Student Development Department

The Department of Student Development is a multi-disciplinary department comprised of three concentrations (School Counselor, Special Education, and Social Justice Education) and one program (School Psychology) dedicated to preparing future practitioners, researchers, and leaders to work in a variety of educational settings. The Department of Student Development focuses on the development of the individual student, with consideration of multiple social/cultural contexts, in both educational (PreK-16) and family/community settings. Department research and scholarship are linked to a range of interventions aimed at improving academic outcomes for individual students, in addition to improving their relationships with peers, educators, families, and the larger socio-cultural contexts that impact equity, access, and opportunity.

The department is home to a Ph.D. programs in School Psychology and concentrations in Social Justice Education and Special Education. The graduate program in School Psychology and graduate concentrations in the areas of School Counselor Education, Special Education, and Social Justice Education are offered for students pursuing a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree or an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree. In addition, the Social Justice Education concentration offers a graduate certificate in Teaching for Diversity. For more information, go to the individual program and concentration links.

Graduate students may also pursue state-approved licensure in the following areas:

  • Administrator of Special Education
  • School Guidance Counselor
  • School Psychologist

Career paths for our graduates include employment as school counselor educators, school psychologists, special educators, directors of special education and school administrators.  In addition, graduates go on to pursue careers in higher education as professors, administrators, student affairs personnel, and residential life staff, as well as seek work in local, state, and federal education agencies and industry.