Dr. Claudia Lingertat-Putnam is Associate Professor and Department Chair. Her department includes the Counseling and College Student Services Administration (CSSA) programs. If you are interested in pursuing a career in counseling or college student services, Dr. Lingertat-Putnam will be one of your professors, sharing her knowledge and experiences.

Dr. Lingertat-Putnam, originally from Chicago, has been teaching at Saint Rose since 2003. With nearly a decade of teaching experience here, she knows the Counseling and CSSA curricula well and offers a brief explanation of each program option:

CSSA students get a strong grounding in student development theory and what it’s like to work on today’s college campus as a student services professional; at the same time, our grad students are also taking counseling classes to increase their ability to effectively communicate with others.

Our School Counseling students are well prepared to work in rural, suburban and urban settings, with a special emphasis on advocacy and social justice issues facing school-aged children. School Counseling students are involved in service-learning projects that get them out into the field before their internships. Additionally, our expectation that School Counseling students intern at two different levels ensures a well-rounded experience for the students.

Our Mental Health Counseling students take concentration classes in substance abuse, interventions with children, family violence and more. Many classes include embedded field experiences to get students into the “real world” before their internships. Mental Health Counseling students complete 600 hours of clinical internship over the course of a year to intensify and deepen their clinical skills.

The admissions process for both programs is competitive and Dr. Lingertat-Putnam suggests that prospective students research the program and the field before applying. She recommends conducting information-gathering interviews with professionals in the field to get a good sense of which program is the best fit for you.

The application process includes a completed application form, two letters of recommendation, a personal essay and a resume. Applicants must also attend an admissions workshop, where they participate in an admissions interview with faculty and hear from a panel of current students to get their perspective on the program.

When reviewing applications, Dr. Lingertat-Putnam says she looks for certain qualities in potential students. “We are looking for applicants who have a clear sense of how our programs relate to their professional goals, who are motivated to engage in rigorous graduate study, and who present strong academic and interpersonal skills” she says.

Dr. Lingertat-Putnam has enjoyed watching the Counseling and CSSA programs grow over the past several years. “I enjoy watching the transition in my students from graduate student to professional, and I keep in touch with many alumni. It’s terrific to see that what we are doing is making a difference in communities around the state and country.”

Dr. Lingertat-Putnam also speaks highly of the campus community, noting Saint Rose’s warm and welcoming atmosphere. “I enjoy the diversity in my colleagues and among my students. Our classes are highly experiential, so students have many opportunities for self-awareness and growth in the program.”

You can read more about Dr. Lingertat-Putnam’s background and accomplishments here.

Are you interested in applying to the Counseling or CSSA programs? The Fall 2012 application deadline for both programs is April 1. Click here for more details about the Counseling admissions process and click here for details about the CSSA admissions process.

If you have any questions about the admissions process, please call Graduate Admissions at 518-454-5143 or email grad@strose.edu.