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All master's students must accomplish the following:

1. Satisfactory completion of at least 48 semester hours of graduate level course work, independent study, supervised experience, and/or supervised research maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the program.
2. Participation in professional association activities, including the Association for Student Development (ASD).
3. Membership in at least one national professional association, such as the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) or the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
4. Satisfactory completion of a Comprehensive Examination.

Steps in completing Master's degree

1. Plan of Studies
After completing 12 hours of academic credit, all HED students are required to complete a Plan of Study form, listing all the courses the student intends to complete for the degree. The plan is completed in consultation with the faculty advisor. Once signed by the advisor, it is approved by the ELPS Department and the Graduate School. Once approved, the plan serves as the student’s contract with the university. Successful completion of all courses and other requirements listed on the Plan of Studies ensures that the degree will be conferred. Changes to approved Plans of Study can be made by submitting additional paperwork.

2. Curriculum
The master's curriculum consists of courses in Research, Educational and Professional Foundations, a Concentration area, and Cognate studies. A total of 48 credit hours is required for the master's degree.

3. Practicum
A practicum consists of supervised experience under the guidance of a qualified practitioner in student affairs administration or higher education. Site supervisors for practica are chosen carefully for their skills in educating graduate students in the art and science of administration. Both the work of the site supervisor and the student are overseen by the practicum coordinator, a faculty member who conducts regular seminars with all students involved in a practicum each term.

Procedures and requirements of practicum are updated constantly; therefore, consultation with the practicum coordinator is encouraged. All students should consult carefully with the practicum coordinator for final requirements of practicum during the term(s) they actually are completing the experience(s).

4. Thesis or Independent Study Options
All students are required to conduct a research project under the supervision of faculty. There are two ways to accomplish this requirement:
(1) Students may elect a thesis option in which a 9-semester hour thesis is prepared.
(2) Students may elect a non-thesis option in which a 6-semester hour independent study research project is completed. The non-thesis option will include 6 hours of additional course work in lieu of the thesis hours.

Thesis
The thesis represents one form of a culmination of the graduate preparation program. It serves as a vehicle for the demonstration of research proficiency in student affairs and the display of abilities to integrate knowledge in the field. Each research project represents a unique experience for the student and, thus, must be carefully guided by the student's advisor or director of the thesis. Efforts are made by the faculty to provide group guidance for this task and at least one seminar will be offered each year to facilitate this objective. Still, each project may possess singular features.

The thesis option requires students to prepare a thesis proposal that is defended before the student’s thesis committee. The defense of the proposal must be scheduled with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in the ELPS Department.

Once the proposal is approved, the student conducts the research and, working with the thesis director, completes a written report. An oral exam about the report is scheduled with the thesis committee. This exam serves as the student’s Comprehensive Examination (see below for details).

Independent Study
The independent study represents the second method of demonstrating research and/or assessment proficiency as the result of graduate study. It demonstrates that the student has mastered selective knowledge and skills of inquiry necessary for successful professional practice.

Each independent study project will be individually designed by the student and the advisor. In general, the project will entail research or assessment activities that focus on a particular area of higher education or student affairs administration. The student will identify a practitioner in the field with whom to work, and a particular project that meets the standards of the independent study requirement. The student generates a written report. An oral exam about the written report is scheduled. This exam serves as the student’s comprehensive examination (see below for details).

The Graduate School and ELPS Department require that students register for the independent study by submitting an abstract of the project on the appropriate form . It must be filed at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester in which the student plans to enroll for the independent study.

Although students may complete more than one independent study as part of their Plan of Study, at least one independent study must be completed if the student elects the non-thesis option.

5. The Comprehensive Examination
A Comprehensive Examination is required of all students and usually is completed during the student’s last term of full-time enrollment. The Comprehensive Exam consists of two parts--a written and an oral part. The Oral Comprehensive Examination is a University requirement. This means that the oral part of the exam must be scheduled with the Graduate School and with the ELPS Department. This procedural requirement exists for both the thesis and independent study options. To schedule the exam Thesis students must submit the appropraite forms. Indepementsdy students must submit the Masters Final Examination Request and the Defending Student Status forms in order to schedule their Final Examination.

For both the thesis and independent study options, the student will ask 3-4 faculty to serve on the examination committee. All members of the committee must be provided with written copies of the exam at least three weeks prior to the oral exam. All members of the committee must be present at the oral exam. Students will pick up a form from the graduate school before their comprehensive exam. Faculty will sign this form indicating their approval of passing the student.

For thesis option students, the written comprehensive exam is fulfilled by providing committee members with the final draft of the thesis. The oral part of the comprehensive exam is fulfilled by successfully defending the thesis before the committee.

For the independent study option, the written comprehensive exam is fulfilled by providing committee members with the final draft of the independent study paper. The oral part of the exam is fulfilled by successfully defending the paper before the committee. The oral exam may also include questions about other courses and experiences the student has completed.

Student Progress
Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain eligible for the program. In accordance with procedures of the Graduate School, students will be placed on academic probation when they fail to maintain this average and will be allowed only one term to remedy the performance deficiency. Faculty of the program regularly review student progress and recommend that students be placed on or removed from academic probation. They also recommend continuation or discontinuation of enrollment in the program. Notification of any action related to academic standing will be made in writing to the student.

From time to time, students may find it necessary to interrupt their study in the Master's program. Often, students may offered employment before all program requirements are completed. While HESA faculty members are prepared to work with students to achieve their degrees, students are expected to complete all degree requirements within five years of their matriculation or three years beyond completion of their course work. Students who do not complete their degrees within these time limits may be disenrolled from the program.

Questions about completing forms? Contact Vicki Meadows, HED secretary, vmeadows@vt.edu or Kathy Tickle, Program Support Technician for ELPS ktickle@vt.edu.

All the forms require Microsoft Word version 6.0 (or higher). All forms are word templates which allow you to type in your information through your computer or print and complete by hand.  Be careful when filling out any PC version forms as the formatting may change. You probably already have the Acrobat Reader software needed to read these files, but if you don't, download it now.  There are some forms listed in the manual that you must get from the Graduate School (anything with fees, for example). All forms are also available from the ELPS Graduate Secretary, Kathy Tickle (225 War Memorial Gym) or your program area secretary.

DOWNLOAD THE FORMS IN WORD OR PDF. Information about Virginia Tech's Electronic Dissertations, including guidelines, classes and viewing PDFs is online.

HED Program
308 E. Eggleston Hall (0302)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0302
Phone: 540/231-5106 Fax: 540/231-7845

http://www.elps.vt.edu/hesa
hesa@vt.edu