MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) DEGREE PROGRAMS IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENT PERSONNEL SERVICES Department of Educational Leadership and Policies College of Education University of South Carolina OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS The Department of Educational Leadership and Policies offers two Master of Arts (M.A.)degree programs: 1. The M.A. Degree in Educational Administration 2. The M.A. Degree in Student Personnel Services Within the M.A. degree program in Educational Administration students may choose from among two areas of emphasis: 1. Child Development (CD) -12 Administration Please Note: This program does not lead to principal certification. 2. Higher Education Administration The M.A. Degree in Educational Administration The M.A. Degree in Educational Administration with Emphasis in Child Development (CD) - 12 Administration is designed for students who are interested in the study of school level administration but not interested in principal certification in South Carolina or other states. Individuals interested in certification should apply for the M.Ed. Degree in CD-12 Administration. The M.A. Degree in Educational Administration with Emphasis in Higher Education Administration prepares students for entry-level administrative positions in institutions of higher education. Administrative areas for which students might prepare themselves include, for example, enrollment management and admissions, student records and registration, financial aid, international education, institutional advancement, business affairs, institutional research and planning, and facilities planning.
The M.A. Degree in Student Personnel Services The M.A. Degree in Student Personnel Services is designed primarily to prepare individuals for entry-level administrative positions in higher education institutions in areas such as residence hall management, student union management, student activities and development, career planning and placement, and counseling. Please Note: The Department of Educational Leadership and Policies also offers two Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs: one in Educational Administration with an emphasis in either child development through grade 12 administration, higher education administration, or higher education curriculum, and the other in Student Personnel Services. This document focuses only on the M.A. degree programs. Persons interested in the M.Ed. degree programs should request an information sheet on these programs by calling 803-777-4213 or consulting our web page at www.ed.sc.edu. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION Successful completion of the following requirements is necessary for admission to pursue graduate study leading to the M.A. Degree in Educational Administration: 1. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution. 2. Application to the Graduate School which includes: a. completion of the Graduate School application form b. submission of official transcripts of all previous credits c. submission of two (2) letters of recommendation 3. Application to the EDLP Department which includes: a. completion of the EDLP application form b. submission of scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Preference will be given to students scoring at least 825 (verbal + quantitative) on the GRE or at least 40 on the MAT. Applicants for whom English is a second language may submit scores on the TOEFL for admission consideration. Preference will be given to students scoring at least 570 on this exam. 4. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on undergraduate work. Please Note: The criteria specified above are minimal entrance requirements and meeting them does not guarantee admission to any of the programs. The faculty, however, reserves the right to exercise discretion in weighing the different criteria included in each applicant s admissions profile.
Admissions Deadlines To be considered for admission, the applicant must ensure that his or her file is complete and submitted by the appropriate deadline. No action will be taken on incomplete files. Students wishing to check on the status of their files should contact the Office of Student Affairs, which is located in Room 113 of the College of Education. The telephone number is 803-777-6732. The following chart reflects admissions timelines for each field of study. Degree Program Application Deadline Notification Deadline March l March l5 CD-12 Administration June 1 June 15 October 1 October 15 Higher Education Administration Student Personnel Services February 1 February 15 October 1 October 15 February 1 February 15 October 1 October 15 DEGREE REQUIREMENTS To receive a M.A. Degree in Educational Administration, the student must meet the following requirements: A. Program Requirements 1. Complete and get approved an official program of study. 2. Successfully complete the courses prescribed in the approved program of study with at least a 3.0 grade point average overall and a 3.0 grade point average in all 700-800 level courses.
3. Successfully complete a three-hour comprehensive examination on the student s area of study. This examination is usually administered prior to the student s final semester of coursework. 4. Successfully complete an examination showing a reading knowledge of an approved modern foreign language. 5. Complete an acceptable thesis. B. Graduate School Requirements 1. Submit an application for graduation to the Office of Student Affairs by the published deadline. 2. Complete all requirements within the six year period prior to the date of graduation. Any course over 6 years old must be revalidated, re-taken, or replaced by another appropriate course. Only USC course may be revalidated. C. Transfer Credit Only nine (9) semester hours graduate credit from a previous master's degree may be transferred towards the M.A. degree. Otherwise, a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred provided: 1. The course was completed at an institution with regional accreditation. 2. The transferred credits will be less than six (6) years old at the time of graduation. 3. The grade earned was "B" or better. 4. The advisor approves the use of the course. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Details about each of the M.A. degree emphases are contained on the pages which follow. Students who desire additional information about the M.Ed. degree programs should call us at (803) 777-4213 or visit our office on the USC campus in Columbia. We are located on the 3 rd floor of the College of Education, which is situated on Sumter Street between College and Greene Streets. Information is available about course contents, course schedules, comprehensive exam criteria, and thesis requirements.
