SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –The South Dakota Board of Regents this week approved new academic programs for Northern State University to meet emerging workforce and economic development trends statewide.
A graduate certificate in behavioral and justice studies at Northern will offer enhanced preparation for professionals working in counseling, police or law enforcement, social work, psychology, and related fields.
This certificate is intended as a stand-alone credential option for students who either do not seek a master’s degree or already have an advanced degree. The 12 graduate hours earned for the certificate are stackable to other degrees, however, and may be applied to the new forensic counseling emphasis in Northern’s clinical mental health counseling program.
A new specialization in forensic counseling will now be part of Northern’s existing master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. This specialization, consisting of 12 credit hours, enhances counseling students’ abilities to work with the legal system in settings such as prisons, domestic violence shelters and juvenile detention centers. All of these locations have significant demand for specialized counseling services.
Students completing a degree in mental health counseling with this specialization are eligible for national certification from the National Association of Forensic Counselors, after two years of professional practice serving forensic populations. They will also be eligible for optional certifications from the National Board of Forensic Evaluators.
The regents, meeting this week in Sioux Falls, also approved program requests from Dakota State University. For more information, see the BOR press release.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $55 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.