College Student Affairs (MS)

Summary

College Student Affairs is designed to prepare future leaders in higher education for a variety of positions, including academic advising, career services, diversity and inclusion, residence life, and student activities. The program offers a balanced curriculum of student affairs administration and counseling skills while emphasizing social justice and college student development. Through intensive practicum and internship experiences, students directly apply knowledge gained from courses to their work in multiple areas of student affairs.

Catalog Year

2023-2024

Degree

Master of Science

Major Credits

36

Total Credits

36

Locations

Mankato

Apply

Program Requirements

Common Core

Students will explore the functional areas represented by the student affairs profession and will examine current issues and problems facing student affairs and higher education. Philosophical and historical underpinnings of the student affairs profession will also be examined.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of current models and practices in the administration and finance of student affairs programs in higher education through a social justice framework. Models of planning and management, techniques related to budgeting and staffing, and current issues and trends in student affairs administration and finance are also explored.

Prerequisites: none

Focus on helping skills model, professional issues, and skill acquisition of basic listening responses.

Prerequisites: none

A combination of classroom lecture and interaction with community professionals involved in crisis intervention. Designed to give students practical experience in distinguishing between crisis intervention, theory, and practice.

Prerequisites: none

This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of theories of career development, career guidance, career choice, and decision-making. Career counseling interviews and assessment techniques are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of today's college students through various theoretical perspectives including social identity development (i.e., racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, spiritual, disability, and social class) as well as psychological, intellectual, and moral development. Special focus will be paid to recognizing the unique characteristics and issues faced by today's college students and applying theory to practice.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of current models and practices of assessment and program evaluation in higher education and student affairs, particularly regarding the process of assessing student learning and development. Models of organizational development and change, as well as the impact of campus environments on diverse student populations, will also be central to this course.

Prerequisites: none

Major theories of group development are presented along with analysis of group notes, group techniques, and groups for special populations. An experiential component is included for experience in group processes.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised practicum experiences. Admission by prior application. Pre-requisite: permission from instructor.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

This course will prepare students to effectively understand and utilize the results of research and will provide an understanding of the processes involved in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting of research, including program evaluation research.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s). * Students may need four credits to meet supervised practice requirements. Consult with your advisor on credits needed for your program.

Supervised integrative experience. Admission by application only.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised integrative internship experience. Admission by prior application.

Prerequisites: none

Degree Plan

The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 9 Credits

Students will explore the functional areas represented by the student affairs profession and will examine current issues and problems facing student affairs and higher education. Philosophical and historical underpinnings of the student affairs profession will also be examined.

Prerequisites: none

Focus on helping skills model, professional issues, and skill acquisition of basic listening responses.

Prerequisites: none

This course will prepare students to effectively understand and utilize the results of research and will provide an understanding of the processes involved in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting of research, including program evaluation research.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 9 Credits

Overview of theories of career development, career guidance, career choice, and decision-making. Career counseling interviews and assessment techniques are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of today's college students through various theoretical perspectives including social identity development (i.e., racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, spiritual, disability, and social class) as well as psychological, intellectual, and moral development. Special focus will be paid to recognizing the unique characteristics and issues faced by today's college students and applying theory to practice.

Prerequisites: none

Major theories of group development are presented along with analysis of group notes, group techniques, and groups for special populations. An experiential component is included for experience in group processes.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 9 Credits

This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of current models and practices in the administration and finance of student affairs programs in higher education through a social justice framework. Models of planning and management, techniques related to budgeting and staffing, and current issues and trends in student affairs administration and finance are also explored.

Prerequisites: none

This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised practicum experiences. Admission by prior application. Pre-requisite: permission from instructor.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 9 Credits

A combination of classroom lecture and interaction with community professionals involved in crisis intervention. Designed to give students practical experience in distinguishing between crisis intervention, theory, and practice.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of current models and practices of assessment and program evaluation in higher education and student affairs, particularly regarding the process of assessing student learning and development. Models of organizational development and change, as well as the impact of campus environments on diverse student populations, will also be central to this course.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised integrative experience. Admission by application only.

Prerequisites: none