Educational Studies Department offers two new emphases for not-for-profit and higher education professionals

NEW PALTZ — The Educational Studies Department at the State University of New York at New Paltz is now offering two new emphases through its Masters in Professional Studies (MPS) in Humanistic/Multicultural Education program – one for higher education and one for human service professionals.

Terry Murray, assistant professor in the Humanistic/Multicultural Education program, said that in developing these two new, unique emphases, they built on the program’s 30-year legacy of attention to human service and higher education professionals.

Murray said that within the 30-credit program in Humanistic/Multicultural Education, not-for-profit and higher education professionals would take a series of core and elective courses in the program. In addition, they would choose from a wide range of elective courses offered by the School of Education, School of Liberal Arts and School of Business that address the specific needs of their professional roles.

Murray noted, “The ability to choose from a broad range of electives in programs across the college make these emphases ideally suited for professionals working in a broad range of not-for-profit and higher education settings.”

Past graduates of the not-for-profit emphasis have found jobs ranging from education directors to consultants and staff development professionals. Some graduates of the higher education emphasis are faculty who are teaching at community colleges. Others working in student services have jobs as resident advisors, counselors or program directors in student services and student activities. Program graduates who are college administrators hold a variety of positions, including deans, as well as leadership positions in human resource, multicultural affairs and admissions offices, said Murray.

Comments by alumni of the Humanistic/Multicultural Education Program illustrate its effectiveness in preparing graduates for their professional roles in the not-for profit sector and higher education:

Jim Lawler, executive director of Crystal Run Village, Inc., in Middletown, is a 1988 graduate of the Humanistic/Multicultural Education masters program. “Many of our past and present program administrators are graduates of the program,” said Lawler. “It offers so many of the skills needed to deal with positive, effective organizational change. I know this firsthand. This is a broad based program which offers both the technical organizational management skills and the essential people skills needed in today’s not-for-profit world.”

Edward Pittman ‘84, associate dean for campus life at Vassar College, said the Humanistic/Multicultural Education Program was perfect for the career he wanted to pursue. “After starting a job in admissions at Dutchess Community College, I wanted to earn a master’s degree through part-time study,” said Pittman. “My goal had been to develop student support services and the program’s course selection was so relevant. I worked with diverse students and wanted to find a way to integrate their experiences and learning styles. Taking courses that focused on multicultural education catapulted me into a very productive professional assignment.”

For more information about the Educational Studies Department, contact (845) 257-2831 or visit www.newpaltz.edu/edstudies.