IMPORTANT NOTE :
Revisions to the M.ED. in Student Affairs degree program, currently known as the M.ED. in Counseling and Student Affairs program, were approved by the UCLA Graduate Division in November 2006. The name change and new curriculum will take effect with the Fall 2007 entering cohort.

For more information on the current 06/07 CSA degree program, please visit: www.gseis.ucla.edu/division/csa/

Introduction
The UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies (GSEIS) and the UCLA Division of Student Affairs collaboratively offer the Masters of Education in Student Affairs. Housed within the Higher Education and Organizational Change (HEOC) division of GSEIS, the M.Ed. is an intensive four-quarter program of study that concentrates on theory, practice and research in Student Affairs in postsecondary education. Students attend classes as a cohort on a full-time basis within a supportive and rigorous environment, and participate in three quarters of directed internship. Classes are taught by HEOC faculty and Student Affairs professionals, many of whom are renowned scholars and national leaders in the field. Through guest presentations and experiential work, students meet with and learn from outstanding Student Affairs professionals from UCLA and neighbor institutions. Students will graduate from this scholar-practitioner program and enter a variety of levels and settings in higher education as prepared, experienced practitioners familiar with research, ethics, and trends in the field.

New Program Highlights:
- Emphasis on social justice education and transformative student affairs practice
- Commitment to cultivating scholar practitioners
- Paid student affairs internships
- Professional portfolio development
- Flexible curriculum includes 3-4 electives
- New 4-quarter curriculum meets national standards for student affairs professional preparation

Applications & Admission
Applications to the M.Ed. in Student Affairs program are accepted once a year. The deadline to apply to the M.Ed. in Student Affairs Fall 2007 cohort is December 1, 2006. Please note you may only apply to ONE graduate program per year at UCLA. For more information on the application process and admissions requirements, please visit the Office of Student Services website: www.gseis.ucla.edu/~oss

Enrollment Information
The M.Ed. in Student Affairs degree is a one-year, four-quarter program that begins with full-time enrollment in a UCLA summer session. Members of the 2007-2008 M.Ed. in Student Affairs cohort will begin classes during the week of August 6, 2007. Students will receive specific information about the process of enrolling in summer courses and applying for summer session financial aid once admitted to the program.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the M.Ed. in Student Affairs, students are expected to have developed and be able to demonstrate the professional knowledge and competencies outlined below. (For a more detailed description of these learning outcomes, please see the program handbook.) The selection of these specific learning outcomes was informed by a review of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education’s (CAS) (2003) “Standards and Guidelines for Masters-Level Graduate Programs for Student Affairs Professionals.” These outcomes inform the development of relevant curricular and internship learning opportunities as well as provide students, faculty, and supervisors with a valuable self-evaluation, feedback, and professional development tool.

1. Social Justice Education & Transformative Student Affairs Practice
2. Foundations of Higher Education and Student Affairs
3. Student Development Theory
4. Student Characteristics and Effects of College on Students
5. Individual and Group Interventions
6. Organization and Administration of Student Affairs
7. Assessment, Evaluation and Research Curriculum

Faculty - Higher Education & Organizational

Walter Allen,  Professor, HEOC Division Head (Ph.D., Sociology, University of Chicago)
allen@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.206.7107

Areas of Interest: Comparative race, ethnicity and inequality; diversity in higher education; and family studies. His research and teaching focuses on educational equity, higher education, social inequality and family.

Mitchell J. Chang, Associate Professor (Ph.D., Education, UCLA)
mjchang@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.825.0504

Areas of Interest: The educational efficacy of diversity-related initiatives on college campuses and the application of those best practices toward advancing student learning and democratizing institutions.

Sylvia Hurtado, Professor, HERI Director ( Ph.D., Education, UCLA)
shurtado@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.825.9928

Areas of Interest: Diverse college environments and their effect on diverse college student, teaching and learning, and higher education policy.

Patricia M. McDonough, Professor (Ph.D., Higher Education, Stanford University)
mcdonough@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.206.2120

Areas of Interest: Access, equity, and the stratification of individuals and institutions in education; organizational theory and analysis; sociology of education; higher education policy analysis; links between K-12 and higher education; and qualitative research.

Robert A. Rhoads, Professor ( Ph.D., Higher Education, Pennsylvania State University)
rhoads@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.794.4243

Areas of Interest: Democracy, Social Movements and the University, Organizational Analysis, Student Life/Culture, Diversity Issues, Higher Education in Latin America and China.

José L. Santos, Assistant Professor (Ph.D., Higher Education, University of Arizona)
jsantos@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.825.7549

Areas of Interest: Higher education policy, governance and finance.

Linda J. Sax, Associate Professor-in-Residence (Ph.D., Higher Education, UCLA)
lsax@ucla.edu - 310. 825.1925

Areas of Interest: Gender differences in college student development, in particular how specific institutional characteristics, peer and faculty environments, and forms of student involvement differentially affect male and female college students. Other interests include: The development of science and engineering talent; volunteerism and service-learning; and issues related to women faculty.

