Program Mission
The mission of the School Counseling Program is to prepare exemplary professional school counselors who are able:
- To create a supportive and collaborative learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds and cultures to acquire knowledge, attitudes, and skills essential in the practice of school counseling.
- To help students become exemplary in applying essential school counseling knowledge and skills in a variety of settings with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- To promote, model, and develop our students to become leaders and advocates for ethical practice of school counseling.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program learning outcomes represent broad statements of what graduates of the program should show, value, or be able to do by the time they complete the program.
Demonstrate their knowledge, skills and level of professional identity as a counselor; as they pertain to professional history and philosophy, roles and responsibilities, advocacy and interagency collaboration, standards and credentials, certification and licensure, ethical and legal standards, and professional membership and service.
Integrate knowledge pertaining to research, theories and practice strategies to advocate for and serve socially and culturally diverse clients in a multi-cultural society.
Utilize theories, models, research evidence, and practice strategies related to human growth and development; including social, cultural and societal influences on the life stages.
Utilize theories, models, research evidence and practice relating to career development at all stages of the lifespan.
Utilize theories, models, research evidence and practice strategies to build helping relationships with diverse clients.
Integrate knowledge about group dynamics, group development and process theories, group leadership styles, and group counseling methods as they ethically and professionally practice group leadership skills.
Incorporate ethical guidelines of the profession and research evidence when selecting, administering and interpreting developmentally and culturally appropriate assessments for their socially and culturally diverse clients.
Evaluate and incorporate ethically and culturally relevant research findings when selecting strategies for interventions, treatments and program evaluations.
Apply effective principles and practices for diagnosis, treatment, referral and prevention when initiating, maintaining and terminating counseling services for socially and culturally diverse clients.
Demonstrate preparedness for participation and leadership in the design, delivery, management and accountability of school counseling programs; while considering developmental and functioning levels of students, available school/family/community resources, and research based prevention/intervention/crisis management practices.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) are specific, measurable skills, knowledge, and assets that individual students are expected to demonstrate during the program. SLOs are tied to specific courses, assignments, disposition assessments, survey items, evaluations, etc. They are further mapped to the CACREP Foundational and Program Specific Self-Study Reports (SSRs).
Counseling candidates will demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and level of professional identity as a counselor; as they pertain to professional history and philosophy, roles and responsibilities, advocacy and interagency collaboration, standards and credentials, certification and licensure, ethical and legal standards, and professional membership and service.
Counseling candidates will integrate knowledge pertaining to research, theories, and practice strategies to advocate for and serve socially and culturally diverse clients in a multi-cultural society. history and philosophy, roles and responsibilities, advocacy and interagency collaboration, standards and credentials, certification and licensure, ethical and legal standards, and professional membership and service.
Counseling candidates will utilize theories, models, research evidence, and practice strategies related to human growth and development; including the social, cultural, and societal influences on the life stages.
Counseling Candidates will utilize theories, models, research evidence, and practice strategies relating to career development at all stages of the lifespan.
Counseling Candidates will utilize theories, models, research evidence, and practice strategies to build helping relationships with diverse clients.
MA in Counseling Annual Report and Newsletter
Each year, the MA in Counseling Program publishes an annual report and newsletter for current students, faculty, alumni, SOLES administrators, and our community partners. The report includes key findings from recent exit surveys, program updates, student and alumni highlights, special events, opportunities to get involved, and accomplishments across our community.
You can view previous editions of the newsletter below:
Our Alumni
We take pride in preparing our students for success in their profession, as shown by the CACREP Counseling Program/Student Outcomes Data.
Professional Elementary School Counselor
Professional Middle School Counselor
Professional High School Counselor
Social Emotional Learning Coordinator
School Liaison with Mental Health Professionals
Student Support Services Professional