The university remains open, with emergency management protocols activated and operational modifications and precautions in place. Read the latest updates

Student Affairs Administration: Master of Arts (MA)

About

Appalachian’s 48-hour Master of Arts degree in Student Affairs Administration prepares you for work in a broad range of student affairs functions, including residence life, student activities, multicultural student affairs, leadership, orientation, academic advising, outdoor programs, service-learning and student conduct. The program combines theoretical frameworks and practical experience for a comprehensive educational experience that prepares you for this complex and changing field.

All students are encouraged and assisted in adopting a set of personal values and sense of educational purposefulness, which will enable them to lead their institutions with intention and in accordance with the building of humane and inclusive communities.

The program offers two concentrations:

College Outdoor Program Administration – designed for the student who is interested in working in outdoor programs or other student affairs areas in which they can integrate outdoor and experiential education.
Student Affairs Practice – designed to meet the curriculum guidelines of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).

More Information

Courses

Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog
- Student Affairs Administration - College Outdoor Program Administration Concentration, MA
- Student Affairs Administration - Student Affairs Practice Concentration, MA

Application Essentials

Required Entrance Exam: GRE (score must be no more than 5 years old)

Required number of references to specify in the online form: 3

Supplemental Information: Resume (Required upload for application submission); HPC Department Questionnaire (upload on the Additional Information page in the on-line application); Interview.

Basic Conditions for Consideration of Admission: Meeting or exceeding the conditions below does NOT guarantee admission. All applications for a given entry term will be weighed based upon the number of seats available and the quality of the complete application packages. With special permission from the Graduate School, a program may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums.

Graduate School: 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the appropriate admission test(s), OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).

Admission to Student Affairs Administration: Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of applications are reviewed in comparison to the current applicant pool.

Employers

UNC-Charlotte
UNC-Chapel Hill
Guilford College
Meredith College
Wake Forest
Julliard
Ohio State University
Valdosta State
Florida State
University of Miami
Duke University
Seton Hall
UNC-Asheville
UNC-Pembroke
St. Mary's College
University of Indianapolis
University of Louisville
Davidson College
Western Carolina
Campbell University
Shaw University
Elon University
University of South Carolina
East Tennessee State University
Warren Wilson College
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
University of Alabama
Appalachian State University

Apply

Visit

Info

Degrees

Application Deadlines

Fall Admission
July 1, priority deadline is December 1

Why Appalachian?

The College Outdoor Program Administration concentration is the only one in the U.S. and helps inform our practice with experiential approaches to learning and development.
You can complete the program in two years if enrolled full time. Part-time students are also admitted into the program.
You will benefit from the close partnerships between the program faculty and practicing colleagues in the areas of student development and general administration.
A required assistantship within a college and/or university setting will supplement the academic work taught in the classroom.
An internship and a practicum in a student development area provide professional experience before graduation.
Students and faculty frequently attend conferences at the regional and national levels.
All graduate programs at Appalachian have small class sizes, providing intimate classroom interaction.
The School of Graduate Studies offers scholarships, fellowships and assistantships to support eligible, full-time, degree-seeking students.

Method of Delivery

On campus

Careers

Residence Hall Director
Coordinator of Greek Affairs
Academic Advisor
Assistant Director of Orientation
Program Advisor in Student Activities
Career Development Counselor
Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs
Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs
Program Advisor for Service Learning
Leadership Development Specialist

Contacts

Dr. Diane Waryold
Program Director
waryolddm@appstate.edu
828-262-6067

Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling

Reich College of Education

Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling

The Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling in Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education is responsible for organizing and providing instructional programs in counseling and other human development functions for public schools, colleges and universities and various agencies. The department offers Master of Arts degrees in clinical mental health counseling, professional school counseling, student affairs administration and marriage and family therapy. Learn more at https://hpc.appstate.edu.

Reich College of Education
Approximately 2,400 students
- The Reich College of Education enrolls approximately 2,400 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. It houses five departments: Curriculum and Instruction, Family and Child Studies, Human Development and Psychological Counseling, Leadership and Educational Studies, and Reading Education and Special Education.
Teacher preparation
- Appalachian has been training quality educators for more than 100 years and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
- Appalachian offers the largest undergraduate teacher preparation program in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. There is at least one RCOE graduate working in every county in North Carolina.
- The Reich College of Education is recognized consistently in the annual Institution of Higher Education Performance Report by the State Board of Education.
Close ties to public schools
- The Appalachian State University Public School Partnership – which includes 125 schools in nine surrounding districts – provides sites for student teachers and interns as well as professional development opportunities for teachers.
- The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork, located in Walkertown, North Carolina, serves over 300 K-5 students. The Academy provides a balanced education through the implementation of research-based practices, state-of-the-art literacy instruction, and exemplary classroom instruction and administration.
Graduate programs
- The School of Graduate Studies’ Accelerated Admission program, in which select undergraduate students can fulfill both undergraduate and graduate course requirements in their senior year toward the completion of a graduate degree program, is offered in: higher education, reading education and special education.
- Other education-related master’s degrees, graduate certificates and specialist degrees are listed on Appalachian’s School of Graduate Studies website.