Master of Arts
in
Human Services

Master of Arts – Human Services
(MA – HS)

The MA-HS program is designed to meet the needs of professionals working in the helping professions on the reservation. The degree incorporates significant elements from Native American culture, language, history, and philosophy.

Program Description

All students will take a foundation group of six classes, before choosing an emphasis track. The tracks available are Human Services and Human Services–Community Counseling. Other tracks will be added in the future.

Human Services Track

This is a flexible track that can be personalized by the student to meet individual needs. For example, the student could take course work for advanced chemical dependency certification, for greater expertise as a Head Start worker, or for training in managing a human service organization.

Human Services – Community Counseling

This track is designed to provide training needed for eligibility for Licensed Professional Counselor certification.

Degree Diagram

Phase I: Foundation Courses
(19 hours: All HS students take)

• HS 500 Intro to Professional Studies
• HS 520 Research & Program Evaluation
• HS 530 Social & Cultural Diversity: The Indian Nation in Modern Society
• HS 540 Helping Relationship: Promotion of Improvement & Development
• HS 574 Professional Identity & Ethics
• HS 555 Native American Health & Wellness

Phase II: Emphasis Track
Community Counseling Track (Must take all 27 hours)

• PY 533 Assessment in Counseling
• PY 556 Group Counseling
• PY 557 Human Devel & Psychosocial Intervention
• PY 614 Counseling Theory
• PY 617 Career Development
• PY 624 Counseling Techniques
• PY 634 Counseling Practicum
• PY 694 Counseling Internship

Human Services Track
(Take 15 hours from list above and/or list below, 3-6 hours from external department optional)

• PY 538 Psychopharmacology
• PY 626 Employee Assistance Program
• CS 626 Management of Information
• HS 686 Seminar for Professionals
• HS 677 Independent Study

Phase III: Capstone Course
(for all students)

• HS 699 Human Service Project/Thesis

Admission Criteria

An application packet should be received by the department at least 3 weeks before the start of the semester the student wants to enroll. This packet will include:

1. Application Form
2. Non-refundable $20 application fee
3. Three recommendation forms
4. Transcripts of all previous college work. Must show an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7, plus a 3.0 average for the last 30 hours of course work.
5. Resume
6. Essay detailing service, leadership, organizational skills, accomplishments, and contributions the student can make to Indian Country.
7. Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test

Provisional Admission

Students who don’t meet all of the above criteria may be allowed to take HS 500, 520, 530, and 540 while provisional issues are being resolved. The Admissions Committee much review the record and approve continuation in the program.

Professional Development/Personal Interest

With a bachelor’s degree, and Instructor and Chair permission, up to 9 hours may be taken.

For More Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is $95.00/credit hour for graduate level courses.
Additional fees are:

• $4.00 per credit hour Registration Fee
• $25.00 Matriculation Fee (one time only)
• $20.00 Late Registration Fee
• $30.00 Test Out Fee
• $40.00 Student Activity Fee
• $25.00 Instructional Lab Fee
• $25.00 Technology Fee

Transfer Credits:

Up to 15 credit hours may be transferred into the MA-HS program with advisor & chair approval. SGU seniors may take up to 9 hours of dual-listed MA-HS courses to apply to both grad and undergrad degrees.

General Prerequisites for all Applicants:

The following courses, or equivalent, are expected of all applicants:

• ST 370 Statistics
• SO 360 Methods of Social Research
• HS 225 Professional Human Services Analysis & Writing
• LS 100 & 101; or 101 and 102 Lakota Language
• LS 253 Lakota History and Culture
• IS 230 Tribal Law, Treaties, and Government

For Human Services emphasis

LS 320 Lakota Teachings & Health

For Community Counseling emphasis

Strong background in psychology, mental health, or social work.

Faculty:

Marion Pusateri (MA-HS chair) earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri. She is a licensed psychologist in South Dakota and Missouri and is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association. She has a Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders awarded by the American Psychological Association and is a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC III).