Our History

The Coppin State University School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) 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 and Research 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).

Invest in Yourself—and Your Career

The School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) is built for busy working professionals. Our conveniently located urban campus offers graduate degrees and certificates, many you can complete in about two years, in high-demand fields.

We combine small classes, hands-on experience, and personal support across education, criminal justice, natural sciences, nursing, and human services. You’ll build the leadership and management skills to advance your career without putting your life on hold.

Learn how to apply

Why choose a Coppin graduate program?

Our goal is simple: help you thrive. Coppin graduate programs prepare you for leadership and management roles, especially in urban and professional settings. You’ll develop the skills and confidence to make an impact in your field and your community.

For Spring 2026 admission, upload all required materials, including transcripts, résumé, letters of recommendation, and supporting documents, by December 15, 2025. F-1 applicants are encouraged to submit materials early.

Convenience

Our campus is easy to reach by car or public transit, and we offer many graduate and doctoral classes in the evenings and on weekends. Small class sizes mean you’ll get to know your professors and classmates. You can move your career forward while still balancing work, family, and other responsibilities at Coppin.

Paying for Graduate School

Graduate school is a major investment, and we’re committed to keeping it affordable.

You may be eligible for federal financial aid when you enroll in a graduate degree or certificate program. To get started:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

2. Email the Office of Financial Aid from your Coppin email to request federal funding for your current or next semester.

You can also explore scholarship opportunities through the Division of Institutional Advancement. Still have questions? Email us, visit our office, or call (410) 951-3090.

Innovative Graduate Research

We prepare graduate students to lead in a global, knowledge-driven world. Faculty research keeps our programs current, strengthens the curriculum, and brings real examples into the classroom.

Who's leading graduate research at Coppin?

Our faculty stay connected to the communities they serve and work to solve pressing challenges in areas like criminology, nursing, rehabilitation counseling, polymer and materials science, and molecular biology. As a graduate student, you’ll learn from experts who are actively shaping their fields. Current faculty conducting graduate-level research include: 

• Michael Berlin, criminology
• Joan Tilghman, nursing
• Janet Spry, rehabilitation counseling
• Fred Nesbitt, polymer and material science
• Thavamani Rajapandi, molecular biology

Partnerships that Promote Success

Education doesn’t happen in isolation. We partner with key Baltimore agencies, school systems, and employers so your graduate experience connects directly to real-world needs.

These partnerships keep our curriculum current and aligned with today’s workforce. Internships, fieldwork, and research opportunities help you build your network, gain experience, and bridge theory and practice so you’re ready for what comes next.

A Community of Expertise 

Welcome Adjunct Faculty! We're so glad you've decided to bring your talent, passion, and special skills to Coppin. Bookmark this page for quick access to policies, procedures, and resources designed to help you adjust to our campus community.

Adjunct Faculty Handbook

The Adjunct Faculty Handbook is a helpful resource for learning all things Coppin. It has descriptive information on classroom and institutional responsibilities, as well as University policy and procedure. 

It also includes a section specifically for adjunct faculty, including adjunct faculty employment resources. 

Meet and Confer Association

We invite all adjunct faculty to join the Adjunct Faculty Meet and Confer Association! It is a professional association of part-time faculty designed to help implement policies that ensure opportunities to meet with administration, through shared governance, or as distinct groups.

Coppin State University Adjunct Faculty “Meet & Confer” Association is organized in compliance with

As a professional association of part-time faculty, the group helps to implement policies that ensure opportunities to meet with administration, through shared governance, or as distinct groups.

This association stays committed to serving the educational needs of students, while also building and strengthening healthy relationships with campus leadership, full-time faculty, and the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents.

In accordance with Article I Section I of the Coppin Adjunct Faculty Association Constitution, a key purpose of the group is to "engage in any and all activities that promote the educational process and welfare of its members." Additionally, this group complies with University System of Maryland Policy on the Employment of Adjunct Faculty in the University System of Maryland (December 3, 2010).

Advisory Council Members

• President: Dr. Mirma A. Johnson-Majors
• Vice President: Professor Joyce A. Camper
• Secretary: Professor Asia Maxton
• Treasurer: Open
• Parliamentarians: Professor Paul Evans and Professor Brenda Zanders
• Senator for College of Behavioral and Social Sciences: Professor Danielle Parker
• Senators for College of Arts & Sciences, and Education: Professor Vanessa Russell and Professor Sayed Hassan
• Senators for College of Business: Open
• Senators for College of Health Professions: Open

Help for What Life and Coursework Throw Your Way

Student support at Coppin looks like many different things. It looks like peer and professional tutors ready to help students in the Math Center. It looks like trained mental health professionals prepared with resources to help you through the worst of what you’re going through. It looks like accommodations and improved access through the Accessibility Services. It’s emergency funds for students with urgent home, and life challenges. It’s professional guidance on how to take that next career step. Student support looks like all this, and so much more.

At Coppin, we aren’t only concerned about your academic success, we’re concerned about the whole you. We’ve worked hard to make sure our students have a variety of resources to allow you to bring your whole self to school. Because when you can bring your whole self to school, you can be ready to work toward all the opportunities you’ve dreamed of.

Help for What Life and Coursework Throw Your Way

Student support at Coppin looks like many different things. It looks like peer and professional tutors ready to help students in the Math Center. It looks like trained mental health professionals prepared with resources to help you through the worst of what you’re going through. It looks like accommodations and improved access through the Accessibility Services. It’s emergency funds for students with urgent home, and life challenges. It’s professional guidance on how to take that next career step. Student support looks like all this, and so much more.

At Coppin, we aren’t only concerned about your academic success, we’re concerned about the whole you. We’ve worked hard to make sure our students have a variety of resources to allow you to bring your whole self to school. Because when you can bring your whole self to school, you can be ready to work toward all the opportunities you’ve dreamed of.

Help for What Life and Coursework Throw Your Way

Student support at Coppin looks like many different things. It looks like peer and professional tutors ready to help students in the Math Center. It looks like trained mental health professionals prepared with resources to help you through the worst of what you’re going through. It looks like accommodations and improved access through the Accessibility Services. It’s emergency funds for students with urgent home, and life challenges. It’s professional guidance on how to take that next career step. Student support looks like all this, and so much more.

At Coppin, we aren’t only concerned about your academic success, we’re concerned about the whole you. We’ve worked hard to make sure our students have a variety of resources to allow you to bring your whole self to school. Because when you can bring your whole self to school, you can be ready to work toward all the opportunities you’ve dreamed of.

Help for What Life and Coursework Throw Your Way

Student support at Coppin looks like many different things. It looks like peer and professional tutors ready to help students in the Math Center. It looks like trained mental health professionals prepared with resources to help you through the worst of what you’re going through. It looks like accommodations and improved access through the Accessibility Services. It’s emergency funds for students with urgent home, and life challenges. It’s professional guidance on how to take that next career step. Student support looks like all this, and so much more.

At Coppin, we aren’t only concerned about your academic success, we’re concerned about the whole you. We’ve worked hard to make sure our students have a variety of resources to allow you to bring your whole self to school. Because when you can bring your whole self to school, you can be ready to work toward all the opportunities you’ve dreamed of.