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Masters

Educational Administration and Foundations - College Student Personnel Administration

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Overview

The College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) master's degree program provides students with the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to enable them to perform the roles of administrator, advisor, and programmer in student affairs and higher education administration. After completing the program, a master's graduate will have acquired the skills, knowledge, values, and commitment necessary to succeed at entry- to mid-level student affairs positions in public and private colleges and universities.

Students in the program reflect the increasing diversity of today's college campuses with respect to race, ethnicity, orientation, gender, and age. The College Student Personnel Administration program includes students who are recent graduates, career enhancers, and persons seeking a career change. Full-time enrollment is preferred and recommended, yet the program is flexible enough for those students who wish to attend part-time.

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The Department of Educational Administration and Foundations prepares superintendents, principals, university administrators, and other educational leaders.

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Marci Rockey
(309) 438-2045
DeGarmo 331

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How to Apply

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to this program must:

  • Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
  • Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
  • If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
  • If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

The Master's Degree in College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) trains candidates to succeed in entry- to-mid-level student affairs positions in two-year and four-year public and private colleges and universities. Graduates will be qualified to serve as higher education administrators, advisors, and programmers in areas as diverse as residential life, activities, admissions, advising, service and leadership, orientation, multicultural programs, student conduct, fraternity and sorority life, and assessment.

Applicants interested in P-12 teaching or administration should apply to other relevant programs within the College of Education. International applicants seeking an F1 or J1 visa should apply for the fall application cycles, as spring admissions are offered on a part-time basis only.

The department may request an interview with the admissions committee before final admissions decisions are made. 

Our staff will contact applicants with whom they desire an interview.

To be considered for this program, you must meet the following requirements.

GPA

You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of your undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master’s program.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

A 3.0 GPA is required to hold a graduate assistantship.

Resume

Submit a current resume.

Statement

Submit a statement that describes your career objectives and addresses the following points:

  • Why are you interested in pursuing the College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) program?
  • What experiences have you had that prepared you for academic work in the CSPA program?
  • What are your short and long-range career goals?
  • How will the CSPA program help you meet those goals?
  • What qualities and characteristics do you possess that make you a strong candidate for admission to the CSPA program?

Statement Length Requirement: 750 words, typed and double-spaced

Reference Letters

Submit two letters of reference.

One letter should be from a faculty member who can speak to your academic accomplishments.

The other letter should come from a faculty, staff member, or supervisor who is familiar with your work ethic and leadership abilities.

Part-Time Applicants

Part-time students must be currently employed at a college or university. Employment must be in an area that can be used as a learning laboratory to apply material learned in class.

A minimum of two years of related student affairs work prior to being admitted is preferred.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall (August) Term — January 3
  • Spring (January) Term — Part-time students only with coordinator approval.
  • Summer (May) Term — Part-time students only with coordinator approval.

Apply Now

Graduate Assistantships

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,

  • be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
  • be in good-standing
  • be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

Graduate assistants receive

  • monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
  • a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
  • a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment

Costs & Funding

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

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  • Educational Administration & Foundations
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