Program Objectives
Students will:
- Understand the developmental, social, and psychological processes that underlie human adjustment and practice of counseling.
- Understand the impact of cultural, racial, and ethnic variables on counseling relationships and outcomes.
- Demonstrate research skills needed to evaluate the effectiveness of counseling intervention.
- Demonstrate knowledge of counseling theories and techniques, both individual and group.
- Demonstrate knowledge of professional issues and practices such as cross cultural factors, ethics, mental health laws, career and educational information, referral agencies, and other counseling-related services and understand the professional, legal and ethical responsibilities of the counselor.
- Demonstrate the ability to administer and/or interpret the results of instruments that measure aptitude, cognitive ability, personality, achievement, and interests.
- Develop an individual philosophy of counseling based upon a consideration of concepts from major counseling theories in concert with their own personality structure and value system.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of self-selected specialized areas of counseling, such as marital and family, chemical dependency counseling, or school counseling.
- Apply assessment, counseling, referral and outcome evaluation skills to meet client needs within the field setting and/or student needs within the school setting.
- Demonstrate the ability to function and perform professionally and competently in a field setting.
Additionally, school counseling and dual clinical/school licensure students will:
- Have knowledge of administrative procedures and organizational patterns pertaining to guidance programs within the school setting.
- Understand the comprehensive developmental school counseling programs in the total school curriculum.
- Experience the role of the school counselor as they deliver services within the three domains of social/personal, educational, and career counseling.