Graduate Programs for Student Services Professionals on the Rise in Canada

An article appeared today on University Affairs about the growth of graduate programs for student services professionals in Canada. In recent years, masters and doctoral programs with specializations in the student services field have been implemented. As the article notes, Memorial University was one of the first to offer such a program, introducing the master's of education in post-secondary studies with a specialization in student services in 1998. Next fall, the University of Toronto will introduce a master's of education degree with a specialization in student affairs and student development. Many graduate programs in student services are offered part-time and online to accommodate working professionals. While such initiatives are fairly new to Canada, "the field is quite old in the U.S." according to Tony Chambers, associate professor of higher education at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).