Master of Education: Student Affairs

The Master of Education in Student Affairs program provides students with a transformative learning experience founded on theory-to-practice. In producing practitioner-scholars, the faculty combine in-class learning with graduate assistantships / full-time employment enhanced with practicum and internship experiences. The program’s strong network of alumni help foster connections across the field and in and beyond the region. Students graduate prepared to successfully support students with strong collaboration, leadership, and communication skills based in theory and ethical practice.

Specialty Concentrations

• • Overview

    The M.Ed. Program in Student Affairs at Clemson University is designed to produce practitioner-scholars with skills to work in any student affairs or student support functional area. This program highlights the ways that student affairs and academic affairs complement one another in recruiting, admitting, supporting, developing, retaining, and graduating students. The student affairs program curriculum is mapped to the ACPA / NASPA professional competencies.

    Our work and learning together centers students and contributes to higher education in a variety of ways, in a broad range of positions, and in diverse institutional settings. Ultimately, students in our program learn how divisions of student affairs function as interconnected working units, and how divisions of student affairs complement the academic mission of institutions and enhance student learning in higher education.

    In our program we hope to prepare:

    • Informed practitioners who apply research and scholarship to individual contexts and broader learning environments.
    • Active practitioners who engage in service and professional development at the campus, local, state, regional, and national levels.
    • Introspective practitioners who make ethical and critical decisions in pursuit of just and equitable experiences and environments.
    • Collaborative practitioners who create, implement, and support equitable opportunities and environments to address emerging issues in community with others.
  • Program Goals

    Students in this program can expect:

    • A curriculum aligned with the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies;
    • graduate assistantships and field experiences selected by the students and their advisors enhancing students’ professional interests);
    • professional development opportunities through graduate student organizations, professional conferences, and leadership opportunities;
    • a learning experienced informed by the cohort model which brings together students from varied backgrounds and identifies and informs the learning in and out of the classroom; and
    • an immersive learning environment that develops practitioners ready to engage in student and academic affairs work, informed by courses, projects, individual and group projects, student involvement, and field experiences.

    Program Evaluation Data
    Each year, the program conducts an exit survey that assesses recent graduates' learning outcomes and perceptions of program experiences (see 2019-2020 exit survey results). Consistently, over the past several years, recent graduates have noted they appreciate the following components of Clemson's program:

    • student-centered faculty who get to know students as individuals;
    • the ability to work with their faculty advisor to design a unique course of study that furthers their professional goals;
    • the rich variety of functional areas and institutional settings for practicum and internship experiences;
    • a strong program alumni network connecting students with prospective employers;
    • collaboration between the student affairs M.Ed. program and the Clemson University Division of Student Affairs, which facilitates learning in and out of the classroom;
    • recognition of the program by student affairs practitioners around the country; and
    • the high job placement rate of the program and the assistance they receive from the faculty to effectively search for, acquire and transition into their first professional position.

    The program also periodically collects data in the form of alumni surveys, which are collected from program graduates one and three years after graduation. The 2015-16 alumni survey results are available.

  • Admission Requirements

    

    Admission to the Program
    Applications for the Master of Education in Counselor Education- Student Affairs must be complete by the listed deadline below to be considered.  This can be found below. 

    Application Deadlines
    All application materials must be submitted by the following deadlines:

    • January 15, all full-time students to enroll in the Fall semester
    • October 1, part-time students already working in Higher Education to enroll in the Spring semester
    • Final decisions are typically made by mid-February for fall admission and mid-October for spring admission.
    • All applicants must also submit a separate application for the Graduate Assistantship process. 

    NOTE: This program is listed on the Graduate School application as Counselor Education (Student Affairs). 

    Application Requirements
    To be considered for the program, applicants must:

    • Have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. or international college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent).
    • Submit a Graduate School application (See Graduate Application: https://www.applyweb.com/clemsong/index.ftl and Admissions FAQ: https://www.clemson.edu/graduate/admissions/admissions-faq.html

    Transfer Credits
    Individuals who have started working on a graduate degree in student affairs or a related degree at another institution must go through the full application process. Clemson can accept up to 12 graduate course credits from another institution. Transfer courses must meet the requirements of a Clemson graduate course. In addition for this program:

    • You must provide a syllabus for the course(s) you hope to transfer in.
    • Any transfer credits must be approved by your Clemson University academic advisor in consultation with instructors for the course(s) you hope to transfer in.
    • Courses must have been taken within six years from the date you will complete your graduate degree.

