Counseling & Student Affairs

CNSA > Prospective Students > FAQ

Program Questions

What programs do you offer?

We have four options in our program.

The Community Counseling option prepares persons to provide counseling assistance in a variety of settings in the community including social service agencies; community mental health sites; centers dealing with families, rape and abuse, and crises; as well as others specialty areas. Counseling theories and skills are emphasized, and the internship experience is in the appropriate community settings.

The School Counseling option leads to Minnesota licensure for K-12 school counseling. For North Dakota state certification for K-12 school counseling, only persons with teaching experience can be accommodated, because to be certified as a counselor you need to have a teaching certificate as a counselor you need to have a teaching certificate and to have taught for one year. For Minnesota there is no teaching or teaching certification requirement. The option includes internship experiences at the primary and secondary level.

The Student Affairs option prepares persons student affairs positions in higher education, including admissions, career planning and placement, financial aid, residence halls, orientation, and the student union and activities. This option emphasizes coursework in the development of college students and internships and practicum experiences at college and university sites.

The College Counseling option prepares persons to work in college counseling centers or college career counseling centers. Your course work will emphasize the development of college students and issues and concerns that are unique to this population. For students completing the College Counseling option, a counseling practicum, and an internship experience in a college counseling center are necessary.

Do you offer an addictions program?

No, we don’t. However, some students do our Community Counseling program and also take several more classes and a specialized internship to become eligible for addictions licensing. Students who wish to pursue licensure as an addictions counselor should explore all their options to make sure they meet their desired career goals.

Is your graduate program a Master of Arts, Education, or Science?

Our program provides Master of Science.

What is the difference between a Master of Arts, Education, and Science?

The basic difference between these Master’s programs involves the thesis requirement. The M.S. program requires students to conduct major research in the preparation of a Master's Thesis. A formal presentation and defense of the thesis before a faculty examining committee is the necessary process of the program. M.A. or M.Ed. programs generally do not require a thesis.

Do you offer this master’s on a part time basis?

Yes. Our program is designed to be completed on either a full-time or a part-time basis.

How many years are allowed to complete this program?

You have five years to complete your degree in this program.

When there is more than one area of concentration/emphasis, if I desired to, would it be possible to complete two areas of emphasis?

Yes, but it may add another year or more onto your program.

When are applications due for admission into your program?

The due date is September 15, for persons wishing to be admitted for spring semester, and February 1, for persons wishing to be admitted for fall semester.

Is the GRE or MAT required for admission into your program?

Our program requires either score from the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or from the Graduate Record Examination, General Test (GRE) for admission.

What GRE and MAT scores are required in order to be accepted/considered for admission?

We have no set criteria for test scores. We look at them as part of an overall application.

How old can the GRE scores be?

We accept GRE scores that are up to five years old.

What GPA is required for admission?

3.0 grade point average, or at least 3.25 for the last 30 semester credits of graded course is generally required, although we do make exceptions on occasion depending on other factors.

What is the average GPA, GRE, and MAT scores for students who have applied and been admitted into the program?

Mean for admitted students: GPA 3.37; GRE-Verbal 441.82, GRE-Quantitative 503.64, GRE-Analytical Writing 4.36; MAT 415

Mean for non-admitted students: GPA 2.87; GRE-Verbal 375, GRE-Quantitative 403.75, GRE-Analytical Writing 403.75; MAT n/a

On average how many students are admitted into your program each year/semester?

We admit 12-15 individuals each year.

Is any financial aid available for part time students?

Some federal loans are available. For more information about the types of financial aid, visit http://www.mnstate.edu/graduate/financial.htm

Graduate assistantships may be available depending on availability and your credit load.

What is graduate assistantship?

It is a source of financial assistance awarded by academic departments and the Graduate Studies Office. Assistantships generally require 10 to 20 hours of work each week and provide an opportunity to gain experience in the field of major interest, working with faculty in the discipline. Graduate Assistantships do not include a waiver of tuition. Graduate Assistantships are entitled to in-state tuition.

Is there any help available for writing thesis?

Yes. We have weekly research seminar. It is a voluntary class for the purpose of supporting and facilitating thesis completion. The faculty and colleagues can help you find a way to select a topic, collect data, and continue your work.

Accreditation Questions

Is your masters program accredited? If yes, with who?

Our Community Counseling and Student Affairs programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related programs (CACREP). We are going to seek CACREP accreditation for our school counseling program next year. We have institutional accreditation from North Central Association (NCA) and The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Why is it important that the program is accredited by CACREP?

CACREP accreditation assures students that the program has met national and international standards that help to insure the relevance of course work, the qualifications of the faculty, and the acceptance of the program’s curriculum by potential employers and certifying agencies. For more information on CACREP visit http://www.counseling.org/cacrep.

Licensure and Certification Questions

Can a student in your master’s program become licensed in either North Dakota or Minnesota? If yes, for which state?

