We'll train students to make a difference and impact the lives of others as mental health counselors, school psychologists, or human development and educational professionals.
Our schools and communities need ethical, reflective professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of children, adolescents and adults. Through careers in mental health, school counseling and human development and educational psychology, individuals can promote the well-being of their communities and make a difference.
The USD Division of Counseling & Psychology in Education fosters a community of learners, scholars, educators and advocates. Our graduate programs in counseling, human developmental and educational psychology, and school psychology emphasize competent and ethical practices grounded in rigorous scholarship that is informed by theory and evidence. Our expert faculty are actively contributing research to their fields and serving in leadership positions as they train our students – enabling a rich learning environment in which our students witness and engage in real-world application of course material. And through every experience we prioritize social responsibility, self-awareness and responsiveness to the needs of individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Our students graduate as thoughtful leaders ready to work at the forefront of education, mental health, ethics and research.
The Finnish education system is considered to be one of the best in the world, and as one of the leading schools of education in the region, the University of South Dakota School of Education sent several faculty members to Finland to learn from their innovative education programs.
The University of South Dakota School of Education honored three faculty members – Gabrielle Strouse, Ph.D., Jing Williams, Ph.D., and Kari Oyen, Ph.D ’16, Ed.S. ’08, LP, NCSP – with Faculty Excellence Awards, which annually acknowledge accomplishments in research, teaching and service.
The University of South Dakota School of Education was ranked No. 136 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best Graduate Education Schools” – the highest ranking in South Dakota.
Community resources provided by supervised USD students.
All of our degree programs are accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly NCATE since 1956. In addition, the clinical programs are nationally accredited by professional organizations. The school psychology specialist and doctoral degrees are fully accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the counseling program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
I chose USD because they have a strong program. It is my hope that USD will enable me to encourage others to see the possibilities within themselves, reinforcing that idea that small and slow progress is still progress. I am incredibly excited about what I have experienced so far at USD and look forward to the growth and development that I anticipate happening in my own life.
Grace Bootsma
Sanborn, Iowa
