Ed.M. in College Student Affairs

    Program Overview

    The Ed.M. in College Student Affairs program at the GSE combines hands-on learning opportunities with rigorous curriculum based on the academic requirements set forth by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. It is designed to prepare students for employment at various colleges and universities to fulfill professional positions in areas such as student advising, service learning, residence life, student activities, disability services, cultural centers, and more. Students in the program can expect a combination of classroom instruction, project-based learning, field experiences, internships, and individualized instruction. The College Student Affairs program at the GSE has also distinguished itself with specific focus on social justice and inclusion, and helps prepare students to meet the needs of our nation’s increasingly diverse student body. This program can be completed with full-time or part-time enrollment, varying in the number of total credits required from 30-39 based on experience and employment history. Students in the full-time program are required to hold graduate internships as part of completion of the program. Students in the part-time executive management track are required to maintain full-time employment in a student affairs (or related) position.

    Interested in learning more about the CSA?

    Attend one of our fall virtual information sessions! Virtual information sessions will provide (1) a detailed overview of the CSA program and its admissions requirements, (2) an opportunity to meet with current students, faculty, and higher education administrators, and (3) a chance for you to ask any questions you may have.

    • October 16, 7:00 PM EST
    • November 14, 7:00 PM EST

    Register here

    Program Goals as of 2022-2023
    (Last updated: September 2022)

    Knowledge/Understanding 

    • Students will build a deep understanding of contemporary issues in student affairs, the theoretical basis of the field, student development, leadership, organization and administration of higher education, law and governance, counseling and helping, and student affairs research and assessment.  
    • Students will learn how to effectively integrate their knowledge of the ACPA and NASPA professional competencies, which serve as the foundation for student affairs practice, into their work as practitioners.   
    • Students will learn and apply theories and models of college students’ development such as psychosocial, cognitive, and learning theories. Students will utilize theoretical and empirical knowledge to inform their professional practice in student affairs across a variety of organizational and institutional contexts.  

    Communication/Community Building 

    • Students will be introduced to professional and scholarly communities of practice in their coursework and through their work and practicum experiences.  
    • Through practicum work and the associated seminar courses, students will develop the professional skills needed for effective student affairs practice, including communication skills.  

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 

    • Students will learn about themselves and others and work with diverse individuals to implement student affairs programs, services, and activities that reflect an understanding and appreciation of cultural and human differences.  
    • Students will learn about social justice, including an understanding of power, privilege, and oppression, and how these inequities are propagated in higher education and society more broadly. Students will apply their understanding of social justice to student affairs practice by reflecting on their practice and engaging in work that promotes equity and inclusion.  

    Research/Professional Practice 

    • Students will read and interpret contemporary research about student affairs practice and higher education.  
    • Students will gain extensive experience in professional practice through diverse learning opportunities through full-time work in student affairs, internships, and field experience placements.  

    Assessment 

    • Students will be introduced to assessment models and approaches and develop an understanding of how to effectively apply these methods to practice.    
    • Students will understand, interpret, and read research articles to enable them to be more sophisticated consumers of educational research and to assist with the design and implementation of assessment. 

    Professional Development/Self-Reflection 

    • Through their work in full-time positions in student affairs, internships, and field placements, and the associated seminar courses, students will engage in critical self-reflection, develop the skills needed to be effective practitioners, and explore professional goals and interests.  
    • Students will be introduced to professional organizations through their coursework.  

    For more information about this program:

    Application deadlines:

    • December 15 – for fall admission
    • October 15 – for spring admission to the part-time Executive Management track

    Entry Terms:

    • Fall – for full-time or part-time Executive Management track
    • Spring – for part-time Executive Management track only

    Credits:

    • Full-time track – 39 credits
    • Part-time Executive Management track – 30 credits

    Program Details

    Application Deadline

    Dec 15 / Oct 15

    Entry Term(s)

    Fall / Spring

    Program Level

    Masters

    Program Type

    Degree

    Format

    On-campus

    Credits

    39 / 30

  • What You’ll Learn

    Graduates of the Ed.M. in College Student Affairs program will exit the program understanding the evolution of the student affairs profession and its current state, as well as with a foundational knowledge of theories and models surrounding college students’ cognitive, identity, and psychosocial development. Through internships and project-based learning they will develop interpersonal skills including community building and leadership, as well as learn how individual and group interventions can be leveraged to assist organizations and individuals in achieving their goals. Lastly, graduates of the program will gain an in-depth understanding of assessment and evaluation models and approaches that will enable them to be more sophisticated consumers of educational research and to assist with the design and implementation of assessment and evaluation.

