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).
Courses
Course titles and information can be found in the Graduate Bulletin at these links:
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
Application Deadlines
- Spring: x
- Summer Session 1: x
- Summer Session 2: x
- Fall: 4/1 (12/1)
*See full deadline information below under Application Essentials.
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. Catherine Clark
Program Director
asusaa@appstate.edu
828-262-2448
Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling