Division of Academic Affairs
School of Graduate Studies History
Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Our History
The Coppin State University School of Graduate Studies (SGS) has a rich legacy. We stay committed to excellence and make a continuous effort to keep our programs relevant to the changing needs of students, to the professional communities they serve, and to society.
Our 50+ Year Legacy
Summer 1968
The School of Graduate Studies started as one graduate program in Special Education. This program was created to meet the growing demand for special educators who were qualified to work with emotionally disturbed and intellectually challenged students in Baltimore and surrounding areas.
1969
We added a master's program in Correctional Education to address the need for programming development and education for incarcerated persons. The need was so great at that time, the program expanded into a Correctional Education Department designed to serve the needs of correctional teachers. Seeing an even greater need to prepare practitioners across the criminal justice profession, Coppin expanded graduate studies and created the Department of Criminal Justice.
1972
Coppin added a graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling. This program led to our Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Rehabilitation Counseling, which focuses on training students to deliver rehabilitation services, particularly to individuals with the most severe disabilities.
July 1973
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approved a consortium in Criminal Justice between University of Baltimore (UB) and Coppin State College. This consortium has transformed with time, resulting in Coppin getting authorization to offer a Master of Science in Criminal Justice on May 26, 1976. Later that year, Coppin also received authorization to offer the Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education.
1975
In conjunction with the state rehabilitation agencies of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Washington D.C., Coppin created an innovative and experimental rehabilitation counseling program called "Rehabilitation Counseling Program: a Behavioral Approach". Students who successfully completed this program earned the M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling. The project period expired in 1978, but some of its essential components live on in the current master’s program.
1992
The Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland (USM) and MHEC approved the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
1999
USM and MHEC approved the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Distance Learning), Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner, and Master of Science in Human Services Administration.
January 2000
USM and MHEC approved the Master of Science in Addiction Counseling. Upon successful completion of the program, persons are prepared for professional careers in Addiction Counseling.
2010
USM and MHEC approved the Master of Education in Contemporary Educational Leadership.
2011
USM and MHEC approved Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
2020
USM and MHEC approved Master of Science in Applied Molecular Biology and Biochemistry as well as the Master of Science in Polymer and Material Science.
2021
Approved Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP).
Contact Us
Our professors don't live in ivory towers. They're out actively applying research to practice, keeping up with the latest advances in their fields and leading cutting-edge research. Fully accessible, our faculty and staff keep their doors open, and stay committed to preparing our students to be a vital part of today's workforce.
