May 15, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education (SDHE), M.S.


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.

Prerequisites


The following are required for admission to the program:

  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants whose overall GPA is less than 2.85 but meet the University minimum GPA requirement and who present compelling evidence of academic and professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program admission committee.
  3. International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website for more information.

Application Information


Applicants use Cal State Apply to submit university application materials and MyCED to submit program application materials before the deadline. Deadlines and details about the Program Materials (e.g., statement of purpose prompt, recommendation prompts) may be found in the Application Process section of the College of Education Graduate Studies Office website. Please contact the College of Education Graduate Studies Office if you have questions. 

Submit official transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor’s degree. This set of transcripts will be used to determine grade point average eligibility. Failure to submit transcripts in a timely manner will result in a delayed review of the application.

After an initial review, select applicants are invited for an interview with program faculty.

Classified Admission


Successful applicants are admitted to the program Option with Classified Admission status.

Advancement to Candidacy - Clear Admission


Students should advance to candidacy as early as possible. For advancement to candidacy (Clear Admission status), students must:

  1. Complete SDHE 510 , SDHE 520 SDHE 521 SDHE 530 SDHE 640 .
  2. Maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all course work.
  3. Resolve all incomplete grades.
  4. Meet with the program coordinator and faculty advisor

Please contact the College of Education Graduate Studies Office if you have questions. 

Requirements


Take all of the following (51 units):


Take one of the following: