Prospective students are encouraged to use this website as an introduction to the program and to contact CSSA faculty and staff with specific questions and to visit our beautiful campus. Plans for any campus visit should be coordinated in advance to ensure the visit to be as productive as possible.
Admission to the on-campus CSSA program is competitive. Approximately 15 to 20 students are accepted each year. Since the curriculum is sequential in nature, students are not admitted midyear.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for admission, candidates must submit an online OSU Graduate School application with the following components:

  • Four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited (U.S.) or recognized (International) college or university
  • Overall GPA of 3.00 or better 
  • One-year minimum of full-time work experience in student/academic affairs, related fields, or comparable paraprofessional experience 
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • An understanding of and commitment to a career in the field of student affairs
  • Ability to coherently express thoughts on one's personal experience with social justice

*The GRE or other standardized test is not required for admission or assistantships. 

Application Timeline

All application materials must be submitted by December 15th. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will need to be available for a phone interview at scheduled times during the admissions process.

It is our hope to communicate final program admissions decisions by early February. 

Assist admitted students with securing an assistantship in the following months.

If you want to know the status of your application at any time, please call us so you can make the most informed decision as some applicants may get offers from other programs prior to the completion of the Oregon State University admission process.

Please note that admission to the CSSA program precedes the assistantship placement process. Students admitted to the program are not guaranteed an assistantship, but it is our goal to help as many students as possible. We will communicate specific information about the assistantship process to all admitted students.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

A graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) is a professional position funded by a department or office at the University. All assistantships provide direct service to the University’s programs and offices, as well as functioning as an integral part of the curriculum and total learning experience in the CSSA program.

OSU Assistantships provide:
  • Monthly salary (stipend) based on FTE (full-time equivalent)
  • Tuition remission
  • Institutional contribution toward the graduate assistant-only health insurance premium.

Assistantship appointments range from 0.20 FTE to 0.49 FTE (FTE meaning, full-time equivalent). An assistant on a 0.30 FTE appointment, for example, is expected to provide 156 hours of service during a 13-week academic term.

All graduate assistants are required:

  • To perform the full duties of service as determined by their departments

  • To be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each term of their appointment during the academic year (9 credits during the summer)

  • To be making satisfactory progress toward an advanced degree.

Admitted CSSA students will receive specific information regarding open graduate teaching assistantships shortly after admission is offered. Only admitted students will be eligible to interview for CSSA assistantships.

CSSA Ecampus Program

Please note that the CSSA Ecampus (on-line) program has a rolling admissions process and is distinct from the on-campus program. If you are undecided about which program will best meet your needs, please contact us for counsel.

For information on the CSSA Ecampus program, please visit this site: CSSA Ecampus Program