University of West Florida

The College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) program is designed for those students interested in higher education administration, particularly in the various student affairs and student services areas. Program participants will prepare for careers involving organizational management, student development, leadership training, and administration. Guided by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), the curriculum includes selected foundational studies; student development theory; student characteristics and effects of college on students; individual, group, and organizational interventions; organization and administration; and assessment, evaluation, and research. The program also includes substantial supervised internship opportunities.

The master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration is a 42 hour program designed to be completed in two years. The program includes a professional core of 36 hours plus 6 hours of appropriate electives. Six hours of internship experience is included in the professional core. Internships are available in a wide variety of student affairs and student service areas.

A quality academic program is enhanced by the opportunity for pre-professional work experience. A number of students in the program will have the opportunity for significant and meaningful work responsibilities that will translate directly into powerful résumés. Various student service areas of The University of West Florida offer several compensated assistantships including: the Dean of Students office, residence life facilities and programs, student union operations and management, student activities and campus programming, Greek affairs, recreation facilities and programs, orientation and other student transition programs, student development services, academic advising, and career services.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the catalog, the department bases decisions for regular admission on a holistic review of credentials in which the following criteria are used to assess the potential success of each applicant:

• Submission of one of the following graduate admission tests:
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal and Quantitative scores
  • Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
• Undergraduate cumulative GPA
• Submission of letter of intent describing reasons for applying to the program and associated career goals
• Submission of three letters of recommendation including one professional reference and one academic reference
• Submission of résumé
• Fit with program

Degree Requirements

To be eligible for a M.Ed. degree in College Student Personnel Administration, a student must do the following:

• Be admitted to the program
• Submit an approved degree plan which includes at least 42 semester hours
• Successfully complete all required coursework with a grade of "C" or higher
• Complete degree requirements compliant with the time-to-degree policy
• Be recommended for graduation by the Division of Professional and Community Leadership
  

CSPA Course Requirements

* Course taken twice in separate semesters