Academics
Graduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Student Personnel Administration, M.S.
About the Program
Founded in 1970, the student personnel administration (SPA) program has produced 1,400 alumni and continues to be one of the largest and most diverse SPA graduate programs in the country. The department provides students with the theoretical background and practical experience for professional work in many student personnel areas. The academic program includes an overview of knowledge, practice, problems, and administrative procedures related to institutions of higher education. It emphasizes the role of the professional student personnel worker in admissions, residence halls, financial aid, registration, orientation, academic and personal advisement, counseling, international student activities, minority student services, career development, student union activities, athletics, alumni affairs, and student affairs administration. The program is relevant not only to those currently involved in college personnel work, but also to those interested in working in client-centered careers in community agencies, health delivery, law enforcement, human resource administration, marketing, teaching, and consulting.
Students may focus on courses and internships in four concentration areas: administration, counseling and student development, community education, and research and evaluation.
Internships: The professional training of the student personnel worker depends heavily on internships that provide practical experience in applying classroom theories. The internship is a vehicle for diversified professional training that encompasses research, planning, and organization; the development of priorities; and principles of student personnel administration and services-oriented work. Furthermore, the internship meets the student’s self-education needs, inspires self-confidence and self-reliance, provides experience in ethical behavior when dealing with students and colleagues, and encourages a sense of responsibility to the profession.
Assistantships: Graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities are available in student affairs, academic affairs, and other areas at Buffalo State. Recipients may receive a stipend, as well as waivers of tuition and room costs. For information about hall director positions, contact the vice president for student affairs, Cleveland Hall 519; for information about other positions, contact the appropriate campus offices or the Career Development Center, Cleveland Hall 306. Employment opportunities may be available, on a competitive basis, in nearby institutions of higher education or in community agencies. For college-wide assistantship opportunities, visit http://www.buffalostate.edu/graduateschool.
Professional Organizations: SPA graduates gain mentoring, networking, and professional development support through several organizations, including the Buffalo State Graduate Association for Student Personnel Administrators (GASPA), the Buffalo State Student Personnel Administration (SPA) Alumni Chapter, the College Student Personnel Association of New York State (CSPA), the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Information and applications are available through the SPA faculty or in the Student Personnel Administration Department.
Graduation Requirements: A minimum of 36 credit hours are needed for degree completion: 27 credit hours of required coursework and 9 hours of electives. After completing 6 to 12 credit hours, students apply for degree candidacy and are subject to continuous review by the faculty to ensure adherence to professional standards in the classroom and internships. A written comprehensive examination must be completed during a student’s final semester (offered in November and April of each academic year).
Contact a program faculty adviser for details on course changes and assistance in choosing an area of concentration (9 elective credit hours and 6 internship/practicum credit hours), and to plan and complete the degree candidacy form.
About the Student Personnel Administration Department
214C Bacon Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-3789
Fax: (716) 878-5833
www.buffalostate.edu/spa/
Contact Faculty and Staff in the Student Personnel Administration Department
Admission Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 (4.0 scale). Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree but do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may be admitted if they either attain a minimum combined quantitative/verbal score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or enroll in adviser-designated graduate work as an accepted premajor and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.
2. Prerequisite academic work and skill development that provides evidence of the applicant’s capability to accomplish the master’s degree program requirements.
3. Consideration can be given to work-related experience and involvement in the field.
4. Three letters of recommendation.
5. A letter/essay indicating reasons for interest in the program. This will be evaluated as a writing sample.
6. A current résumé.
7. An interview with SPA program faculty.
In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.
Program Requirements
Required Courses (27 credits)
CSP 616 American Higher Education
CSP 617 Student Development and Learning
CSP 618 Student Personnel Administration
CSP 622 Techniques of Counseling I
CSP 623 Techniques of Counseling II
CSP 624 Internship/Practicum I
CSP 625 Internship/Practicum II
CSP 650 Student Assessment Tests
CSP 689 Methods of Educational Research
Comprehensive Examination (offered in November and April; 0 cr)
Elective Courses** (9 credits)
Select three courses from any of the following areas:
A. Administration
CSP 504 Community College Administration
CSP 619 Management Systems and Leadership in Higher Education
CSP 620 Planning and Finance in Higher Education
CSP 651 The Law and Higher Education
CSP 670 The College Student Movement 1955–1975
B. Counseling and Student Development
CRS 559* Principles of Creative Problem Solving
CRS 560 Foundations for Creative Learning
CSP 630 Group Counseling
CSP 632 Vocational Development and Career Counseling
CSP 670 The College Student Movement 1955–1975
CSP 711 Seminar in Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy
C. Community Education
CSP 504 Community College Administration
CSP 619 Management Systems and Leadership in Higher Education
CSP 632 Vocational Development and Career Counseling
CSP 670 The College Student Movement 1955–1975
D. Research and Evaluation
CRS 580 Creativity Assessment: Methods and Resources
CSP 695 Thesis; may be substituted for Master’s Project (6)
EDF 520 Educational Statistics I (Descriptive and Inferential)
E. Any Concentration Area
CSP 590 Independent Study (if research-based)
CSP 690 Master’s Project
Other elective courses can be selected from related courses/workshops in
various disciplines or interdisciplinary areas.
*Can apply to other concentrations
Total Required Credit hours (36 credits)
** Selected under advisement
All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.