    For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the CSA full-time track course catalog or the CSA part-time track catalog. You may also visit the online schedule of classes.

  • Program Requirements

    Full-Time Track

    • 39 Graduate Course Credits
      • 9 Credits – Completed in the First Fall Semester
      • 9 Credits – Completed in the First Spring Semester
      • 3 Credits – Completed in the First Summer Semester*
      • 9 Credits – Completed in the Second Fall Semester
      • 9 Credits – Completed in the Second Spring Semester
    • Graduate Internship

     

    Part-Time Executive Management Track**

    • 30 Graduate Course Credits
      • 6 Credits – Completed in the First Fall Semester
      • 6 Credits – Completed in the First Spring Semester
      • 6 Credits – Completed in the First Summer Semester 
      • 6 Credits – Completed in the Second Fall Semester
      • 6 Credits – Completed in the Second Spring Semester

    *Taking summer courses is not required for full-time students, but is encouraged if students wish to lighten the course load for the Spring and Fall semesters; This is especially advised for semesters when students are doing field experience courses and electives.

    **Part-time applicants should note that the CSA program now offers 2 core courses per semester that are scheduled after business hours or online to accommodate the schedules of full-time working professionals. 

  • Careers and Outcomes

    Students enrolled in the Ed.M. in College Students Affairs program at the GSE have gone on to find success in positions such as student advisor, residence life coordinator, residence life educator, senior financial aid officer, athletic academic advisor, director of fraternity and sorority affairs, office of admissions representative, and other administrative roles in higher education settings.

  • Admissions Requirements
    • Personal Statement
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation (At least one from a faculty member and at least one from a student affairs professional. The third letter may be from another faculty member, another student affairs professional, an academic or student organization advisor, or a work supervisor.)
    • Official Undergraduate Transcripts
      • Students must have earned a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university; competitive applicants have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
    • Official Graduate Transcripts (if applicable)
    • Resume
    • Verbal and Quantitative Tests Scores from the GRE (optional)
    • Internship Placement or Full-Time Position in Student Affairs
      • Full-time applicants are notified of their potential admission via an invitation to Interview Days in February. Applicants participate in Interview Days in order to try to secure an internship placement. If you are offered an internship and accept it, you will be formally admitted to Rutgers and have until April 15 to accept or decline.
  • How to Apply
    1. Collect the materials required for admission
    2. Submit your application online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
    3. Submit supporting materials online
    4. Any supporting materials that cannot be submitted electronically should be mailed to Graduate Admissions’ New Brunswick office. Their mailing address can be found here: https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/about/contact-us

    If you are eligible for admission, you will be notified in February via an invitation to Interview Days. During this 2-day event, program applicants interview for part-time graduate internships. Acceptance of a graduate internship offer is the final step to acceptance into the CSA Ed.M. program. Accepted applicants will have until April 15 to notify the GSE of their formal acceptance into the program.

    Download the CSA Program Guide for information on how to apply for the Ed.M. in College Student Affairs program at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education.

  • Tuition & Financial Assistance

    Generally, all full-time students eligible for in-state tuition (students who currently reside in New Jersey) will have their tuition for the entirety of the College Student Affairs Ed.M. program paid for by the departments or offices in which they hold CSA graduate internships. All students are responsible for the cost of student fees. For more information regarding current tuition and fees for the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers, please click here.

    Those students who are enrolled in the program and are not eligible for in-state tuition (out-of-state and international students) will have the amount equal to in-state graduate tuition paid for by the departments or offices in which they hold CSA graduate internships. Some departments and offices may offer to cover the cost of out-of-state tuition.

    If you are an out-of-state or international student and have questions regarding the out-of-state tuition remission process, please feel free to e-mail us at: college.student.affairs@gse.rutgers.edu.

    Tuition: 

    For tuition and fees information please visit the tuition landing page.

    Financial Aid:

    While students are encouraged to apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are a number of other merit- and need-based support options, including loans and college work-study programs within and external to Rutgers. For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.

    Scholarships, Fellowships & Assistantships:

    Generous GSE alumni, friends, and community members have established and continue to donate to more than one dozen fellowships and scholarships to help deserving students reach their goals. These awards are granted on the basis of academic achievement and or financial need. While these awards are competitive, interested students are encouraged to apply for consideration and submit the required materials. Students must also submit a FAFSA application to be eligible.  

    To review all current awards and learn more about the donors that established them, please click here.

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