Admission to the Program

JMU's College Student Personnel Administration program has approximately fourteen new graduate students admitted annually. Enrollment is limited to increase the interpersonal contacts among the students, faculty, and student affairs staff. JMU is interested in bringing new students from across the country to learn together in the program.

Due to the sequence of courses, full-time students are normally accepted only for fall semester admission. All students accepted on a full-time basis are provided a graduate assistantship in the Division of Student Affairs. Students interested in the College Student Personnel Administration program must qualify for admission to The Graduate School as well as the graduate program in Counseling Psychology.

Admission to the program is competitive. The undergraduate record, grade point average, personal interview, GRE scores (optional), and campus community involvement will be considered in assessing an applicant's appropriateness for the program. The applicant is also required to submit three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement. At least one of the recommendation letters should come from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's academic abilities. The program committee will invite candidates for an interview during the month of February. The interview may be in-person or virtual and is a required part of the application process.

Prospective students should demonstrate good interpersonal skills, emotional stability, self-awareness, and the ability to handle the types of stresses inherent in college student personnel administration. Personal qualifications will be assessed by the personal interview, the application, and the letters of recommendation. Campus and community involvement, leadership experiences, honors, and work experience will also be considered.