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WHAT IS STUDENT AFFAIRS?
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN STUDENT AFFAIRS?
We are excited you are considering a future in student affairs! Wait - what is student affairs and is it the right field of study to help you meet your professional goals? We encourage you to review the below information and resources to help you determine if a degree in student affairs is right for you.
Student Affairs is a dynamic, fast-paced, and fulfilling profession for individuals who work diligently to support college students attending four-year institutions, two-year community colleges, and online universities. Student Affairs professionals support their institution's mission by helping college students learn and grow outside of the classroom by linking in-class and out-of-class learning with events, programs, and experiences intentionally designed to support their academic studies and personal development. They can also serve in more service-specific roles such as admissions, academic, or financial aid advisors that support students in progressing through their time at the college or university. Often times day-to-day responsibilities of entry level/post-master's degree positions vary and are a mix of student-facing and administrative or behind-the-scenes tasks (with there being exceptions).
Most institutions of higher education in the United States are organized to include a division of student affairs, which can be called Student Success or Student Services. The division is a way to organize units/offices and typically includes departments that provide academic support and serve students primarily outside of the classroom. Every institution organizes their functional areas differently to align with their mission, student population, needs, resources, etc. Below is a list of example departments where student affairs professional work.
Academic Support
Accessible Education/Disability Services
Admissions
Advising
Alumni Services
Assessment
Basic Needs/Case Managers
Career Services
Commuter Programs
Culturally-Based Centers
Development and Fundraising
Financial Aid
First Generation Programs
Gender Equity Centers
Health and Wellness Centers
Housing
International Services and Programming
Leadership
LGBTQTIA/Pride Centers
Mental Health Counseling
Mentoring
Multicultural Services
New Student Recruitment
Orientation
Parent & Family Programs
Recreation
Registrar
Student Activities
Student Conduct/Judicial Affairs
Student Government
Student Union
Study Abroad
Tutoring
Veterans and Military Services
If you would like to read more about the profession and understand if pursuing a degree in this field would help you reach your personal, professional, and educational goals, we would recommend the following article.
The Foundations of Student Affairs: a Guide to the Professional (Long, 2012)
FINDING A PROGRAM
If you think the field of student affairs is right for you, now you need to search for academic programs. Many colleges and universities in the United States have graduate programs in Student Affairs, Higher Education Leadership, College Counseling, College Student Personnel, and Higher Education Administration. Some graduate programs require students to attend classes in person " full time" and work in assistantships on campus "part time" as a way to help fund their education. Other programs offer their classes online and might have opportunities to gain practical experience virtually. Below are resources to help you find a graduate program that meets your criteria and goals.
Student Affairs NOW podcast team has recorded several episodes to support undergraduate student considering grad school or a professional looking to make a career change or go back to school.
PART 1 is designed to demystify the grad school selection and application process. It begins the conversation with an overview on motivations and purpose of graduate education and shares factors to consider when selecting a graduate program.
Part 2 provides practical tips about the general application process. Four coordinators of graduate programs in higher education and student affairs from across the United States to help demystify the selection and application process.
In this conversation, we discuss the challenges, pride, and support for first-generation graduate students. Guests share their experiences, tips for others, recommendations and suggestions for faculty and staff working to support these students, and ways involvement and engagement with ACPA can help get that support and look to address systemic issues in higher education and society
This special episode features a large panel of current master’s students in student affairs, higher education, or related programs. Representing a diverse array of professional preparation programs and institutions across the U.S., the eleven panelists provide prospective graduate students with their insights and advice on pathways into the profession and the grad school selection process. We also discuss how graduate school is helping them address the challenges facing student affairs and higher education. You’ll finish this episode feeling inspired about the bright future ahead for the field.
If you enjoy podcasts and want a different, conversational perspective on what student affairs is, Dr. Michelle Boettcher at Clemson University hosts and facilitates a podcast series for a regional association, SACSA. Conversation hosts include: Victoria Goetzinger, Arianna Wade, Elizabeth Wannersten, Evan Branyon, Isaac Filippo, Taya Andrews, and Makenna Linkey and their guests.
Episode Description: How many times do we talk about how difficult it is to describe what student affairs is? Okay, we don't need an actual number. The point is, it's tough to explain. Listen in to conversations with family and friends about what this career entails.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU APPLY TO A GRADUATE PROGRAM
While you cannot meet in-person or virtually with a Clemson University career counselor or attend workshops/events until you are a fully enrolled student, there are online resources you can access that may assist you with applying to graduate school.
TRANSITIONING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
Whether you attend Clemson or not for graduate school, below are two podcast episodes about navigating the transition. Thank you to our graduate students and alumni for recording these episodes!
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