Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Programs of Study

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania offers programs of study leading to master's degrees (MA, MBA, MEd, MPA, MS, and MSW) in administration of justice, applied history, biology, business administration, communication studies, computer science, counseling, curriculum and instruction, geoenvironmental studies, organizational development and leadership, psychological science, public administration, reading, school administration, social work, and special education. Students may also pursue postgraduate-level supervisory and certification credentials.

Research Facilities

The Ezra Lehman Memorial Library houses more than 2 million items and provides access to electronic resources, including books and articles, which are accessible from students' personal computers. The University maintains two general-purpose microcomputer laboratories (open 24 hours a day) and nineteen labs that have department- or major-specific software. The Center for Applied Research and Policy Analysis, the Center for Juvenile Justice Training and Research, and the Center for Local and State Government offer students research opportunities in addition to department research projects.

Financial Aid

Graduate assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis without regard to financial need. They provide a tuition waiver as well as compensation on an hourly scale for work performed. Graduate assistants are required to work 250 hours during the semester and 150 hours during the summer. Applications should be filed by March 1. Residence director (RD) positions are available, with preference given to students enrolled in the counseling and college student personnel program. The RD position is a twelve-month appointment, compensated with a salary and a free apartment and meal plan. RDs also receive a tuition waiver for 6 credits per semester and 3 credits per summer. The University is approved for training veterans and administers a range of loan programs. Funds are available to support student research and attendance at professional meetings to present papers.

Cost of Study

Tuition for 2012-13 is $429 per credit hour for in-state students, $644 per credit hour for out-of-state students, abd $38 for non-resident distance education students. Other fees charged per credit are educational services fees of $67, technology fees of $21 for in-state students, and $31 for out-of-state students, a comprehensive health fee of $13, and a student union fee of $22.

Living and Housing Costs

On-campus housing is available to graduate students on a "space availability" basis. The Dean of Students Office also maintains a list of off-campus housing. For information, students should visit the Web site at http://www.ship.edu/housing. Various meal plans are available, including Flex Accounts, which can be used like cash in any of the campus dining locations.

Student Group

The university enrolls 1,000 graduate students and 6,800 undergraduate students. Most graduate students are part-time (78 percent) and women (69 percent). Graduate students represent various ethnicities, states, and countries. A Graduate Student Association Board represents the academic and social interests of graduate students. Student services include on-site day care, a Women's Center, a Multicultural Student Affairs Office, a Graduate Student Lounge, and a Counseling Center.

Location

Shippensburg University is located in the Cumberland Valley of south-central Pennsylvania, 40 miles southwest of Harrisburg. It is easily accessible from exits 24 northward and 29 south of Interstate 81 and the Blue Mountain and Carlisle interchanges of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The University

Founded in 1871, Shippensburg is consistently rated as one of the best universities in the Northeast. Shippensburg has offered graduate education since 1959 and is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Applying

Applicants must hold bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges or universities and must have official transcripts. In addition, some academic departments may require interviews, additional test scores, goal statements, or letters of recommendation. The application fee is $40. Students may apply and check the status of their applications online at http://my.ship.edu

The Faculty

Faculty members include all of the following prestigious individuals:

- The Dean of Graduate Studies: Tracy A. Schoolcraft, PhD, Penn State.

- The Dean of Academic Outreach and Innovation: Christina Sax, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth.

- Administration of Justice: Matthew Fetzer, PhD SUNY-Albany

- Applied History: John Bloom, PhD, Minnesota.

- Biology: Todd Hurd, PhD, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

- Business Administration: Bob Stephens, PhD, Indiana.

- Communication Studies: Kim Garris, PhD, Penn State.

- Computer Science: Jeonghwa Lee, PhD, Kentucky.

- Counseling and College Student Personnel: Kurt Kraus, EdD, Maine.

- Curriculum and Instruction and Reading: Christine A. Royce, EdD, Temple.

- Geoenvironmental Studies: Tim Hawkins, PhD, Arizona State.

- Organizational Development and Leadership: Barbara Denison, PhD, Northwestern.

- Psychological Science: Lea Adams, PhD, Vanderbilt.

- Public Administration: Curtis Berry, PhD, Syracuse.

- Social Work: Deborah Jacobs, PhD, Brandeis.

- School Administration: Gerald D. Fowler, PhD, Maryland.

- Special Education: Christopher Schwilk, PhD, Penn State.

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Department of Biology
• Department of Communication/Journalism
• Department of Computer Science
• Department of Geography and Earth Science
• Department of History and Philosophy
• Department of Political Science
• Department of Psychology
• Department of Sociology and Anthropology
• College of Education and Human Services
• Department of Counseling
• Department of Criminal Justice
• Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education
• Department of Social Work and Gerontology
• Department of Teacher Education
• John L. Grove College of Business

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students917
• Female Percentage67%
• Male Percentage33%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students917
• Part-time Percentage69%
• Full-time Percentage31%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / LatinoNot Reported
• Black / African AmericanNot Reported
• White / CaucasianNot Reported
• American Indian / Alaskan NativeNot Reported
• AsianNot Reported
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific IslanderNot Reported
• Two or more racesNot Reported
• UnknownNot Reported

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty183
• Full-time Percentage87%
• Part-time Percentage13%
• Female Percentage45%
• Male Percentage55%