Rick Wagoner, Assistant Professor (Ph.D., Higher Education, University of Arizona)
wagoner@gseis.ucla.edu | 310.825.8316

Areas of Interest: Community colleges; faculty; organizational studies.

Emeritus Faculty - Higher Education & Organizational Change

Alexander W. Astin, Professor, Emeritus (Ph.D., Psychology, University of Maryland)
aastin@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.825.8331

Areas of Interest: Higher education policy in the United States; educational reform; values in education; impact of different types of institutions on student development; assessment and evaluation research in higher education.

Helen S. Astin, Professor, Emerita ( Ph.D., Psychology, University of Maryland)
hastin@gseis.ucla.edu - 310.825.2709

Areas of Interest: Education and career development of women; faculty performance and rewards; leadership.

Arthur M. Cohen, Professor, Emeritus (Ph.D., Higher Education, Florida State University)
ericcc@ucla.edu - 310.825.8337

Areas of Interest: Teaching and research interests include the students, faculty, and organization of the community college; the history of higher education; issues in higher education; and college curriculum and instruction.

Student Affairs Instructors

Debra F. Geller, CAO, Student & Campus Life
(Ed.D., UCLA)
dgeller@saonet.ucla.edu - 310.825.4876

Areas of Interest: higher education administration, succession planning, assessment, student life

Jennifer R. Keup, Principal Research Analyst for the Student Affairs Information & Research Office (SAIRO)
(Ph.D., Education, UCLA)
jkeup@saonet.ucla.edu - 310.206.5072

Areas of Interest:  Research and Assessment in Higher Education, Student Development, Students in Transition (from high school to college, transfer students, transition of seniors out of college),   Adjustment to College, First-Year Experience,  College Impact on Student Outcomes, Quantitative Methodology

Janina Montero, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs
(Ph.D., Hispanic Literature, University of Pennyslvania)
jmontero@saonet.ucla.edu - 310.825.1404

Areas of Interest: organizational change; institutional/organizational culture; diversity; strategic planning/planning efforts; issues in higher education

Robert J. Naples, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student and Campus Life and Dean of Students
(Ed.D., Temple University)
rnaples@saonet.ucla.edu - 310.825.3894

Areas of interest:  Current issues in Student Affairs, Student Affairs organizational development, professional development and career planning, mentoring junior staff

Ronni Sanlo, Program Coordinator, M.Ed. in Student Affairs; UCLA LGBT Center Director
(Ed.D., University of North Florida)
sanlo@ucla.edu - 310.206.3629

Areas of Interest: Development graduate students as scholar practitioners, multicultural development and understanding, publishing.

Suzanne L. Seplow, Director, Office of Residential Life
(Ed.D., UCLA)
suzanne@orl.ucla.edu - 310.825.3066

Areas of Interest: Organizations and Administration/Leadership in Student Affairs, Intro to Student Affairs  (Practice and Theory), Diversity in Student Affairs, Program Development and Planning, Supervise Directed Field Experience.

John G. Taborn, Counselor Supervisor, Graduate Student Programs & Coordinator, Career Counseling Internship Program, UCLA Career
(Ph.D., Howard University)
jtaborn@career.ucla.edu - 310.206.1025

Areas of Interest: Career Counseling and Development, College Student Mental Health, Graduate Student Development, Human Sexuality, African American and Multiracial Family Mental Health

Rick Wan, Assistant Director, UCLA Office of Residential Life
(Ed.D., USC)
rickw@orl.ucla.edu

Areas of Interest: New Professionals, Residence Life, Diversity/Social Justice issues, Ethics, and Student Development

Christine Wilson, Coordinator, UCLA Graduate Student Resource Center
(Ph.D., UCLA)
cwilson@saonet.ucla.edu - 310.267.4803

Areas of interest: Graduate Student Affairs, Graduate Student Life, Student Development

Curriculum
A total of 14 courses (53 units) are required, including 11 upper division and graduate courses (41 units) and a three quarter field experience (12 units). At least five courses must be in the professional education (400) series. Please see below for a specific list of required courses.

Required Courses
ED 209A - History of Higher Education (4 units)
ED 250A - Organizations and Systems of Higher Education (4 units)
ED 261F - Seminar: Cognitive and Personal Development of College Students (4 units)
ED 414A - Student Affairs Practice and Theory (3 units)
ED 414E - Administration of Student Affairs (3 units)
ED 419 - Introduction to Research in Student Affairs (4 units)
ED 498A - Directed Field Experience (4 units)
ED 498B - Directed Field Experience (4 units)
Ed 498C - Directed Field Experience (4 units)

AND

1 Diversity in Higher Education Course (Students are required to complete one HOEC diversity course. The student’s advisor must approve the specific course used to fulfill this requirement.) (4 units)

AND

4 Electives (including at least TWO 400-level courses). Three elective requirements must be selected from HEOC courses. The fourth elective requirement may be fulfilled with a course offered by HEOC or another academic division within the Department of Education (or outside the Department with consent of advisor).

