The Master of Education (Ed. M.) in College Student Affairs (CSA) at Rutgers--New Brunswick/Piscataway is a 42 credit hour course of study designed to prepare students to enter the field of student affairs.  The CSA program is based on the academic requirements established by the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) and endorsed by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), the two national associations of student affairs educators.  Learning opportunities in the program include a combination of classroom instruction, field experience, apprenticeships and individualized learning.  Instruction will include work with fulltime faculty with training and experience in student affairs and with distinguished faculty and professionals from both the Graduate School of Education and throughout Rutgers University.  Links to GSE faculty appear at right in red; for links to additional members, click on the "Faculty" tab above.

The CSA program has an applied focus, integrating classroom instruction and experience in the field to provide education and professional credentials for students who either have or seek employment in College Student Affairs. Together, the integrated learning experience helps students develop the knowledge, skills and work experience to prepare them for employment in the field of student affairs upon graduation from the program.  Student Affairs professionals work directly with students in the following areas: housing and residence life, student unions, student activities, volunteer student services, programming, counseling, career development, orientation, enrollment management, support services for underrepresented groups, retention and assessment, parent programs, student judicial affairs, academic advising, and disability services, among others.  Administrative reporting is typically to a vice president for student affairs or vice president for undergraduate education and/or dean of students in colleges and universities.

Enrolled students will pursue a rigorous program of academic study combined with practicum and internship experiences that will allow them to focus on particular areas of interest or specialize in specific programs.  The student will be knowledgeable and have effective skills in interpersonal communication, program planning, research and evaluation, community building, and the ability to foster a campus-wide focus on student learning.

A successful student in the College Student Affairs Master of Education Program at Rutgers will gain an understanding of:

• The historical, philosophical and contextual foundations of student affairs and how those aspects have influenced its organization and administration in the context of higher education;
  
• Psychosocial, cognitive and learning theories and how those theories impact college students.  They will have the ability to apply theory to practice in specialized and generalist areas, and translate this theoretical knowledge about the development of organizations and individuals into meaningful practices of the profession;
  
• Individual and group interventions that assist both organizations and individuals to achieve their goals, focusing on student diversity and multicultural competence and the ability to engage a diverse student population with effectiveness and confidence;
  
• Assessment, evaluation and research that will allow them to conduct studies at an elementary level and understand the research studies relevant to higher education and student affairs;
  
• Apply this knowledge and skills in practical settings.