ATTACHMENT A Program of Study for the Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration with Emphasis in CD -12 Administration Please Note: The Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration does not lead to certification as an administrator (principal or supervisor) in South Carolina. Persons seeking certification as a principal should complete the M.Ed. in Educational Administration with emphasis in CD-12 administration. A minimum of thirty (30) hours of graduate credit satisfying the following requirements must be completed: 1. At least half of the hours must be earned in EDLP courses numbered 700 and above. 2. The remaining courses may be in graduate level courses numbered 500-699. 3. As many as twelve (12) graduate credit hours may be taken in fields other than education. 4. No more than six (6) graduate credit hours may be earned in EDUC 799. 5. EDRM 700 may be substituted for three (3) credit hours of EDUC 799. 6. Students must earn a grade point average of "B" or better on the total graduate program and an average of at least "B" on all 700-800 level courses. ATTACHMENT B Program of Study for the M.A. Degree in Educational Administration with Emphasis in Higher Education Administration Thirty-six (36) semester hours of graduate credit are required. At least twenty-seven (27) of these hours must be at the 700 level or above. The courses are divided into two areas: Area A: Twenty-one (21) semester hours of required courses EDLP 730 EDLP 732 EDLP 734 EDLP 737 EDLP 830 EDCE 600 EDRM 700 Higher Education in America (3 hrs.) The American College Student (3 hrs.) The Community, Junior, Technical College (3 hrs.) Legal Aspects of Higher Education (3 hrs.) Organization, Administration and Governance of Higher Education (3 hrs.) Communication Skills in Counseling (3 hrs.) Introduction to Educational Research (3 hrs.)
Area B: Nine (9) to Twelve (12) semester hours of elected courses which are to be selected by students with prior approval of assigned academic advisor EDLP 731 EDLP 733 EDLP 735 EDLP 736 EDLP 831 EDLP 832 EDLP 833 EDLP 835 EDLP 839 MGMT 718 Student Personnel Services in Higher Education (3 hrs.) Ideas of Higher Education (3 hrs.) Organizational Change in Education (3 hrs.) Financial Aspects of Higher Education (3 hrs.) Internship in Higher Education (3 hrs.) Seminar in Higher Education (3 hrs.) Contemporary Trends and Issues in Higher Education (3 hrs.) Leadership in Higher Education (3 hrs.) Institutional Assessment in Higher Education (3 hrs.) Management of Human Resources (3 hrs.) Area C: Three (3) to six (6) semester hours in thesis research Please Note: 1. The M.A. Degree in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration is a two-year program. 2. EDLP 831 - Internship in Higher Education is required of all master's degree candidates who do not have a concurrent assistantship in student affairs or prior significant student personnel experience. 3. A one-hour seminar (EDLP 690) is recommended during the student's first semester to prepare M.A. applicants for thesis research. ATTACHMENT C Program of Study for the M.A. Degree in Student Personnel Services Thirty-six (36) semester hours of graduate credit are required. These hours are divided into three areas: Area A: Eighteen semester hours of required core courses EDLP 730 EDLP 731 EDLP 732 EDLP 837 EDCE 600 EDRM 700 Higher Education in America (3 hrs.) Student Personnel Services in Higher Education (3 hrs.) The American College Student (3 hrs.) Practicum in Student Personnel Services (3 hrs.) Communication Skills in Counseling (3 hrs.) Introduction to Educational Research (3 hrs.)
Area B: Courses in an area of concentration (12 semester hours) Three areas of concentration are available: 1. Student Affairs Administration 2. Student Development 3. Counseling Once an area of emphasis has been selected, the student and his/her advisor may select appropriate courses from a departmental listing. Area C: Elective and thesis courses (6 semester hours) These courses can be chosen from any of the three areas of concentration mentioned in Area B. Please Note: 1. The M.A. in Student Personnel Services is normally a two-year program. 2. EDLP 831 - Internship in Higher Education is required of all master s degree candidates who do not have a concurrent assistantship in student affairs or prior significant student personnel experience. 3. A program of study identifying the area of concentration should be developed by the student and approved by the advisor as soon as possible after completing one semester of coursework. 4. The recommendations of the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) will be followed in approving individual student programs. 5. A one-hour seminar (EDLP 690) is recommended during the student s first semester to prepare M.A. applicants for thesis research.