 The
Master of Science degree program in College Student Personnel (CSP) is
offered through the Department of Human Development and Family Studies
(HDF). The CSP program, in existence for over 40 years, prepares
students for entry-level positions in college and university settings
and for careers as advisors, coordinators, directors, and deans at
institutions of higher education throughout the country.
Mission
The mission of the College Student
Personnel is to prepare reflective practitioners for professional
careers in student affairs. The program provides a solid foundation
for those who pursue post-master’s studies in college student
affairs, higher education, or closely related fields.
Vision
To engage one another in an extended
community of co-learning relationships that inspire optimal
development and promote growth in leadership, all based on creating
and sustaining the best practices in college student personnel
preparation and professional work.
Values
 The
values foundational to our program are a blend of not only those
historically associated with a student personnel point of view but
also those reflective of the dynamic nature of higher education.
Qualities and behaviors that we value include honoring each person’s
uniqueness and potential, mutual respect and trust, social justice and
equity, integrity, ethical behavior, servant leadership,
collaboration, freedom to take risks, constructive conflict and
change.
Beliefs
Our basic assumptions and beliefs
include the following:
- The wholistic development and
learning of adults participating in higher education need to be
considered in sociohistoric and systemic contexts.
- Student affairs practitioners
assist people in realizing their unique potentials not only for
the betterment of self but also the enrichment of society.
- Meaningful relationships that
promote both individual and societal transformation are enhanced
when they occur in multicultural communities that embrace and
respond effectively to a diversity of people, ideas, and
processes.
- Human development and learning are
life-long processes.
- Communities develop in dynamic,
systemic contexts.
- As collaborative partners in the
educational process, student affairs practitioners have positive
effects on the learning and development on individuals as well as
communities through the intentional uses and creative applications
of theory-assessment/evaluation/research-practice cycles.
- Preparing people to serve as
professionals in college student affairs requires, therefore, an
intricate blending of awareness, knowledge and skills related to
human development; individual and group interventions;
organizational development; leadership; cultural competence; and
assessment, evaluation and research.
 Program
of Study
All students take a core curriculum of
26 credits consisting of the following courses (please refer to the Catalog
for course descriptions):
- HDF551 Counseling Theory and
Techniques (3)
- HDF560 Group Procedures and
Leadership (3)
- HDF562 Organizational Development
in Human Services (3)
- HDF567 Principles and Practices of
College Student Personnel (3)
- HDF568 College Student Development
and Learning (3)
- HDF570 Research in Human
Development and Family Studies (3)
- HDF572 Administrative Practices in
Human Development and Family Studies (1)
- HDF573 Legal Issues in Higher Education (1)
- HDF574 Environmental Theory and
Assessment in Higher Education (3)
- HDF575 Cultural Competence in Human
Services (1)
- HDF576 Diversity in Higher
Education (2)
Capstone options include the
following:
- HDF 580/581, 583/584 Internship and
Seminar (10 Credits)
This option is recommended for the
majority of students who are new or fairly new to the field of
college student personnel and who are seeking supervised work
experience in a variety of departments and institutions. This option
includes a weekly seminar class in addition to a minimum of 10 hours
per week of field work over two semesters.
- HDF 595 Action Research Project (6
Credits)*
The research option is recommended
for students who have had full-time student affairs experience or
are currently employed full time. Students must complete an
independent research project approved by the advisor.
- HDF 599 Masters Thesis (6 Credits)*
This option is recommended for
students who have had full-time student affairs experience and wish
to pursue research studies or an advanced degree. The thesis is
completed under the guidance of a faculty committee.
*Action
Research and Thesis options also require 3 credits of HDF 553 Higher
Education Practicum and 1 credit of HDF 580 Professional Seminar.
All capstone options include up to 6
elective credits and a required comprehensive examination. Appropriate courses
should be selected in consultation with the advisor.
Up to nine credits of coursework (core
courses or electives) may be transferred from other institutions.
Prior approval must be attained.
Assistantships
Graduate assistantships permit
students to integrate theory with practice and to receive financial
assistance in the form of a tuition waiver and stipend.
Although most students receive
financial aid through assistantships, other assistance may be
available. Scholarship, fellowship, and student loan information may
be obtained by contacting the Student Financial Aid Office, University
of Rhode Island, Green Hall, Kingston, RI 02881 (phone:
401-874-2314) or the Graduate School Office, University of Rhode
Island, Quinn Hall, Kingston, RI 02881 (phone: 401-874-2262).
Field Experiences
Field experiences may be completed as a
one-semester practicum or as a year-long capstone experience.
Placements are available in many of the same offices as the
assistantships. In addition, placements have been offered at other
institutions in the area including Brown University, Bryant University,
the Community College of Rhode Island, Connecticut College, Johnson & Wales University,
Providence College, Rhode Island College, R.I. School of Design, Roger
William’s University, Salve Regina University, and URI’s College
of Continuing Education.
Admission
To apply to the graduate program in
College Student Personnel, candidates should submit an application
online through the Graduate School
web site. Two
copies of official transcripts
of all previous college work and two letters of recommendation (one
faculty member and one student affairs practitioner) should be submitted to the
department along with the online application. A
one-page statement of purpose which outlines the applicant's reasons
for pursuing graduate work in College Student Personnel should
accompany the application form, as should a recent and relevant resume.
An in-person or telephone interview with a department faculty
representative also is required, once the application is complete and
reviewed.
The program is highly competitive.
Approximately 15 applicants are accepted each year. While no specific
undergraduate preparation is required, candidates should have a clear
understanding of the field of College Student Personnel. They should
also be willing to focus on personal and professional development as
part of their preparation for this field. The application deadline is
April 1 for the Fall Semester. However,
applications should be submitted as early as possible to be considered
for assistantships, and not later than January 1 for inclusion in the
Interview Day Program in early spring.
The University of Rhode Island is
located in the southern part of Rhode Island in the
historic village of Kingston. The spacious, rural campus Is located 30
miles south of Providence In the northeast metropolitan corridor
between New York City and Boston. One of its most attractive assets is
its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay which
provides the area with some of the most beautiful beaches in the
nation.
There are approximately 12,000
undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students enrolled at URI.
Housing
Housing is available both on and off
campus. Applications and information may be obtained by contacting the
Office of Housing and Residential Life at 401-874-5390 or the Commuter
Housing Office at 401-874-2828.
Faculty
Katie
Branch, Ph.D.
Program Director & Associate Professor
Indiana University, 1997 kbranch@uri.edu
J. Eugene Knott, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Maryland, 1975 gknott@uri.edu
James A. Miller, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
University of Rhode Island, 1999
jmiller@uri.edu
Administrative Assistant
Shirley Hoffrogge
401-874-4917
shirleyh@mail.uri.edu
Links for More Information
- Click here for a list of some of the positions our
recent graduates have been hired for.
- Click here
to view a PowerPoint presentation on the CSP Learning Community or
click here to download the
presentation in a Zip file.
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