College Student Personnel

Overview

In the College Student Personnel program at Western Illinois University, student learning and development is paramount both for graduate students and the students they serve as student affairs practitioners. Growth is facilitated through student, faculty, and student affairs professional partnerships in the classroom as well as through practical experiences in the field of student affairs.  This real-world experience comes through service as a full-time professional or through assistantships, practica, and summer internships.  We are guided by the values of theory-to-practice, ethical action, self-authorship, social justice, and transformative learning.

The CSP program has a theory-to-practice orientation that includes coursework in student development theory, leadership development, group dynamics, philosophy and history of higher education, organization and administration of student affairs, multicultural competency, counseling theory and techniques, and research methods. All of this preparation is aimed at helping you develop and grow as a leader and a reflective practitioner doing socially responsible work as student affairs professional in a variety of student settings, including residence life, student activities, Greek affairs, admissions and student recruitment, academic advising, orientation, multicultural student programs, student retention, gender programs, career development, and experiential education.

Hallmarks of the CSP Program:

• The program has graduated almost 900 alumni.

• A two-year Master's of Science program that meets CAS standards, the most comprehensive and rigorous graduate preparation program standards within higher education.

• Two tracks within the College Student Personnel program offers educational opportunities for both emerging professionals and experienced professionals.