M.Ed. in Counseling & Personnel Services (College Student Personnel)
Being a student in the CSP program has been great! The faculty are knowledgeable and fun to speak with and they keep the classes engaging. My cohort is very supportive and almost like a second family.
Cre'Sena Manning
College Student Personnel Student
Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services (College Student Personnel)
The program is designed to prepare prospective professionals for positions in student affairs administration in institutions of higher education.
Theory and practice are critically important components of the program, all of which share a common focus--preparation of professionals knowledgeable about adult student development and administration in college student personnel settings.
Students are required to pursue a logical sequence of study that permits a well-balanced preparation in theory, research, and field experiences in students affairs practice, including knowledge of current roles and functions of college student personnel professionals as well as historical perspective of the field's development.
UofL's CSP program is one of the best in the country. It provides a good balance of theoretical and practical knowledge. The CSP faculty truly care about your success as a student, as a professional and in life.
Tracey Walterbusch
College Student Personnel Graduate
Mission
The mission of the College Student Personnel program is to provide students with knowledge of current roles and functions of student affairs professionals, the history of the field's development, college student development theories and current practices. It also emphasizes the preparation of prospective student affairs professionals who are proficient in developing learning outcomes and assessing the growth and development of college students in postsecondary settings. The CSP program is designed to meet the standards and guidelines established for master’s level student affairs administration by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).
For details about program curriculum, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums do not guarantee a student will be accepted to the program.
I love the College Student Personnel Program at UofL! The faculty are amazing and you really feel they want you to succeed. The cohorts are so supportive and helpful. It really is a great program!
Miranda Thomas
College Student Personnel Student
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
- The minimum requirement for admission is the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. Minimum overall GPA of 2.75, or 2.75 on the last 60 undergraduate hours, is required. Applicants are required to submit all official transcripts from all colleges attended as verification of coursework and degree(s).
- Each applicant is required to submit at least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional capabilities and potential. Please download the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies recommendation form [PDF].
- For GRE scores prior to August 1, 2011, a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of an 800 is preferred for unconditional admission. For GRE scores taken August 1, 2011 and after, please refer to the concordance table from ETS (Educational Testing Services) [PDF] for revised score equivalencies. Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
- Prospective students must submit a professional goal statement [PDF] appropriate to their stated area of concentration for admission to the degree program.
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all foreign students from countries in which English is not the native language. Students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States are exempt from this requirement.
In addition to these requirements, admission to the degree program may require completion of prerequisite undergraduate courses specific to each area of concentration.
Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.
For more information, please contact csp @ louisville.edu.
Application Deadlines
Spring Term Admission: October 1
Fall and Summer Term Admission: March 1
Note: If spaces are available in the program after the March 1 deadline, fall applications will be considered until June 15. Please check with the department prior to applying.
Contact
Michael Cuyjet
Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology
College of Education & Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0628
Program Faculty
Full-time Faculty
Michael J. Cuyjet, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator
cuyjet@louisville.edu
Interests: college student personnel administration, college environmental satisfaction, cultural diversity, leadership development, student development
Amy S. Hirschy, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
Assistant Professor
amy.hirschy@louisville.edu
Interests: college persistence, organization and administration in higher education, sociological issues in the classroom
Bridgette O. Pregliasco, Ed.D., University of Louisville
Assistant Professor and Acting Chair, ELFH Department
bridgette.pregliasco@louisville.edu
Interests: student affairs/academic affairs collaboration, student affairs administration, assessment, professional ethics
Linda T. Shapiro, Ed.D., University of Louisville
Assistant Professor and Acting Chair, ECPY Department
linda.shapiro@louisville.edu
Interests: career development for women, career change, gender differences in the workplace, counseling theories and techniques, group counseling, college student personnel
Adjunct Faculty
Thomas R. Jackson, Ph.D., University of LaVerne (CA)
Vice President for Student Affairs, University of Louisville
Interests: organizational development and structures
Fred W. Rhodes, Ed.D., Mississippi State University
Vice President for Student Affairs, Bellarmine University
frhodes@bellarmine.edu
Interests: student personnel administration, student leadership, legal issues in student affairs, staff development and planning
Gale S. Rhodes, Ed.D., University of Louisville
Assistant University Provost, University of Louisville
gale.rhodes@louisville.edu
Interests: women's issues and work, diversity, teaching and learning, retention
Opportunities for Graduates
Graduates have found employment in administrative positions in various student affairs areas including: vice presidents for student life and deans of students; directors of residence halls, residence hall complexes, and college/university unions; coordinators of student activities, orientation, leadership development, judicial affairs, and Greek Life; counselors in the areas of admissions, financial aid and career services; and advising positions with international students, students with disabilities, academic services for athletes. Some students have also obtained faculty positions.
