Application Procedures
Master of Arts – College Student Development & Administration & Master of Business Administration – Dual Degree
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in College Student Development and Administration and Master of
Business Administration Dual Master’s is a 60 credit-hour program designed for students who
have completed a baccalaureate degree and are interested in pursuing or advancing a career in
student affairs or enrollment management, or other higher education administrative roles as well
as other business and non-profit experiences. Real-world and practical application is central to
this program.
Courses are offered in the evenings and online to accommodate students holding full-time jobs
while completing the program. This dual degree program combines courses in student
development theory, assessment, social justice, leadership and ethics, marketing, management
theory, economics, and accounting. Students complete their coursework with a flexible set of
electives that complement both degrees.
Please follow the steps listed to complete this application:
- Online Application
- The application is required of all degree-seeking students, regardless of whether you are interested in part-time or full-time studies.
- A non-refundable application fee of $40 is required of all applicants, except for current Shepherd University students, alumni, and employees.
- Please read the statement which relates to the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA).
International Graduate Students
Dual Degree Curriculum
MA-CSDA & MBA Dual Degree Admissions Requirements:
- Must have completed a bachelor’s degree with either a 2.75 in all undergraduate coursework OR meet the requirements for conditional admission.
- CSDA/MBA students must complete one essay question: What do you hope to do with a dual degrees in the MBA and MA in College Student Development and Administration?
- Writing Sample: 5-7 pages of a previously written research paper OR submit a 5-7 page research paper discussing a current trend in higher education.
- Resume.
- Two letters of recommendation.
Applicants must be admitted to both programs to be eligible. If student chooses to leave one of the degree programs, the student must complete the Academic Change Form and meet all degree requirements for the degree in which the student remains. MBA concentrations are not an option.
M.B.A. Foundations Program
Because some foundational experience in accounting, statistics, and economics is crucial to success in the Shepherd M.B.A. program, students admitted to the MBA/MA-CSDA dual degrees program must meet three content area prerequisites: Accounting, Statistics, and Economics. Foundational courses at the undergraduate level must have been taken within the last seven years with a grade of “C” or higher.
Applicants who lack this undergraduate coursework can fulfill the foundational requirements in one of three ways:
- Taking the appropriate graduate foundations coursework at the graduate level: MBA 5FDA, MBA 5FDE, and MBA 5FDS. These courses do not count toward the degree.
- Passing the appropriate CLEP test(s).
- Submitting a portfolio of work-related experience (where appropriate) and requesting an evaluation of academic coursework by the M.B.A. coordinator. Applicants may begin the M.B.A. program while completing their prerequisite courses.
Foundational courses must be completed within the 9 credits of the MBA content of the MBA/MA-CSDA dual degrees program.