    Student Affairs Assistantships
    Full-time students are required to be employed full-time or to have a graduate assistantship in order to be in the program. The program is designed this way to emphasize the theory to practice philosophy of student affairs work. Graduate assistantships are competitive and are typically obtained through the Clemson University Graduate Admissions Recruitment and Selection CUGARS process. Because the size of each cohort is determined by (a) available assistantships and (b) faculty capacity, applicants who do not receive an assistantship with Clemson University or who are not full-time employees in higher education settings will NOT have a space in the cohort.

    Student Affairs Assistantships Information & Application: click here

    Helpful Tips for Student Affairs Program Applicants
    The student affairs program faculty seeks to admit a diverse cohort from the applicant pool for this competitive program, thus we review applicant files comprehensively. With that in mind, the faculty look for the following when reviewing applications:

    • The potential for student success in graduate school. This can be exemplified by past academic success (GPA), but enhanced by strong letters of reference from former faculty on the likelihood of students’ success in graduate learning and education.
    • Strong collaboration and communication skills. Much of the program at Clemson is based on teamwork and grou projects. This is intentional in order to prepare students to be successful student affairs practitioners. Students should be prepared to provide examples in their materials of how they have worked on teams, communicated effectively, and navigated conflict.
    • Experience with and desire to continue learning about justice and equity. Because we seek diverse student perspectives, student experiences and familiarity with issues of justice and equity enhance the learning / teaching faculty, individual students, and cohorts can do in the program. Speaking about personally transformative experiences related to these topics helps faculty understand potential student contributions and opportunities for additional learning.
    • Student affairs knowledge. While we do not expect students to come in with full understanding of the complexities or variety of functional areas within student affairs, student should bring some familiarity with the profession and current issues related to student affairs work into their learning.

    Applicants will have a chance to speak to these and other topics in the application essays. We encourage you to give thought and a high level of effort to these essays as they are your chance to tell us who you are. Essay responses that are superficial, contain basic writing errors (grammar, spelling, etc.) significantly reduce the likelihood that a student will receive admission from the faculty to the program. We encourage students to have others review their writing for both content and mechanics before submitting the essay responses.

    Additional information concerning supporting materials can be found at: https://www.clemson.edu/graduate/admissions/preparing-to-apply/supporting-materials.html

  • Program Requirements

    The Master of Education degree in student affairs prepares students for positions in all areas of student development services across higher education. Students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis. The full-time program can be completed in two years. Most full-time employees are able to complete the program in three years. All students must complete the program in six years. Courses are primarily taught late afternoons and evenings, Monday through Thursday, at 3:30 or later. Most of the courses are taught at Clemson University.

    Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education (42 semester hours)

    1. Area of Specialization (33 hours):
       EDSA 8030 Student Development Services in Higher Education
       EDSA 8040 Theories of Student Development in Higher Education
       EDSA 8060 Student Affairs Issues
       EDSA 8080 Legal and Ethical Issues in Student Affairs and Counselor Education
       EDSA 8090 Higher Education Administration
       EDSA 8100 Advising and Supporting
       EDSA 8110 Social Justice
       EDSA 8190 Contemporary College Student
       EDL 7650 Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
       EDL 8550 Applied Research in Higher Education
       EDL 9770 Diversity Issues in Higher Education
       
       
    2. Field Experiences (6 or 9 hours):
       EDSA 8340 Student Affairs Practicum (prerequisite 8030 or 8040 and permission of instructor)
       EDSA 8440 Student Affairs Internship (prerequisite 8340 and permission of instructor)

    III. Elective (in lieu of second internship as outlined above).

    Students must complete both a practicum and an internship experience. Students may opt for a second internship or may instead choose an elective course. The elective course must be at the graduate level and chosen in consultation with a student’s advisor.

