Master of Science - Counseling - Student Development in Higher Education​

Counselors and student affairs professionals serve valuable functions in the field of higher education in community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities. The program’s philosophy is to introduce students to a variety of approaches to counseling, student development and leadership for equity and social justice. The program combines theory and practice utilizing on and off campus course work and field work assignments to development competencies necessary for successful careers in higher education settings. Required courses are offered predominantly in the evening, but most field assignments require daytime participation during normal business hours defined by the off-campus sites.

Students coming from diverse experiential and academic backgrounds are trained at the graduate level to be able to perform entry level duties expected by the counseling and student affairs professions and their specialty functional areas in higher education. Students are prepared to assume future leadership positions in their area(s) of expertise after additional work experiences have been acquired in the field following graduation. Students completing this option are employed in residence halls, financial aid, student activities, adult re-entry, admissions, career centers, academic advising, disabled student services, counseling centers, orientation, TRIO and Educational Opportunity Programs, multicultural affairs, and community outreach in two- and four-year institutions.