Welcome to UofL's College Student Personnel Program! Want to work on a college campus making a difference in students lives? Do you believe that student learning occurs both inside and outside the classroom? Consider a career in Student Affairs!

CSP Program Overview and Philosophy

The department of Educational and Counseling Psychology (ECPY) offers both master’s and doctoral degrees in education with an emphasis in College Student Personnel. These programs prepare professionals for positions in postsecondary education settings in college student affairs.

Both programs emphasize proficiency in assessing and promoting the growth and development of college students in postsecondary settings. Skill building in multiple educational settings is a hallmark of the program, as are commitments to diversity and the University's urban mission.

Both the MEd and PhD include internship experiences that can be arranged at multiple Louisville-area public and private higher education institutions, including the University of Louisville itself, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Bellarmine University, Spalding University, Indiana University Southeast, and Ivy Tech. CSP programs include both full- and part-time students. Most full-time students hold graduate assistantships. Through these internships and assistantships, CSP students integrate their coursework with valuable exposure to real-world issues.

Theory and Practice

Theory and practice are critical philosophical components of our program which share this common focus: preparation of professionals knowledgeable about college student development and administration in diverse student affairs settings. Students are required to pursue a sequence of study that permits a well balanced preparation in theory, research, and field experiences in student affairs practice.

The College Student Personnel Program has been a perfect fit for me! I began with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a passion for working with people—CPS offered opportunities to build on my desire to gain a position working on a college campus.

Kate McAnulty
'05 M.Ed., College Student Personnel
Sr. Admissions Counselor

Philosophy

The program provides 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 professional that 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).

Careers in College Student Personnel

Graduate internships and assistantships are excellent sources of professional development—many CSP students find employment immediately after graduation at these and other institutions both locally and around the nation. CSP graduates occupy positions in various areas, including vice presidents for student life and deans of students; directors of residence life; coordinators of student activities and retention; counselors in the areas of admissions, financial aid, and career planning and placement; and advising positions with international students, students with disabilities, and academic services for students at risk or athletes.

Graduate Association for Professionals in Student Affairs

Students have access to their own student organization, the Graduate Association for Professionals in Student Affairs (GAPSA), which provides opportunities for its members to share, learn, and interact with fellow members in the advancement of knowledge in the field through regular meetings, workshops, conferences, socials and other special programs. GAPSA has a webpage which further describes its purpose and activities.

Professional Activity & Service

Current and recently graduated CSP students are active professionally on both the local and the national levels. For example one of our students acquired a nationally competitive internship in Santa Clara and have planned and implemented a student leadership conference at Bellarmine University at which twelve U of L students presented.