences that would relate to the College Student Personnel
Administration program.
TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THE EAF SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION,
contact Kelly Peiffer
(kdpeiff@ilstu.edu0.
Include a statement describing your career objectives (minimum
750 words, typed and doubled-spaced) addressing the following points.
A. Why are you interested in pursuing the College Student Personnel
Administration (CSPA) Program? B. What experiences have you had that prepared you for academic
work in the CSPA program? C. What are your short and long-range career goals? D. How will the CSPA program help you meet those goals? E. What qualities and characteristics do you possess that make
you a strong candidate for admission to the CSPA program?
Supplemental information that is sent to
the EAF Department
The Department considers multiple criteria for admission.
If an applicant does not meet the preferred criteria, the admissions
committee looks for strong credentials in the other areas that
would indicate success as a graduate student.
Applicants who do not meet the one of the criteria above
(such as lower GRE scores, lower GPA, not able to provide a
faculty/academic reference, etc.) are strongly encouraged
to provide additional evidence that would indicate their
ability to conduct doctoral research. For example, if one
has a lower verbal GRE score but has published an article, one
should submit the article with a note explaining its relevance.
The admissions committee looks for consistent indicators of
one's ability to complete graduate work. If one measure is not
consistent, additional evidence is extremely useful.
Deadlines:
The Department has a rolling admissions policy. However, the
following dates are general guidelines for complete files to be in
to assure sufficient time one to register for each semester.
Full-time students are only admitted for the fall semester.
Fall semester target: March 1 for first
consideration May 1 if the program has not been filled.
Spring semester target: One should have everything into
the Department by November 1
Summer semester target: One should have everything into
the Department by March 1.
Course Requirements for CSPA Master's program:
One may elect a 36-hour option completing a thesis or comprehensive
exams, or a 42-hour option.
EAF 410 Research Methods and Statistics I
EAF 428.01 Foundations of Student Affairs Practice
EAF 461 Student Development Theory
EAF 462 Org & Admin. of Student Personnel Admin.
EAF 463 College Students and Their Cultures
EAF 464 Practicum in Student Personnel Admin.
EAF 466 College Students and The Law
EAF 467 Counseling College Students
EAF 473 Admin & Org of Community Col.
EAF 482.01 Capstone Seminar in CSPA
EAF 484 Adm. of Cont Ed & Public Serv.
EAF 499 Thesis hour option
2 Elective courses
Our CSPA Program faculty:
Have demonstrated success in teaching, scholarship, and service in the field, and prepare
students for careers in student affairs and academic services.
"Our faculty are entirely invested in sharing their knowledge and
experience with their students!"
"I am truly grateful for the opportunities that have been available
to me at Illinois State University. The practical experiences as well
as the outstanding faculty have influenced the professional I am today."
Note: There are several other faculty in EAF who are involved in
the College Student Personal Administration Master's in
teaching, scholarship, or professional service roles as well as
professionals having adjunct, part-time relationships.
Diane Dean, Ed.D.
Teachers College, Columbia
Research interests include: leadership, finance, strategic
planning, women in administration drdean@ilstu.edu
Elizabeth Lugg, Ph.D., J.D. University
of Iowa, Iowa City Research interests include: school
law, higher education law, legal issues related to
church-state relationships, negotiations and contracts etlugg@ilstu.edu
Phyllis McCluskey-Titus, Ed.D. Florida State University Research interests include: student affairs administration, college students, women in
administration, organizational cultures, current issues pamcclu2@ilstu.edu
Mohamed Nur-Awaleh, Ph.D. University at Albany, State
University of New York at Albany Research interests include: comparative higher educational
administration, governance, organizational/administration,
foundations, minorities in higher education manuraw@ilstu.edu
James C. Palmer, Ph.D. University of California at Los Angeles Research interests include:
community colleges, strategic planning, assessment, adult
education, curriculum jcpalmer@ilstu.edu
Direct your questions
to the program advisor:
"Registration has been a breeze with the help of Dr. Marcia. I
always enjoy our advising meetings and leave refreshed and assured about
my degree."
Dr. Marcia Escott Hickrod
Email: mescot@ilstu.edu
By appointment. DeGarmo Hall 340D
The goals of the Department ensure that students possess:
An advanced understanding of the broad system and dynamic content of education and educational policy.
A conceptual understanding of and personal competency in basic interpersonal skills and group process.
An understanding of instructional and learning processes and the leadership and management ability to maintain creative educational systems.
An ability to skillfully interpret the legal, political, historical, philosophical, social, economic, technical, and cultural influences operating on and within the educational system.
A professional commitment to the field of education and the ethical practice of administration.
A continuing concern for the initiation, utilization, and dissemination of scholarly research in education and administration.
The goals of the Department are further enhanced by faculty who:
Have demonstrated success in teaching, clinical activities, and knowledge production in the field, and who can prepare persons for educational leadership roles in the public and private sector including positions in administration, instruction, and research.
Conduct research and transmit the findings to the professional community.
Provide professional service to the university and
external constituents such as professional organizations;
local, state, and federal agencies; P-12 schools and
districts; and higher education institutions.
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