Counseling

The Counseling Program is committed to preparing counselors who promote the social, psychological, physical, and spiritual health of individuals, families, communities, and organizations in order to contribute to the advancement of global well being. The program strives for national and international excellence in implementing a counseling perspective which provides a foundation in basic counseling skills and focuses on social justice, multiculturalism, internationalism, advocacy and leadership. It is our belief that a global perspective on development across the life span, and an understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice are integral to the preparation of professional counselors, requiring that professional counselors are prepared to assume leadership roles, be proactive change agents and become advocates for social, economic and political justice. The program is committed to accomplish this mission by working through interdisciplinary teams as well as promote the interconnectedness of teaching, research, service and professional practice. Through this mission faculty will facilitate a continued tradition of international, national and regional leadership through the development of collaborative partnerships and projects, research, publications, presentations, consultation, and training.

The Counseling program entails coursework and field experiences that will prepare students to be School Counselors or Clinical Mental Health Counselors (Licensed Professional Counselors). The program objectives and student learning outcomes of the program are as follows:

Program Objective A: To equip students with the knowledge and skills to become ethical and effective counselors in a complex society with diverse populations, with a concentration on practicing either as a clinical mental health counselor or a school counselor

Student Learning Outcome 1: Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice

• Students will develop an understanding of and ability to function effectively within ethical guidelines

Student Learning Outcome 2: Social and Cultural Diversity


• Students will develop an understanding of the impact of social and cultural factors on diverse populations and recognize opportunities to address social injustices as appropriate.

Student Learning Outcome 3: Human Growth and Development


• Students will develop an understanding of factors that impact human development and strategies for promoting wellness throughout the life span.

Student Learning Outcome 4: Career Development


• Student will develop an understanding of how to facilitate career development.

Student Learning Outcome 5: Counseling and Helping Relationships


• Students will develop skills to facilitate effective counseling relationships and the ability to conceptualize cases and plan interventions with clients/students from multicultural backgrounds.

Student Learning Outcome 6: Group Counseling and Group Work


• Students will develop an understanding of group dynamics and how to facilitate multicultural/diverse groups.

Student Learning Outcome 7: Assessment and Testing


• Students will develop the ability to utilize assessment appropriately within the counseling process.

Student Learning Outcome 8: Research and Program Evaluation


• Students will develop an understanding of research design and how to utilize data.

Student Learning Outcome 9: Professional Concentrations

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Professional Concentration Students will develop an understanding of case conceptualization, treatment planning, prevention, and intervention related to mental health counseling.
• School Counseling (SC) Professional Concentration Students will develop an understanding of the roles of school counselors and strategies for promoting equity as appropriate.

Program Objective B: To prepare students with appropriate dispositions to engage in ethical, social justice focused counseling with an intersectional praxis, and to attend to growth, self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and collaboration.

Student Learning Outcome 10: Professional Dispositions


• Students will develop professional dispositions that are appropriate for professional counselors.

Program Objective C: To recruit, support, and retain counseling students from diverse backgrounds.

Program Objective D: To provide counseling training that is grounded in the latest knowledge in the field and is responsive to current and changing needs of the communities we serve, including attending to the intersecting identities of our clients/students within a social justice framework.