  • Financial

    Tuition and Fees

    Explore information on tuition and fees using the Student Financial Services’ tuition and fee calculator. (Be sure to choose the ‘graduate’ tab at the top of the page.)

    Financial Aid

    For information regarding Financial Aid, please contact the office of Student Financial Aid.

    Graduate Assistantships

    Graduate Assistantship positions exist across the University in a variety of departments and centers that enhance and complement the academic experience students receive in the classroom.

    Assistantships are available to full-time students (enrolled in at least nine credit hours per semester) and typically require a 30-hour per week work commitment. The work assignments vary by assistantship. Students who obtain these positions will receive an extensive tuition reduction as well as a monthly stipend.

    Candidates for the Master of Education in student affairs program may submit applications for Graduate Assistantships starting in mid-November. Applications are due no later than February 1. This is a separate application from the February 1 Graduate School application.

    Once candidates are admitted to the graduate program, they will be invited to participate in the on-campus interview days during which admitted students will interview with departments seeking graduate assistants. The two-day process allows candidates to meet other candidates, faculty, staff,a nd current students while they learn about Clemson University and the Master of Education student affairs program.

    At the end of interview process, candidates rank their assistantship opportunities. These rankings will assist in identifying the best candidate for each position. Candidates receiving an offer will have until April 15 to make a final decision.

    Click here for the Graduate Assistantship Application.

    Click here for the complete listing of open assistantships.

  • Faculty

    The faculty in the Master of Education Student Affairs program bring a variety of experiences to the work. You will have the chance to learn from former practitioners in a variety of areas and scholars with scholarship in and beyond student affairs focusing on a variety of areas in higher education. Upon admission to the program and securing of an assistantship, you will be assigned a faculty advisor.

    For more information about the faculty, please consider our faculty pages which include courses we have taught, our vitae, as well as our research interests.

    Boettcher, Michelle	Counselor Education, Student Affairs	864-656-1446	mboettc@clemson.edu
    Cawthon, Tony	Counselor Education, Student Affairs	864-656-5100	cawthot@clemson.edu
    Croom, Natasha	Higher Education/Student Affairs	864-656-1485	nncroom@clemson.edu
    Wagner, Rachel	Higher Education/Student Affairs	864-656-5111	rwagne3@clemson.edu

    Additionally, we partner with current practitioners and doctoral students who bring other experiences into the classroom as visiting professors, instructors, and guest speakers. This further enhances the partnership between the program and student and academic affairs at Clemson University.

  • Our Students

    As mentioned earlier, the students in our program bring a variety of personal, academic, and professional experiences with them to Clemson. While many come into the program directly from their undergraduate institutions, others work and then return to school full-time, while still others continue to work full-time as they complete their degrees. Their experiences at diverse institutions as undergraduates as well as their experiences in the varied jobs and assistantships they hold make the learning deeper and richer in the program.

    Additionally, the student affairs program faculty encourages students to be involved outside of the classroom and therefore supports the following organizations:

    Student Personnel Association (SPA)
    SPA is open to all graduate students in the student affairs program as well as student affairs practitioners and Ph.D. students interested in student affairs.
    
    Chi Sigma Alpha – Edward Grandpre Chapter 
    This is an honorary society for student affairs graduate students and practitioners to which one must apply and be accepted.

    Student Peer Mentor (SPM)

    Student Peer Mentors are current students who engage with and sometimes host potential students who are interested in the student affairs M.Ed. program at Clemson University.

  • Alumni News and Resources

     On the lower right corner of this page, you will find under “Our Graduate Professionals” some examples of our graduates and the roles they currently hold. This is just a small sample of the things our graduates go on to accomplish.

    In addition, we have a sample of graduate testimonials. In these, alumni of our student affairs graduate program talk about their experiences learning at Clemson. We hope you will find this additional information helpful as you explore our master’s program. Read the testimonials

  • Find Out More

    For more information, please fill out this form or visit the Clemson University Graduate School website. If you have additional questions or need assistance, please contact Stephanie Henry.