Program Philosophy and Objectives

For over 40 years, our Master's Degree students have embraced the mission of learning how to enrich the student experience. The program offers knowledge and skills in a distinctive community setting, a learning-living laboratory for studying and enhancing the undergraduate experience.

The core values that guide the mission are:

"Community" as a mutually empowering learning environment
"Diversity" as more than the tolerance of difference but a commitment to equity, justice, and affirmation
"Individuality" as an expression of personal human growth and dignity
"Holism" as the synergy that must take place between the ideas and activities, the heads and hearts of our learners
"Service" as an unwavering devotion to the development of human potential
"Learning" as the primary reason for the existence of institutions of higher education

The program attempts to fulfill its mission by:

Providing a core of theory, skills, values, and attitudes to help our graduates enrich the student experience.
Developing understandings about higher education, student affairs functions, college student development, and educational research.
Assisting students in developing their professional competencies through field experiences that are sequenced appropriately with theory-oriented courses.