Springfield College
School of Graduate Studies
Since its founding in 1885, Springfield College has upheld its distinctive humanics philosophy of educating the whole person--in spirit, mind, and body--for leadership in service to others. Its professional curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in the "human-helping" professions--physical education, allied health, and human services. The College lists more than 34,000 alumni, many of whom have assumed leadership positions in such areas as recreation, physical education, psychology, education, community development, rehabilitation, health promotion, and physical and occupational therapy.
During 2006-07, total enrollment at Springfield College was more than 3,800 students including 1,021 graduate students. Of that number, 703 were full-time graduate students and 318 were part-time. Sixty-nine percent were women. Students were drawn from twenty-four states and twenty-three countries.
The Community
Springfield College provides the hometown feeling of a close-knit community and the convenience of a metropolitan area. Situated along Lake Massasoit, about three miles from downtown Springfield, the campus covers 156 acres, including the fifty-two-acre forest ecosystem of East Campus. The Greater Springfield area offers unlimited recreational, intellectual, cultural, and entertainment opportunities, such as the Springfield Symphony Orchestra; the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum; the Basketball Hall of Fame; the Springfield Falcons American Hockey League team; and plenty of ethnic restaurants. Within an hour's drive are several major universities, offering further resources for learning and socializing. Boston is two hours to the east, Vermont ski slopes are two hours to the north, and New York City is three hours to the south. Hiking, biking, camping, skiing, and other outdoor pursuits are available nearby.
Programs of study and degree requirements
Springfield College's graduate-level curriculum is designed to provide advanced professional preparation for qualified graduates of colleges and universities in the USA and abroad. Graduate study is offered on three different levels, leading to the Master of Education, Master of Physical Education, Master of Science, Master of Social Work, Certificate of Advanced Study, and Doctor of Physical Education. Fifteen graduate programs, several with a number of areas of concentration, are offered through the School of Graduate Studies. These programs are Art Therapy; Counseling and Psychological Services (athletic counseling, general counseling, industrial/organizational psychology, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school guidance, student personnel in higher education); Education (early childhood, elementary, noncertification, school adjustment counselor, secondary education, special needs education); Healthcare Management; Health Promotion and Wellness; Health Sciences (applied exercise science, sports injury prevention and management); Health Studies (health promotion/wellness management, teacher certification program); Human Services; Movement Science (biomechanics, exercise physiology, clinical exercise physiology, science and research, interdisciplinary studies); Occupational Therapy; Physical Education (adapted physical education, advanced-level coaching, athletic administration, community physical education, sports management, sports psychology, sports studies, supervisor/director studies, teaching and administration); Physical Therapy; Recreation and Leisure Services (outdoor recreation management, recreational management, therapeutic recreational management); Rehabilitation Services (alcohol rehabilitation/substance abuse counseling, developmental disabilities, general counseling and casework, psychiatric rehabilitation/mental health counseling, special services, vocational evaluation/work adjustment); and Social Work.
Facilities & Resources
The College's Allied Health Sciences Center houses a performance assessment laboratory, an exercise physiology/biomechanics laboratory, an academic computer station, and an isometric muscle-testing device that can test and train muscles and be used as an analytical tool for athletes who have experienced muscle trauma. Funding has been secured to construct a new anatomy lab on campus. Other on-campus, state-of-the-art equipment for allied health programs includes a Chattanooga traction table with Saunders cervical unit, a Kin-Kom III isokinetic dynamometer, phase and fluorescent optical microscopes, radioisotope scalers, motion analysis cinematography equipment, electrophoresis equipment, a variety of treadmills compatible with EKG monitors and metabolic analyzers, automated cell and particle counters, gas and HPLC chromatographs, and telemetric physiological apparatus.
The College's Wellness Center offers students and employees such services as fitness testing and assessment; computerized check-in and tracking system; exercise prescription; and personal training. Cardiovascular and strength training equipment includes Stairmaster stairclimbers and crossrobic, Cybex stationary bicycles, Star Trac treadmills, Concept II rower, and a full circuit of Cybex and Nautilus sectorized equipment and free weights. The Judd Gym Weight Room and the Nautilus Room are two other on-campus fitness facilities. All three facilities also serve as training laboratories for students pursuing related careers.