Financial Aid
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
Internships
There are internships for students involved in the program. You can learn more on the College Student Personnel Internships page.
What types of jobs can I get with a degree in Counseling and Personnel Services with a concentration in College Student Personnel (CSP)?
Graduates of the program find employment in colleges and universities as entry-level student affair practitioners. Examples include: Admissions Counselor, Financial Aid Advisor, Academic Advisor, Resident Director, Coordinator of Student Activities, Greek Advisor, Career Counselor, Student Leadership Programs Coordinator, International Student Advisor, and Service Learning Coordinator. These provide only a few examples. For more information on job opportunities in student affairs, take a look at http://jobs.studentaffairs.com, http://chronicle.com/jobs/, or www.higheredjobs.com.
What types of credentialing is available to someone with a degree in Counseling and Personnel Services with a concentration in College Student Personnel?
The field of student affairs administration does not have a formal licensure or certification process. The master’s degree is the entry-level credential for employment in this field. The University of Louisville’s CSP program meets or exceeds the standards set by the Council on the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education for professional preparation programs.
How long does it take to complete the 42-credit hour program in College Student Personnel?
Students enroll in the CSP program both full- and part-time. Students enrolled full-time (9-12 credit hours per semester) can complete the program in 4-5 semesters (approximately 2 years). For part-time students, completion of the program depends upon the number of credit hours taken per semester. Most part-time students complete the program in approximately 3 years. Because certain courses need to be taken in sequence, a student should meet with her/his faculty advisor early in the program to develop a course of study in order to graduate by a designated semester. Students may choose to complete some courses during the summer term.
What is the difference between the master’s program in College Student Personnel and the master’s program in Higher Education offered by the Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Human Resources Education (ELFH) department?
The master’s program in CSP prepares a student for administrative positions in student affairs according to standards embraced by the student affairs profession as set forth by the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS Standards). The program focuses on the skills, competencies, knowledge, and experience needed to work effectively with college students, to be an effective educator in the out-of-class curriculum of the college or university, and to competently administer student affairs programs and services. The length and content of the program are determined by the CAS standards; the design of the program and the curriculum is intended to meet appropriate educational objectives and to prepare our graduates to be competitive with graduates from other CAS compliant graduate programs.
The master’s program in Higher Education offered through the ELFH department is “intended for those already employed or seeking to be employed in staff or administrative positions in colleges and universities.” There is also an Instruction concentration which is “intended for those employed or preparing for employment in higher education faculty positions, wishing to develop skills in teaching and research on teaching.” The Higher Education program does not focus in the area of student affairs administration and does not follow the CAS standards for master’s level preparation in student affairs.
Can I engage in work in the field of student affairs while I’m a student in the program?
Although the master’s degree is a criterion for most entry-level jobs in the field of student affairs, there are some institutions that will employ bachelor’s level practitioners, especially if they are pursuing a graduate degree in College Student Personnel. A number of students in the CSP program are enrolled part-time and are working full-time at a college or university in student affairs or related area. Some are in staff positions seeking to move to professional positions, while others have obtained an entry-level professional position and are seeking to obtain the appropriate education in order to be maximally effective in their positions or to be able to advance in the field.
Students in the CSP program also work in the field of student affairs through graduate assistantship positions or internship positions as part of their academic coursework.
I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
I am currently working and I am not sure how many classes I will be able to take each term. Do I have to be a full-time student?
The CSP program is designed for both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program in approximately two years. Part-time students can finish in approximately three years. Students may choose to complete some courses during the summer term.
