University of South Dakota

The mission of the Counselor Education Program at The University of South Dakota is to graduate competent and ethical professional counselors. The specialization in School Counseling is accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP 2009) and approved by the South Dakota Department of Education (DoE). However, all program related materials follow 2016 standards. The 60 credit hour specialization provides curricular and extracurricular experiences, as well as, supervised practica and internships, to educate and train entry-level professional school counselors to work in K-12 settings. School counselors will demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to promote the academic, career, and personal/social development of all K–12 students. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible for certification as a South Dakota school counselor.