Mission and Objectives

 

Mission Statement

The Graduate Studies in Counseling Program is dedicated to educating, motivating and encouraging students with a grounding in theory and practice in preparation to enter the counseling field in areas that maximizes their unique abilities and interests, and prepares them for future learning and growth. The program is further committed to collaborating with community members including mental health, schools, other agencies, colleagues, and alumni in order to achieve our goals. The program is committed to building and maintaining collaborative relations with members of the community and educational systems by providing them with qualified and exceptional students and graduates.
 

Program Objectives

Students will:

  1. Understand the developmental, social, and psychological processes that underlie human adjustment and practice of counseling.
  2. Understand the impact of cultural, racial, and ethnic variables on counseling relationships and outcomes.
  3. Demonstrate research skills needed to evaluate the effectiveness of counseling intervention.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of counseling theories and techniques, both individual and group.
  5. 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.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to administer and/or interpret the results of instruments that measure aptitude, cognitive ability, personality, achievement, and interests.
  7. 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.
  8. Develop in-depth knowledge of self-selected specialized areas of counseling, such as marital and family, chemical dependency counseling, or school counseling.
  9. Apply assessment, counseling, referral and outcome evaluation skills to meet client needs within the field setting and/or student needs within the school setting.
  10. Demonstrate the ability to function and perform professionally and competently in a field setting.

Additionally, school counseling and dual clinical/school licensure students will:

  1. Have knowledge of administrative procedures and organizational patterns pertaining to guidance programs within the school setting.
  2. Understand the comprehensive developmental school counseling programs in the total school curriculum.
  3. Experience the role of the school counselor as they deliver services within the three domains of social/personal, educational, and career counseling.