M.S. in Counselor Education

Specialization in Student Development in Higher Education

Our Mission

The mission of the Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy at Central Connecticut State University is to develop self-aware professionals and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to empower diverse individuals, families, and communities to achieve their well-being, relationship, education, and career goals.

Our Values

We are committed to developing engaged, mindful learners who promote emotional growth and social and emotional competence over their lifespan, as well as professionals who value social justice, respect human dignity, and have open and flexible attitudes and skillsets.

Program Philosophy

With learning at the heart of our professional work environment, our fundamental responsibility is to empower students to attain the highest standards of academic achievement, public service and personal development. We value quality, intellectual integrity, openness to dialogue, participation by all members of the community in governance, and respect for the dignity, rights and aspirations of each member of the community. Our counseling and student development orientation includes an integration of a mindfulness-informed theoretical orientation within the Counseling coursework. Preparing students for enlightened and productive participation in a global society is our obligation. The mission of the master’s degree program in student development flows from this philosophical perspective. Graduates are prepared to function effectively as student development educators in rapidly changing institutions of higher education.  Students are trained to understand and to meet the developmental needs of college students taking into account worldviews and expectations which are influenced by age, faith or religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status and other life-shaping perspectives. 

Overall Objectives for All Counselor Education Programs 

Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate core knowledge appropriate to the counseling profession (1.b., 5.n., 8.a.)
2. Demonstrate leadership skills (6.b.)
3. Demonstrate advocacy skills (1.e)
4. Demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills of counseling techniques and interventions (4.b., 5.g., 7.e., 7.i.)
5. Demonstrate knowledge and skills to address client trauma (1.l., 2.h.) {for the SDHE program students will develop appropriate referral skills}
6. Demonstrate application of knowledge of current ethical and legal codes (3.i.)
7. Demonstrate a commitment to developing one’s cultural competence (2.d., 5.f.)
8. Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with other professionals
9. Demonstrate dispositions appropriate to the profession
10. Demonstrate excellent communication skills

 

Program Objectives for Student Development in Higher Education

 Students will be able to: 

11. Demonstrate knowledge of theory, practice, and ethical standards relative to the practice of student development in higher education. 

12. Demonstrate appropriate counseling, advising, and group facilitation techniques for use with students, staff, and faculty in higher education. 

13. Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with colleagues throughout their institutions for purposed of creating and assessing learning experiences for students. 

14. Identify a wide range of world views based on culture of life experiences, including their own, and use this understanding to communicate effectively across cultural and personal differences. 

15. Demonstrate knowledge of federal and state laws pertinent to roles and functions of student affairs and to the responsible management of colleges and universities. 

 

Enrollment and Graduation Rates 2017 - 2021

	Fall 2017	Fall 2018	Fall 2019	Fall 2020	Fall 2021
Full-Time Student	11	7	7	7	4
Part-Time Student	56	50	41	39	35
Total	67	57	48	46	39
	Spring 2017	Spring 2018	Spring 2019	Spring 2020	Spring 2021
Full-Time	10	9	8	8	9
Part-Time	54	54	45	42	35
Total	64	63	53	50	44
Graduates	24	29	26	31	20

Time Required to Complete the Master’s Degree

Required Graduate Credit Hours:

• 42 (thesis project optional)

Full-Time Student:

• Two (2) years usually without having to take Summer or Winter session classes.

Part-Time Student:

• Maximum of six (6) years; it is possible to complete in two (2) years which includes taking classes, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring each year.

Program Statistics / Performance Data /Employment Prospects

Employment Settings for Graduates:

• Employment opportunities exist in numerous settings on college campuses. These may include but are not limited to Residence Life, Student Activities, Student Union, Career Services, Academic Support, Academic Advising, Financial Aid, TRIO programs, Greek Life, etc.

 

Graduate Tuition & Affiliated Fees

Please refer to the information provided by CCSU’s Bursar’s Office, which is available on the following webpage:

• https://www.ccsu.edu/bursar/

Many of the students in the SDHE program interview and obtain Graduate Internship or Graduate Assistantship positions at CCSU and with our partnering colleges (i.e. Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, University of Saint Joseph, etc.)

 

Graduate Admission and Application Information

Please refer to the information provided by CCSU’s School of Graduate Studies, which is available on the following webpage:

https://www.ccsu.edu/grad/admission/