Counselors and student affairs professionals are central to student access and success in community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities. The SDHE curriculum introduces students to a variety of approaches to counseling, student development and leadership for equity and social justice. The social justice and equity approach is integrated explicitly throughout the courses, fieldwork, and culminating experience. The program combines theory and practice utilizing course work and field-based assignments to help students develop the competencies necessary for successful careers in higher education settings. Required courses are offered predominantly in the evening, but field-based courses typically require daytime participation during regular business hours as defined by the off-campus sites.
Students coming from diverse experiential and academic backgrounds are trained at the graduate level to perform duties in the counseling and student affairs professions and other specialty areas in higher education. Students completing the SDHE program are employed in counseling centers, career centers, academic and transfer advising, center for students with disabilities, cultural centers, TRIO and Educational Opportunity Programs, equity and diversity offices, community outreach, student activities, admissions, orientation, financial aid, and residence halls in two- and four-year institutions.
