Counseling and Human Resource Development
South Dakota State University
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About our Program


The CHRD Mission
The mission of the Counseling and Human Resource Development Department is to provide leadership in counselor education by preparing graduate students to enter the profession in one of three areas of specialty: Student Personnel Services, Counseling in an Agency Setting, and Counseling in a School Setting. This mission is accomplished through creative and dedicated teaching and mentoring, original and challenging scholarly research, and genuine, committed service to others. Defining and promoting public understanding of the dynamics of human development and mental health are important features of the program.

CACREP Accreditation
The department's commitment to high quality instruction and professional development is also confirmed through national accreditation. The Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation (COPA), has conferred accreditation to all areas of emphasis in the CHRD department.

The Constructivist Model
Faculty in the College of Education and Counseling have selected Constructivism as a unifying model for instruction. Constructivism holds that:
  • Knowledge is constructed.
  • Learning is an active process and influenced by past knowledge and experiences of the student.
  • Quality teaching demands learner-centered instruction that involves student participation in the process of generating a knowledge base.

The counseling process is similar to this type of learning in that clients also construct meaning about themselves based on past experiences and throughout life. Thus, a Constructivist, developmental approach to learning and to counseling is emphasized throughout the program. This approach is further reflected in the department mission.

Professional Organizations/Associations

American Counseling Association 
National Board for Certified Counselors
Association for Death Education and Counseling
American School Counselor Association
Association for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues in Counseling
National Institute of Mental Health
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
National Career Development Association
National Association for College Admission Counseling
The International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy
American Psychological Association


Counseling & Human Resource Development
Box 507, Wenona Hall
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007
Phone: 605-688-4190