Both MN and ND require licensure for community counselors. The licensure process involves graduating from Master’s programs and fulfilling other requirements such as completing an application, taking an exam, submitting letters of recommendation, and paying a fee. For further information, visit the following websites: North Dakota Board of Counseling Examiners (NDBCE) http://www2.edutech.nodak.edu/ndbce/, Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (MBBHT) http://www.bbht.state.mn.us/

What is the process for certification and licensure after graduation?

After completing your graduate program, students in the Community Counseling, School Counseling, and College Counseling tracks may wish to become Nationally Certified Counselors (NCC). Students in these tracks also need to investigate the licensure requirements (or for school counseling in some states it is certification) of the state in which they wish to work. Currently Minnesota, North Dakota, and 46 other states have counselor licensure. You must plan on becoming a Licensed Counselor if you wish to work as a community counselor in one of these states.

Which licensures would a student be able to sit for or take the exam for after completing your program?

In North Dakota, the licensure for the practice of professional counseling is three fold. The first level license is LAPC-Licensed Associate Professional Counselor. This is a two-year license that allows for the supervised experience required for the next level license, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). LPC is a requirement to proceed to the specialty license, LPCC- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.

In Minnesota, there is only one level of licensure: LPC-Licensed Professional Counselor. However, in Minnesota, a licensee must complete 12 additional postgraduate semester credit hours as well as 2000 hours of post-licensure supervised professional practice and 100 hours of supervision over two years in order to continue to be licensed as an LPC.

School Counseling option leads to Minnesota licensure for K-12 school counseling.

For Minnesota, there is no teaching experience or teaching certification requirement if the requirement of our program is met, which includes a one academic year internship. For North Dakota state certification in school counseling, only individuals with teaching experience can be accommodated, because to be certified as a school counselor you need to have a teaching certificate and to have taught for one year.

Does your program’s coursework satisfy licensure requirements?

If you attend our program, you will have the courses you need to become licensed in MN or ND assuming you fulfill the other requirements.

Does your university assist in developing the 2-year supervision plan required by some states’ licensure requirements after their master’s program is completed?

Some students do our Community Counseling program and also take several more classes and a specialized internship to become eligible for addictions licensing. Generally, graduates from our program look for jobs where they can be supervised as part of the job. This is a good question to ask in a job interview.

Program Examinations

What is the CNSA Comprehensive Examination?

The Comprehensive Examination (often referred to as “Comps”) tests your integration and application of theories and content in your area of study. Comps include eight essay questions. It can be taken during four administrations of two hours each over two days. The questions are written by the faculty. It is offered every semester, and you need to discuss with your advisor the most appropriate time for you to write this test.

What other examination do I need to take to pursue my career before and after the program?

There are two other examinations you may need to consider, Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) and National Counselor Examination (NCE), which are developed by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

The CPCE a test designed to assess knowledge acquired in masters training programs. It is required of all students in the Counseling and Student Affairs program. You will take it in the spring semester after you write your comprehensive examination.

Passing the NCE is part of the process for becoming a National Certified Counselor. Some states, including Minnesota and North Dakota, the NCE is used for their licensing requirements. The NCE may be offered on the MSUM campus each spring, usually in April, if there are enough examinees.

Placements and Employment Opportunities

Could you please provide a list of placements that accept practicum and internship students through your program?

Some possible placements are NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia counseling centers, South East Human Service Center, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, and many more. School interns frequently find placements in Fargo, Moorhead, and surrounding school districts.

What employment opportunities are made available through completion of your program?

It depends on your plans after graduation. Are you willing to move? What type of job are you looking for? What types of experiences will you bring to the job? The first position in counseling is always the most difficult. However, with persistence most of our graduates find a position that can get them experience.

What are some examples of jobs graduates of your program hold after graduation?

This varies widely. For community counseling graduates they may find jobs in some of the places that they have done internships. They may also work in employee assistance programs, residential programs, day treatment settings, etc.

What is the average number of graduates who find employment in ND and/or MN?

The majority of our graduates stay in MN and ND. Many of our graduates stay in the Fargo Moorhead area.

What is the salary range in ND or MN for graduates who find employment after completing your program?

This could vary greatly depending on the state, the type of organization (federal, state, private), and whether it is rural or urban. According to U. S. Department of Labor, the starting salary in Fargo-Moorhead area approximately ranges between 18,800 and 23,400. The mean annual wage in 2005 for mental health counselor is $37,880 in Minnesota and $ 35,830 in North Dakota. The mean annual wage for School counselor is $47,590 in Minnesota, and $36,090 in North Dakota. Please check the following sites for further information about a counseling job.

American Career Information Network: www.acinet.org

America’s Job Bank: http://ajb.dni.us

Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://stats.bls.gov

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: http://www.deed.state.mn.us

11/09/05