Internship & Seminar Overview
Practical experience is among the most important aspects of any preparation program in student affairs. The opportunity to work with practicing professionals and to accomplish learning objectives in specific areas of student affairs is a vital component of the Student Affairs program at UCLA. The three-quarter, in-depth internship is offered in two parts: a two-hour integration seminar one day a week, and 12 hours of internship a week in a selected student affairs office. Through the internship, students will:

1. Integrate theory and research into practices of student affairs work
2. Begin to recognize the ways in which a social justice vision may be brought to bear on student affairs work.
3. Learn practical skills
4. Begin building a professional network.
5. Clarify and develop a more consistent, realistic self-concept of oneself as a professional in the field.
6. Explore strategies for implementing multicultural awareness in practice and research.
7. Try new skills and ideas
8. Develop a learning portfolio

Internship Funding
The internship is a paid experiential learning opportunity. Students receive a salary of $10/hour for their internship work. In addition, departments sponsoring an intern provide the student with financial support to attend at least one regional or national professional conference.

Internship Sites
The number and types of internships vary each year. However, every year a wide variety of positions are available in numerous functional areas. The Program Coordinator will also pursue internship opportunities at neighboring community colleges, private institutions, for-profit institutions, and four-year public universities in Southern California. A list of potential UCLA internship includes:

ASUCLA Union, Bruin Leaders, Career Center, Center for Student Programming, Center for Women and Men, Community Programs Office, Dashew International Center for Students and Scholars, Dean of Students’ Office, Development, Early Academic Outreach, Financial Aid Office, First Year Experience Program, Graduate Student Resource Center, Greek Life, Health Education, Housing, Judicial Affairs, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Campus Resource Center, Office of Students with Disabilities, Office of Residential Life, Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools, Orientation, Registrar’s Office, Student Legal Services, Student Loan Services, UCLA Recreation, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Advising
Upon admission to the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor.  The advisor may serve as academic counselor, information resource, or otherwise assist the student's progress through the program.  The primary responsibilities of the faculty advisor are to approve the student's academic program, to advise students on particular courses of study, and along with the student, initiate any petitions for change in status or program. The faculty strongly recommend students schedule a meeting with their advisor at least once a quarter. 

Students may change advisors if they so desire. If a student wishes to change advisors, s/he should consult both faculty members (current and prospective advisor) and then contact the Office of Student Services (OSS) to obtain and file the necessary paperwork.

Comprehensive Exam
While students receive feedback and grades for their work in individual classes, the Graduate Division of UCLA, the Department of Education, and HEOC consider it important to assess the overall academic progress of all students before allowing them to move forward toward degree completion.  Exam procedures have been developed to serve this function.

Students must apply to take the Master’s Comprehensive Examination.  Application materials are available in OSS and must be returned to OSS by the exam application deadline. Please consult OSS for current deadlines.

The M.Ed. in Student Affairs comprehensive exam consists of two take-home questions administered during the spring quarter (the specific dates of the exam weekend will be announced by the Office of Student Services at the beginning of the year).  Each question is to be answered in no more than six, double-spaced, typed pages using 12pt font (excluding references).  The Office of Student Services distributes the exam on a Friday morning and the responses are to be turned in the following Monday morning.  These exam questions will be graded blindly (students' names do not appear on the answers; rather a number that has been assigned by OSS is the identifier).

Each question is read independently by at least two faculty members. If they disagree on a grade, a third faculty member reads the question. Students may receive grades of “pass with honors,” “pass,” or “fail” on this examination. If a student fails one of the two exam questions, s/he will be provided an opportunity to retake the exam during the same quarter. To pass the exam, the student must answer one new exam question and receive a passing evaluation from two faculty readers (i.e., the student’s advisor and one additional HEOC faculty member). The second exam must be scheduled for a date within two weeks from the time the student receives notice of her/his exam status. If a student fails both exam questions, the student must retake the entire exam (i.e., answer two new questions) the following fall quarter. A third opportunity to take the exam must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of all divisional faculty voting on this issue.  No fourth sitting for the examination is permitted.

Job Placement
The UCLA Career Center provides assistance to all UCLA students in setting realistic occupational objectives, developing appropriate resumes and job interviewing skills, and identifying job leads. The Center’s counselors, as Student Affairs professionals themselves, are especially alert to the needs of new Student Affairs professionals and have been helpful to past M.Ed. in Student Affairs graduates. To learn more about the career development and job placement resources available at the UCLA Career Center, please visit their website: www.career.ucla.edu.

The student affairs job search process will also be discussed at length in the Internship Seminar. Specifically, seminar participants will review and discuss key student affairs job search resources, reflect on the value of the learning portfolio in the job search process, and participate in mock student affairs interviews. In addition, invited speakers from a variety of student affairs functional areas will discuss the job search resources and strategies unique to their particular functional area.

Students seeking student affairs positions outside of the Southern California area are also encouraged to join the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Both associations offer placement bureaus at their annual spring national conventions. The web links for both of these associations, as well as a number of other student affairs professional associations, are included in the Student Affairs Program Handbook.