The College Student Development Program

For almost 45 years, the College Student Development Program at Oklahoma State University has been preparing student affairs professionals by blending rigorous academic preparation with powerful practical experiences through assistantships and internships. The program’s success in this effort is a result of strong collaboration between the faculty in the College of Education and the Division of Student Affairs along with other campus partners.

The College Student Development curriculum, which was revised during the 2006-2007 academic year, is intentionally designed to prepare student affairs professionals who are equipped to meet the challenges facing the profession in the years to come. The program also meets the standards and guidelines for graduate preparation programs in student affairs published by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). Classes are intentionally small to maximize classroom discussion and student learning. These classes are taught by both full-time faculty as well as senior administrators who bring research expertise and significant professional experience to the classroom. Each of these faculty members is a recognized leader in the field of student affairs who has played leadership roles in regional and national student affairs professional organizations. In addition to their professional experiences CSD faculty also bring their scholarly achievements to the classroom, thereby providing students with theoretical and practical understandings of the profession.

Another important aspect of the College Student Development Program is the powerful learning experiences afforded to students through graduate assistantships and internships. Assistantships are available in a variety of offices throughout the division of student affairs including numerous assistantships in the Residential Life, Campus Life, Judicial Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. In addition to graduate assistantships, College Student Development students complete two full semester internships. In recent years, CSD students have completed internships in a number of different areas including throughout the Division of Student Affairs, other offices on campus (including Alumni Programs, Athletics, Enrollment Management, and Women’s Programs), as well as other nearby institutions such as Langston University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Combined these assistantship and internship experiences provide students with a strong professional foundation upon which to build a career. Reflection on these assistantship and internship experiences also provides a relevant context for classroom studies.

Upon completing the College Student Development Program, graduates accept professional positions at colleges and universities across North America and join an extensive alumni network. The program is committed to maintaining contact with its alumni and connects alumni and current graduates at regional and national conferences.

Application Process

We encourage you to keep copies of all application materials in case there is any difficulty with your materials being received.

College Student Development Curriculum

Common EDLE Core (6 Hours)

Research and Inquiry (6 Hours selected from following courses)

CSD Option Core (24 hours)

Two Elective Courses selected with approval of advisor (6 hours)
Possible Electives Include:

Thesis Option (Student must complete 6 Hours of SDEV 5000 which serve as the elective courses)
or
Creative Component

College Student Development Faculty

Graduate Assistantships

A wide variety of offices at Oklahoma State University offer graduate assistantships for students in the College Student Development Program. The two primary employers of students in the program are:

• Residential Life offers graduate assistantships working a variety of residence hall types. For more information on assistantships in Residential Life, please visit http://www.reslife.okstate.edu/recruitment/
• Campus Life offers graduate assistantships working in a variety of areas including campus programs, service learning, Greek life, leadership development, marketing, and international student services. For more information on assistantships in Campus Life, please visit http://union.okstate.edu/garecruitment/
• Student Judicial Affairs offers two graduate assistantships working in the area of student conduct. For more information on assistantships in Campus Life, please visit http://www.okstate.edu/ucs/SJA/graduateassistantship.htm.

Additional graduate assistantships are available in a variety of offices across campus including the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Judicial Affairs Office.

GPSA

In an effort to expand the opportunities to mature as professionals some of the students in the College Student Development Program started the Graduate Professionals in Student Affairs (GPSA) in the Spring of 2007. This organization was created and founded on the four pillars of service, recruiting, networking, and fellowship. GPSA is committed to improving the College Student Development Program by enhancing the experience of the students involved.

Alumni Quotes

A core philosophical foundation is key to a long-term successful career, even more so to living a life that makes a positive difference in society. I am indebted to OSU's Housing and Residence Life Department and Higher Education Department for giving me a foundation characterized by ongoing learning, risk-taking in hopes of bettering society, and an ultimate belief in a student-centered living-learning environment. A seamless in-class/out-of-class learning experience created a living laboratory in which to challenge theories through practice and my own creative ideas. But what was key to my experience and what makes OSU unique was the mentoring -- administrators and faculty who helped me to believe in myself when I didn't and supported me when times were difficult. After 11 years in higher education administration, my resume is full of key high-level change-oriented job opportunities, leadership experiences, awards, and promotions that are a direct result of my OSU experience. Thanks to OSU's experience, I am now continuing my professional journey as a full-time Management (Strategy and Human Resources) PhD student with a strong interest in high performing teams, transformational leadership, and organizational change - an interest that my mentors nurtured in me almost 14 years ago at OSU.
-- Mariana J. Lebrón, Class of 1996

The academic experience at OSU in the College Student Development Program helped prepare me to be a competent professional in my field. I now feel more confident in my skills and abilities as a professional and know that I will be successful wherever I go! The College Student Development program is truly committed to student success. I know that the skills and knowledge that I gained at OSU prepared me well for my career in student affairs.
-- Rebecca Lee, Class of 2007

For more information on the College Student Development program please contact:

Ms. Evelyn Woods, Visiting Assistant Professor in CSD
306 Willard Hall
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone:         405-744-9798
Email:           csd@okstate.edu

Last Updated Thursday, August 14, 2008 9:17 AM