About Professional Counseling –

What is a Professional Counseling Specialty?

A Professional Counseling Specialty is narrowly focused, requiring advanced knowledge in
the field founded on the premise that all Professional Counselors must first meet the
requirements for the general practice of professional counseling (Adopted by the ACA
Governing Council, October 17-19, 1997). Community Counseling, College Counseling,
Rehabilitation Counseling, and School Counseling are some examples of Professional
Counseling Specialties.

What is the primary organization of Professional Counseling?

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is the publicly recognized organization for professional
counselors. The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in
society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession,
and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.

What is the job outlook for Professional Counselors?

According to the 2006-2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U. S. Department of
Labor, employers are likely to hire counselors at higher rates than the average for all occupations
through 2014.

How is Professional Counseling regulated?

Forty-nine out of 50 states require a license to practice as a professional counselor. Any person
wishing to practice professional counseling must meet and adhere to the regulations of the state(s)
in which he or she intends to practice.

What do graduate programs in Professional Counseling look like?

Most graduate programs in counseling are composed of two parts. The first part is academic and
classroom-based. These classroom experiences are designed to provide and develop the basic
knowledge and skills of the professional counselor. The second part of the program is clinical.
Clinical experiences are designed to place counselor-trainees in supervised clinical settings to
practice and refine entry-level counseling knowledge and skills. The clinical aspects of a counseling
program are composed of practicum and internships. A counseling program accredited by CACREP
indicates that the highest standards for counselor education are being met across all aspects of the
program.

Application Process –

When are the application deadlines for SDSU?

The SDSU Admissions Office processes applications on a rolling basis, so there is not an
application deadline at State. However, students are encouraged to apply well in advance (six to ten
months) of the semester they wish to attend, in order to arrange housing, apply for financial assistance,
and to attend new student orientation/early registration programs. 

http://www3.sdstate.edu/Admissions/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/

When are application deadlines for the Counseling and Human Resource
Development Department?

To be considered for formal admission, all documents must be submitted to the
Counseling and Human Resource Development Department office by April 1 for Fall admission
or by October 1 for Spring admission.

How do I apply to the College of Education and Counseling program?

Start by applying to the graduate school. To begin, go to: http://www3.sdstate.edu/Academics/GraduateSchool/AdmissiontotheGraduateSchool/

To apply directly to the College of Education and Counseling program, go to:

http://www3.sdstate.edu/Academics/CollegeOfEducationAndCounseling/Counselingand
HumanResourceDevelopment/CHRDAdmissions/

Application and school costs -

Is there an application fee?

Yes, there is a $35 nonrefundable fee due at the time of your application.

What is the cost of graduate school programs at SDSU?

Go to this link http://www3.sdstate.edu/Admissions/CostEstimate/Index.cfm for a cost estimator.

When are my payments due?

Payments are due on or before the first day of class. SDSU does have a payment
plan that you can sign up for if you are not able to come up with the entire payment
at once. Go to the following website and click on the FACTS tuition management link
for more information http://www3.sdstate.edu/Administration/FinanceandBusiness/Cashiers/

or call the cashiers office at #605-688-4920.

How do I apply for financial aid at SDSU?
A student must submit their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to receive
any federal financial aid. This includes federal grants, federal student loans, federal
parent loans, and campus work-study.

How does a student qualify as a South Dakota resident in order to pay in-state
tuition rates?
Click here for more information http://www3.sdstate.edu/Admissions/CostEstimate/Residency
Requirements/Index.cfm

How do I qualify for the Minnesota Reciprocity tuition rate?

Click here for more information

http://www3.sdstate.edu/Admissions/CostEstimate/MinnesotaReciprocity/

About Parking at SDSU –

Where do I park? There are places to park all over campus. See the following link

for more detailed information including maps, regulations, and costs for different kinds of permits. http://www3.sdstate.edu/Administration/UniversityPoliceDepartment/TrafficParkingRegulations/

Once you’re a student…

How do I register for classes as a new student? When can I do it?
The SDSU Office of New Student Orientation has all of that information, including the
dates of the registration/orientation events for Fall 2007, the schedule of events for those
days and contact information for their office on the New Student Orientation section of the
SDSU website. You may also call the registrars office at #605-688-4478.