Expenses and Aid
For a typical full-time graduate student at Springfield College during the 2007-2008 academic year, tuition and fees for two semesters (nine months) amounts to $17,450. An ample schedule of courses is planned each summer, with the cost based mainly on the number of semester hours carried.
On- and off-campus housing is available. For 2007-2008, on-campus housing costs range from $4,554 to $4,966 per academic year. College-owned off-campus apartments each cost approximately $4,140 (including heat and utilities) per academic year. Books and supplies can cost around $1,100. Entertainment costs and other personal expenses vary greatly from student to student.
Various types of financial assistance are available. Four All-College Graduate Scholarships are awarded each year. Teaching and research associateships are offered in art therapy, biology, chemistry, computer science, education, health studies, mathematics, multicultural affairs, occupational therapy, physical education, physical science, physics, psychology, recreation, rehabilitation services, and social sciences. These awards provide tuition waivers for a maximum of twenty-four semester hours per academic year, partial payment of health insurance, and a stipend. Graduate assistantships are also available in teaching, coaching, laboratory supervision, research, and administrative areas. A limited number of scholarships, ranging from $200 to the full cost of tuition, are provided for international students. The Financial Aid Office administers federal loan programs.
How to Apply
Applications for the Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Programs must be on file no later than December 1. For the Social Work Program, applications are due by February 1. All other programs follow a rolling admissions process, in which files are reviewed as they become complete. Candidates lacking undergraduate prerequisites must make up their deficiencies without earning graduate credit for these.
Standardized tests and interviews are not a regular part of the admission process for master's and certificate students; however, in some programs, personal interviews are a prerequisite to action on the application. Scores on the General Test of the GRE are required of doctoral students.The financial aid deadline in March 1. Notification usually takes a minimum of six weeks from receipt of an application.
Who to contact
For more information, contact:
Donald J. Shaw, Jr.
Director of Graduate Admissions
Springfield College
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109
Telephone: (413) 748-3225
Fax: (413) 748-3694
E-Mail: donald_shaw_jr@spfldcol.edu
http//:www.spfldcol.edu
The Faculty
Nearly 100 faculty members teach graduate-level courses at Springfield College. Many also engage in research or writing projects, as their teaching loads permit. They hold degrees from colleges and universities in the USA and abroad; approximately two-thirds of them have doctorates. Many are authorities in their fields.
The Graduate School
Dean: William J. Sullivan, Jr., Professor of Physical Education and Coordinator of Research, P.E.D., Indiana, 1970. Director of Graduate Admissions: Donald J. Shaw, Jr., M.Ed., Springfield, 1970.Program Coordinators
Art Therapy: Simone Alter-Muri, Assistant Professor of Art, Ed.D., Massachusetts, 1990. Counseling and Psychological Services: Barbara Mandell, Associate Professor of Psychology, Ed.D., Massachusetts, 1987.Education: Thomas L. Bernard, Professor of Education, Ed.D., Massachusetts, 1969.
Healthcare Management: John J. Doyle, Jr., Professor of Economics, Ph.D., Clark, 1976.
Health Science: Charles J. Redmond, Associate Professor of Physical Education, M.S.P.T., Boston University, 1981.
Health Studies: John C. Smith, Assistant Professor of Health Education, Ph.D., Miami, 1983.
Human Services: Marisol Cruz, Coordinator of Admissions, School of Human Services, M.S., Springfield, 1997.
Movement Science: Charles J. Redmond, Associate Professor of Physical Education, M.S.P.T., Boston University, 1981.
Occupational Therapy; Katherine Post, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, M.S., Columbia, 1976,
Physical Education: Betty L. Mann, Associate Professor of Physical Education, D.P.E., Springfield, 1984.
Physical Therapy: Linda Tsoumas, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, M.S., Massachusetts, 1979.
Recreation and Leisure Services: Donald R. Snyder, Associate Professor of Recreation, Ph.D., Connecticut, 1987.
Rehabilitation Services: Thomas J. Ruscio, Professor of Rehabilitation, C.A.S., Springfield, 1966.
Social Work: Francine Vecchiolla, Dean, School of Social Work, Ph.D., Brandeis, 1987.