Graduate Studies

The Counseling and Students Affairs (CNSA) program is a two-year, 48-51 semester hour program leading to a Master of Science in Education. It emphasizes the integration of developmental theory, acquisition of strong interpersonal skills, and personal development resulting in the ability to enter beneficially into another person’s world and provide opportunities for personal growth. The program has a generalist orientation, but individualized specializations can be developed to meet each student’s needs. Through the program, students are provided with opportunities to develop core helping skills and to engage in concentrated study leading to a speciality in one of four program emphases.

The Community Counseling emphasis 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 other speciality areas. Counseling theories and skills are emphasized, and the internship experience is in the appropriate community settings.

The Student Affairs emphasis prepares persons for student affairs positions in higher education, including admissions, career services, financial aid, residence halls, orientation, and the student union and activities. This emphasis requires coursework in the development of college students and practicum and internship experiences at college and university sites.

The College Counseling emphasis prepares persons to work in college counseling centers or college career counseling centers. This emphasis requires knowledge of the development of college students and their unique issues and concerns. Student affairs theories, counseling theories, and counseling skills are emphasized. A practicum and an internship in a college counseling center are required.

The School Counseling emphasis 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 and to have taught for two years. For Minnesota there is no teaching certification requirement. This emphasis includes internship experiences at the primary, middle school, and secondary levels.

The program also prepares one to become licensed as a professional counselor in Minnesota and North Dakota, to become certified as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and to be licensed or certified as a school counselor (depending upon the emphasis chosen).

The Counseling and Student Affairs graduate program at MSUM is somewhat unique in the individual attention paid to the graduate students. The class sizes are small, teachers get to know students, and advisor contact is welcomed. Most courses are offered in the evenings to accommodate part-time students. Through additional courses and personal advising, graduate students are encouraged to develop and meet their personal career goals.

Minnesota State University Moorhead's graduate program in Counseling and Student Affairs has specialized accreditation for all four emphases by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which is an accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The "School Counseling" program is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education. All of the Counseling and Student Affairs programs have institutional accreditation through the North Central Association and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

The purpose of the program is to provide students with a high level of counseling skills in order that they can offer therapeutic experiences to their clients. The program is intended for students who seek to become competent counselors, have strong academic, verbal, and written skills, are aware of and able to articulate feelings, who want to gain in self-awareness, and want a thorough knowledge of the major content areas required to be a certified or licensed professional counselor.

Most of the courses are offered in the evenings after 4:00 p.m. The program takes a minimum of two years full-time to complete. The maximum amount of time allowed to complete the program is five years. Full-time as well as part-time students are admitted two times each year. There are two priority deadlines for applications to the program: September 15 and February 1.

Prior to a practicum or internship, successful completion of a criminal background check may be required. Successful completion of a criminal background check may also be a requirement for employment or licensure after graduation from the program.