Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Updated November 30, 2022 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

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Are you ready to discover your college program?

If you are interested in earning a degree in a medium-sized university but prefer a rural setting, Southern Illinois University Carbondale may be your answer.

The school began in 1869 as the second teacher’s college in Illinois. It became a full-fledged university in the 1940s when colleges of law, medicine and dentistry were added. Between 1950 and 1980 the school grew from 3,500 students to more than 23,000. Today the student-to faculty ratio is 15:1 and most classes have fewer than 20 students.

The US News and World Report ranks SIU as number 153 of national universities. The school has more than 300 degree programs and offers professional programs in architecture, business, law and medicine. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized Southern Illinois University for Community Engagement. The school also touts a large research commitment and the huge catalyst it presents to the finances of the community and the region.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Accreditation Details

  • The university is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission.
  • Engineering programs at the university are accredited by ABET.
  • The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association.
  • The Doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology as well as the Doctoral Internships are accredited by the American psychological Association.
  • The Council on Social Work Education accredits the Social Work program.
    Business programs are accredited by AACSB.
  • There are also other program accreditations by department.

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale Application Requirements

If you are applying to Southern Illinois University as a first-time freshman, you will first need to complete an application. You may print an application and submit it through the mail, but the preferred method is completion through the website. There is a $40 non-refundable application fee that may be waived for students that demonstrate financial need.

Your high school should submit your official transcript to the school, issued not more than 30 days prior to the date of submission and enclosed in a sealed envelope. The agency which administered the SAT or ACT tests should also submit your official scores to SIU.

Some university programs have additional requirements. These include the Aviation Flight, Aviation Management, Dental Hygiene, Radiological Sciences and Physician Assistant programs. If you are applying to these programs, you will receive information on additional requisites once you are admitted to the university.

Some degree programs at SIU also have screening processes and some admit new students during the fall only. If you apply to the university as a graduate student, you will apply to the college that houses your degree program. There is a $65 application fee and you must submit your official undergraduate transcripts from all colleges you attended. You may also have to submit your scores from GRE or other graduate tests as well. Requirements differ by department.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Resident undergraduate students at SIU pay $4,417 per semester in tuition, based on 12 to 15 credit hours, plus $2,150 in fees. Room and board costs average $10,186 per year, including a meal plan. Non-resident undergraduates pay $11,043 in tuition and $2,150 in fees for a semester. Graduate resident students taking nine credit hours pay $5,453 in tuition per semester.

There is financial aid available for students. If you need help paying for your degree program, you should complete a FAFSA form. Based upon the financial information you provide to the federal government concerning your finances and those of your immediate family, if you are a dependent, you may be awarded grants, subsidized or unsubsidized loans and admission to a work-study program.

The university also has in-house grants and scholarship programs. These are mainly merit-based. To qualify for university financial aid you must complete a general scholarship application form. Scholarships available through SIU include the Chancellor’s Scholarship, which is a four-year full ride award worth a total of $90,000, the University Excellence Scholarship which awards $8,500 a year, and the Dean’s Scholarship.

There are also scholarship opportunities available through the various departments. In addition, service organizations, corporations, foundations and private individuals fund scholarships. These can be found through an Internet search, or you can use the lists provided on the student portal of the school website.

Aside from the subsidized loans in which the government pays the interest as long as you remain current on the principle and unsubsidized loans at low interest rates with deferred repayment options, there are student loans available through credit unions and banks. Work-study programs offer jobs on and off campus with specified earnings caps, which are scheduled based on your classes.

Degree Offerings

While there are some degree programs offered at SIU online, or at satellite campuses, most degrees are presented in traditional formats. The psychology department, for instance, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. This degree contains credit hours required by College of Liberal Arts and hours that are requisites of the Psychology Department, plus hours in your major. The degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Research plays a big role in this discipline and there are courses in research methodology and in field research.

You can choose to minor in psychology by taking 15 credit hours from specified offerings. While the school does not have a terminal master’s degree program in psychology, you can earn its equivalent as you earn your PhD. The Doctoral Degrees in Psychology are the PhD in Applied Psychology, which is a hybrid between Industrial/ Organizational psychology and Applied Social Psychology; a PhD in Brain and Cognitive Science, a degree program that is heavily involved in research; and the PhD in Clinical Psychology.

There are also counseling programs that are offered through the education department. You can earn a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health; a Master of Science in School Counseling or a Master of Science in Marital, Couples and Family Counseling. The 86-hour doctoral program in Education-Counselor Education contains several doctoral-level seminars as well as an internship.

Southern Illinois University is unique in its student-centered values of integrity, citizenship and inclusion. Carbondale is located in a beautiful area of outdoor activity, while it touts the reputation of being the “unofficial cultural hub “of Illinois. The school has the facilities and the vision of a large university, but maintains the standards and principles of a small school. If that is what you want in an educational experience, you may find your ideal degree program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

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