PROGRAM STATEMENT
The Student Personnel Services (SPS) degree program is housed within the College of Education at Northwestern State University. This program offers graduate coursework leading to the Master of Arts degree. Within the degree program are two options – college counseling and professional practice – offered to prospective counselors and student development professionals who intend to seek employment in educational and non-educational settings. The entry-level (two academic years) graduate program is designed to prepare:

• University administrators
• College student personnel specialists
• Professional higher education and community counselors

NSU graduates accept employment in a variety of settings, in different occupational roles, and at different levels of professional functioning and responsibility.

PROGRAM MISSION
In keeping with the Board of Regents Master Plan for Higher Education (2001), the Student Personnel Services Program at NSU is committed to producing “a well educated, competitive workforce essential for the state to compete in this new century. Insuring economic advantage and prosperity for Louisiana requires a population willing to learn, adapt, and learn again in an increasingly technical and connected world. Because cultural and educational systems are also mutually dependent, the diversity of cultures in Louisiana must be conserved and nurtured in educational institutions in order to stimulate an atmosphere of tolerance and respect. Ultimately, creativity, competency, and critical thought must characterize Louisiana’s citizenry” (p.2).

We recognize that Student Affairs professionals play an important role in supporting student learning and achievement in higher education. The SPS program sees as its primary mission to provide educational experiences for students that reflect the standards of best practice in the profession.

NSU is located in Natchitoches, a rural area of the state between the population centers of Alexandria and Shreveport and serves students in a wide geographic region between the state borders of Mississippi and Texas. The SPS program attracts students with diverse undergraduate preparation such as humanities, social sciences, and education. A majority of the enrollment consists of students from seven parishes (counties) in northwest and central Louisiana. The program makes courses available to the military population of central Louisiana and supports the professional development of men and women associated with the Army and National Guard installations in central Louisiana.

The faculty are expected to approach their pedagogy with intellectual vigor and enhance their preparation in their field through quality research and scholarship. The instructional efforts of program faculty are committed to ensuring a seamless integration of theory into practice.

PROGRAM UNIQUENESS
Our student affairs preparation program meets both CACREP and CAS standards and offers college counseling and students affairs administration tracks. Internships are available in every student affairs office on campus as well as nearby private colleges, two-year colleges, and technical colleges. We offer a collegial departmental atmosphere with strong faculty-faculty and faculty-student relationships.

NATIONAL STANDARDS
Meets ACPA Professional Preparation Commission Standards: YES
Meets CAS Standards: YES
Other/Comments:

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Master's Application Graduate School Application 2.5 GPA GRE 800 (quantative and verbal) Immunization Form Official transcripts of all undergraduate coursework 2 letters of recommetnation SPS Program Application 2 letters of recommendation Biographical Sketch (Resume) Statement of Purpose (Cover Ltr. detailing your interest in the program) Interview

Application Deadlines (Applications preferred by priority deadlines but accepted after) Priority Processing (Fall/Spring Semesters) - March 15 Priority Processing (Spring Semester) - October 15 Graduate Assistantship Priority Processing - June 15

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Program Required Hours: Master's -  48 credit hours

 

Master's Curriculum Dynamics of Counseling Process Career & Lifestyle Counseling Methods & Techniques of Counseling Advanced Counseling Practicum Advanced Group leadership Special Problems Multicultural & Diverse Population Diagnosis and Assessment in Counseling Procedures in Family Counseling Counseling Needs and Issues of Men Seminar/Interpersonal Relationship Field Study in Counseling Is a thesis required? No.

Educational Research & EvaluationField Experience/Occupational Development Dynamics of Human Growth & Development Analysis of the Individual Introduction to SPS Practicum Internship (6 credits) Group Dynamics Residence Hall Administration The American College Student Organization & Administration of Higher Education Seminar in Student Affairs Legal & Financial Issues/Higher Education Capstone Seminar

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Students in student affairs or higher education administration programs  (2003-2004):

	Total Number	# of Males	# of Females	# of Whites	# of Persons of Color
Master's	48	15	33	28	20
	% of part-time students	% of full-time students	% of students enrolled in the program who also hold some form of financial assistance (graduate assistantship, fellowship, tuition waiver, scholarship)
Master's	30	70	80

PROGRAM FACULTY - Faculty members with areas of specialization and percentage of time devoted to the program.

Robert L. Bowman, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, residential life, legal/ethical issues (100%)
Roxane Dufrene, Ph.D., LPC, counseling skills, group work, ethics (100%)
Frances C. Pearson, Ph.D., NCC, student development, administration (100%)
Paula Christensen, Ph.D., NCC, gifted, school counseling (30%)
Neelam Kher, Ph.D., research, educational psychology, statistics (30%)

Last modified 06/03/2005
Information submitted by: Frances Pearson

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