The Department of Individual and Family Studies administers Master of Education degree programs in college counseling and student affairs practice in higher education . The purpose of the concentration in college counseling is to prepare candidates as counselors or as counseling interns in college or university counseling centers, junior or community colleges, state or federal agencies, or similar mental health settings. The program is not designed to meet certification requirements of public school elementary and secondary guidance workers. The concentration in college counseling provides training and practice in short-term educational, vocational, and personal counseling of adolescents, young adults, and other students in higher education.
Emphasis is placed on theory and practice in counseling.
Graduates are expected to be competent to administer and interpret psychological tests and inventories used in counseling. Although graduates of this program are not trained to counsel individuals with severe emotional problems, they are trained to recognize problems requiring long-term counseling and to make appropriate referrals. The purpose of the concentration in student affairs practice in higher education is to prepare candidates for positions in colleges or universities in such areas as academic advisement, student activities, residence life, admissions, financial aid, career planning and placement or other student development areas. Skills in counseling and human relations are considered to be an important basis for student affairs ork. Emphasis is also placed upon principles of management, especially as related to the field of higher education.