How long will it take me to complete my program?

Length of time to complete programs varies by student and program, but most of the
counseling and education graduate programs can be completed in 2-3 years. Some
students chose to work full or part time while attending SDSU so they sometimes take
longer to finish the program because of job obligations or personal preference to not have
too heavy of a course load.

What books do I need?

Books can vary by semester and professor for the same class so it is important for you
to visit the SDSU bookstore either in person or online to get the most up to date textbook
information. http://www.sdstatebookstore.com  If you will click on the textbook link you will be
directed to select your semester, class, and professor and then you will be given a list of
required textbooks. You may also call the bookstore at #1-800-985-8771 or #605-688-6391.

Where are my classes? T
he building and room number for all of your classes will be listed on the WebAdvisor https://wa-sdsu.state.sd.us/webadvisor/  along with the class information. This information can also
be found in the semester course books that are available all over campus and in the
counseling building, Wenona Hall on Medary St. Caution: Students in the counseling
program see a lot of their classes listed as meeting in Wecota Hall Rooms 010-026.
These rooms are actually in the lower level of Wenona Hall which is next door to Wecota.
The rooms are listed that way because the buildings used to be connected but make sure
to come into Wenona and go downstairs to find your classroom. 

CHRD Accreditation –

Is the Counseling and Education Program accredited?

Yes, 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.

What are the benefits of attending a program accredited by the CACREP?

You are encouraged to visit the CACREP website at http://www.cacrep.org for more
information on this accreditation but the main benefits are that students who graduate
from CACREP accredited programs score higher on the national counselor exams and
are perceived by others to have better counseling abilities. As a graduate of a CACREP
program you are also eligible to waive your 2 years of after graduation supervised field
work which will help become a NCC, nationally certified counselor, sooner.

What are the benefits of attending a counseling program accredited by CACREP?

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
accredits counseling programs. CACREP’s purpose is to ensure excellence in counselor
preparation. Although not a specific requirement for counselor licensure, graduation from
a CACREP accredited program makes state licensing easier (2006-2007 Occupational
Outlook Handbook).

CHRD Courses and questions –

What is practicum?

Practicum is the step before a students’ internship. In this class students enhance basic
counseling skills, and integrate theory and practice into actual therapy sessions. Students
get to meet with clients while under faculty supervision and become comfortable with their
own skills before they embark on their internship.

What is the internship?

The student’s internship is the experience before graduating from the Counseling and
Human Resource Program.  It is a 600-clock hour supervised clinical experience. The purpose
of the master’s level internship program is to provide students an entry-level professional
experience, under supervision, in a setting appropriate for their chosen program option that offers
opportunities to perform a variety of counseling activities carried out by professional counselors.
Of the required 600 clock hours of internship, 240 clock hours are in the form of direct service
to clients.  During the internship students work in a real setting such as a school, university,
agency, or mental health facility and conduct sessions while also meeting periodically with
faculty and on site supervisors to help the student keep developing and improving as a counselor. 

What is internship?

How long will it take me to complete my program?

Most counseling programs are around 48 semester hours. The length of time to complete
programs varies by student and program, but most graduate counseling programs may be
completed in approximately two and a half to four years. Some summer coursework is
typically available. Most counseling programs can be completed part time.

Licensing in South Dakota –

What are the basic requirements for the Professional Counseling
license (LPC) in South Dakota ?

Professional Counselors are licensed at the master’s level. As with most states,
the State of South Dakota requires at least a 48-hour master’s degree in counseling
from an accredited institution, 2000 hours post-graduate supervised counseling experience,
100 hours clinical supervision with a board approved supervisor, and passing scores
on the National Counselor Examination.  Please contact your state licensing body for
more information.