Department Head:             Dr. William Martin
Graduate Coordinator:     Dr. Brenda Hall
Department Location:      SGC Building, 1919 N. University Drive
Telephone Number:          (701) 231-7202
Degree(s) Offered:            M.Ed., M.S.
Application Deadline:       February 1 for summer start
English Proficiency          TOEFL ibT 71
Requirements:                   IELTS 6

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Program Description

The Counselor Educational program, accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP), within the School of Education prepares counselors to work professionally with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds and in a variety of settings. Program specializations are available in school counseling and in clinical mental health counseling at the master's degree level.

Review of application for master’s degree programs is once each year beginning after the application deadline of February 1. Students who are accepted into the school counseling degree program are required to start classes the following summer; Students who are accepted into the clinical mental health degree program have the option to begin classes in the following summer or the following fall.

Admissions Requirements

Qualified students may apply for admission to graduate programs in the School of Education leading to Master of Education (M.Ed.), or Master of Science (M.S.) degrees. In addition to the Graduate School’s required application materials, the M.Ed. and the M.S. programs require an essay discussing professional philosophy and professional goals, as well as an entrance interview.

Admission is considered only after all required application materials have been received and reviewed. Where appropriate, all international student requirements must be met. If a program has a cohort group with enrollment limitations, an entrance interview will be required. The School of Education reserves the right to obtain additional information about the student's professional competence from qualified professionals. Admission decisions are based upon the predicted success of the applicant as a student and professional in the chosen field and are made only after considering all available data.

A student must meet all requirements for full admission. A cumulative baccalaureate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale serves as a guideline for full acceptance. After being accepted for graduate study in the School of Education, the student should contact an adviser assigned to her/him for assistance in filing a plan of study for consideration by the School of Education.

Financial Assistance

Graduate assistantships are available in the School of Education. Applications are considered on the basis of scholarship, potential to undertake advanced study and research, and financial need. Students must be accepted into The Graduate School before they are eligible for an assistantship.

Degree Requirements

All enrollments in Education courses before the student files a graduate plan of study must be approved by the adviser. The School of Education will evaluate graduate courses taken prior to filing the graduate plan of study when the student's plan of study is being considered. Only those courses approved by the School of Education may be included on the final plan of study leading to the degree.

Master's programs within the School of Education require a minimum of 30 semester credits (minimums vary by academic program). The Master of Science (M.S.) degree requires a disquisition. The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is a non-disquisition, practitioner-oriented degree. Programs vary on requiring a written comprehensive exam or a portfolio/oral.

NOTE: Earning an academic/professional degree does not necessarily lead to state credential or licensure. People seeking licensure must provide evidence of the required number of years of teaching or counseling, and, in the case of school administration, administrative experience. Potential and current students should consult with the appropriate academic program coordinator for advice about licensure, certification, or credentialing after communicating with the appropriate state official.

Carol E. Buchholz Holland, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 2005
Research Interests: School Counseling; Career Education, Crisis Management Preparation, Trauma

Brenda Hall, Ed.D.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993
Research Interests: Intimate Partner Violence, Community/School partnerships, Collaborative Group Practices Studies, and Substance Abuse Counseling

James Korcuska, Ph.D.
Kent State University, 2000
Research Interests: Counseling Research Methodology, Counselor Education, Men’s and Gender Studies & Substance Abuse Counseling

Todd F. Lewis, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Kent State University, 2002
Research interests: Risk Factors for Drinking During Emerging Adulthood, Theoretical Explanations for College Drinking and Substance Abuse, Substance Abuse Interventions, Motivational Interviewing, Process Addictions, and Quantitative Methods for Investigating These Issues.

Jill Nelson, Ph.D.
Kent State, 2005
Research Interests: Community Counseling, Counselor Education Counselor Supervision, Brief and Solution-Focused Approaches

Robert C. Nielsen, Ed.D.
University of Northern Colorado, 1973
Research Interests: School Counseling, Stress Management, Cognitive Counseling