The Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services with a concentration in College Student Personnel 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.
The mission of the College Student Personnel program is to prepare scholar practitioners for student affairs roles in which they promote student learning and development and advocate on behalf of students to enhance postsecondary success. Through the curriculum, internships, and partnerships within a diverse, metropolitan community, CSP students advance college readiness and success.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).
We prepare students to:
Name - Alyssa BettsWhat is your favorite part about the CSP program?
I love the family feel of my program! Everyone from cohort to faculty has your best interest in heart and mind. You are truly never alone in CSP!
Name - Tanner MobleyWhat are your career goals in College Student Personnel?
In the next ten years, my goal is to be the Director of a Gender and Sexuality Center. As an LGBTQ youth in the South, organizations like the UofL LGBT Center had a transformative impact on me, and I hope to do the same for others.
Name - Madison ReedWhat is your favorite part about the College Student Personnel program at the University of Louisville?
My favorite part about the CSP program is definitely the environment at the University of Louisville. Having a small cohort has enabled me to learn, challenge, and grow in my educational experience. It is incredible to be surrounded by so many unique individuals who bring new perspectives that further cultivate a rich environment to learn in. I also love the professors and faculty as well. Coming from a smaller institution, I was able to get 1:1 and really got to know my professors more than a surface level. Coming to the University of Louisville, I was afraid I would lose that aspect but being in the CSP program has shown me that I did not lose that aspect at all. All the professors are kind hearted and understand that every person they encounter is going through something so it is so relieving to have that kind of support. I am so glad I made the decision to be apart of this program!
Name - Diamond DaviesWhy did you choose to continue pursuing education after graduation?
I chose to pursue a Masters of Education in CSP after realizing that a career in Broadcasting wasn't the best fit for me. My mentor asked me to make a list of the things that I enjoyed doing in undergrad and majority of the list was student focused. So, I thought I’d give it a try. I hope this this program will help me find opportunities to enhance the student experience that I hadn't thought of and the most enjoyable way of meeting that goal.
Name - Holly SextonWhy did you choose to continue pursuing education after graduation?
I chose to continue my education because I knew the College Student Personnel program would be the best way for me to pursue my passion for working with first-generation college students. Being a first-generation college student myself, I have faced various obstacles that could have impacted my decision to pursue a master's degree, however I was able to overcome them. I understand this is not the case for all students and I want to help students succeed and find their place in college. I want to help students grow as professionals so they can discover their full potential and I know the College Student Personnel program will help me to achieve my goals and the goals of the students I will help in the future
Name - Tanelle SmithWhy did you choose to continue pursuing education after graduation?
I am a firm believer in life-long learning and I wanted to continue to expand my knowledge beyond the undergraduate level. I am always challenging myself to reach higher heights and I knew that this program would do just that. I want to change the world through the lens of young adults and in order to do so I have to reach my full potential.
Name - Samantha La MarWhat is your favorite part about the CSP program?
I really love that our program is counseling based. It teaches us, as future practitioners, to view students from a whole-person perspective. As a first generation graduate myself, this is important on many levels. We never know what a student is bringing with them when they walk in the door, so establishing counseling skills throughout the program is something I look forward to utilizing in my career path. Our cohort model is also amazing. We share resources with each other, support and uplift each other and make the classroom a fun and engaging environment. The faculty allow us to put our own spin on the learning experience and are always friendly and available to support our learning. Lastly, I love that we are guided by a set of professional standards. This has helped me to understand the concrete professional skills I am gaining and will have as a CSP graduate in 2020!
Name - Alison WhittyWhy did you choose to continue pursuing education after graduation?
I chose to continue pursuing education after graduation to gain the perspective of a college campus through a different lens. I wanted to further develop my organizational and leadership skills in order to be a positive liaison between students and institution.
Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
Please have transcripts sent to:
Graduate School
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
If transcripts are sent electronically,
please have them sent to the following e-mail: gradadm @ louisville.edu
Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.
The CSP faculty are genuine, passionate and accomplished; The curriculum is strong and the opportunities for practical, professional experiences are countless. But, it was the cohesive community that is characteristic of UofL's CSP program that sold me. I couldn't have made a better choice.
Lindsay Peters, College Student Personnel Student
Spring Term Admission: October 1
Fall and Summer Term Admission: March 1. Initial review will occur after February 1 for all complete applications submitted by February 1. An additional review will occur after March 1 for all additional complete applications submitted by March 1.
Note: If spaces are available in the program after the March 1 deadline, fall applications will be considered until May 31. Please check with the department prior to applying.
If you have questions about applying to the program, please email gradadm@louisville.edu or call the Office of Graduate Student Success at 502-852-7697.
Amy Hirschy, Program Coordinator
Department of Counseling and Human Development
College of Education & Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0626
Amy S. Hirschy, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
Assistant Professor
amy.hirschy@louisville.edu
502.852.0625
http://louisville.edu/education/faculty/hirschy/
Areas of Research and/or Professional Interest: college student persistence and retention theories; student success in and outside the classroom; socialization to the student affairs profession; normative structures in student affairs.
Susan Diana Longerbeam, Ph.D., University of Maryland
Associate Professor
susan.longerbeam@louisville.edu
http://louisville.edu/education/faculty/longerbeam/
Areas of Research and/or Professional Interest: Dr. Longerbeam's scholarship focuses on faculty and student culture, campus climate and student learning and success in higher education. Dr. Longerbeam serves at the national level on the NASPA Faculty Council, and is an ACPA Diamond Honoree and ACPA Emerging Scholar.
Geoff Bailey, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Executive Director, REACH
gkbail01 @ exchange.louisville.edu
Interests: Learning centers, persistence and retention, assessment, self-efficacy
Dwayne Compton, Ed.D., University of Louisville
Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Diversity
dwayne.compton @ louisville.edu
Interests: Emotional Intelligence, Academic Success for Black Males, Diversification of the P-12 Teacher Workforce, and Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives.
Glenn Gittings, Ph.D., University of Louisville
Director – Special Programs & Parents Association
glenn.gittings@louisville.edu
Interests: Doctoral student socialization and persistence, higher education history, student affairs fundraising, and parent & family relations to college students
Alyssa Murphy, University of Louisville
Director of Student-Athlete Leadership & Development
Alyssa.Murphy@louisville.edu
Katie Partin, Ph.D., University of Louisville
Assistant Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
katie.partin@louisville.edu
Interests: assessment, accreditation and accountability, first-year and transfer student success, socialization to the student affairs profession, student affairs administration
Angela B. Taylor, Ph.D., University of Louisville
Assistant Dean of Students
Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities
Angela.taylor @ louisville.edu
Interests: Second year students, first generation college students, women’s issues, new professionals in student affairs
Graduates have secured employment in administrative positions in various student affairs areas including: vice presidents for student life and deans of students; directors of residence life, 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, and academic services for athletes. After continuing their education to complete a doctorate, some students have also obtained faculty positions.
The College Student Personnel program partners with Student Affairs professionals in the Louisville and Southern Indiana region through department and graduate assistant positions and internship opportunities.
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.
502-852-0433
fmcox@louisville.edu
https://louisville.edu/graduate/gsc/travel-grants
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.
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.
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.
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 on the area of student affairs administration and does not follow the CAS standards for master's level preparation in student affairs.
Additional information about the Higher Education Administration program can be found here:
http://louisville.edu/education/degrees/ma-he
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 CPS with the College Student Personnel (CSP) concentration. 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 concentration also work in the field of student affairs through graduate assistantship positions or internship positions as part of their academic coursework.
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.
The M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services with the CSP concentration 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.