School Counseling

School Counseling

Degree: MASTER OF ARTS 48 Semester Hours

Program Objectives

The School Counseling Program is designed to prepare graduates who are competent to work as developmental school counselors in elementary, middle school, and high school settings. The program of studies meets certification requirements of the State of Illinois allowing applicant’s eligibility to apply for certification (Type 73) as a school counselor in Illinois. This program is designed to enable students to:

• Serve as competent elementary, middle school, and high school counselors in both the public and parochial school settings.
• Understand the school environment and be able to structure programs to meet the needs of students, the school, and community.
• Appreciate the role of research and theory in the practice of school counseling and in the establishment of comprehensive school counseling programs.
• Develop a multicultural perspective and be able to demonstrate appropriate counseling and consulting skill when working with diverse groups of people.
• Clarify the role of the school counselor and counseling programs in relation to other roles and services of the educational setting.
• Establish a professional identity and become actively involved in the counseling and school counseling profession.
• Develop and appropriately incorporate Christian beliefs and values into the practice of school Counseling.

Admission Requirement

• Have evidence that the Illinois Test of Basic Skills has been passed.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of a 48 semester hour program (no more than 9 hours at the 4000-level), and successful completion of the Capstone Experience.
• Students that do not hold a standard teaching certificate in the State of Illinois are required to complete the following three courses with demonstrated competencies. These courses are required, cannot be used towards elective requirements in the 48 hour portion of the program, and must be completed before taking practicum and/or internship:   
  • PSY-4410 Psychology and Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner
    
  • PSY-4430 Affective Education
    
  • PSY-6505 Psychological Theories and Educational Processes

Areas of Study

Human Growth and Development (3 hours)

• PSY-6000 Counseling and Human Development

Counseling Theory (3 hours)

• PSY-6010 Counseling Theory and Practice

Counseling Techniques (3 hours)

• PSY-6120 Counseling Techniques & Interventions

Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling (3 hours)

• PSY-6015 Group Counseling

Appraisal of Individuals (3 hours)

• PSY-6025 Assessment Techniques

Research and Evaluation (3 hours)

• PSY-6030 Research in Psychology
• EDL-6100 Research in Education

Professional, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities (6 hours)

• SOW-4100 Ethics
• PSY-6035 Introduction to Professional Counseling

Social and Cultural Foundations (3 hours)

• PSY-6005 Multi-Cultural Counseling   

Lifestyle and Career Development (3 hours)

• PSY-6020 Career Counseling

Professional Curricular Experience and Maladaptive Behavior (6 hours)

• PSY-6210 School Counseling: Program Development and Organization
  
• PSY-6220 Counseling and Consulting in Schools
  

Elective (3 hours)
            Students may select any graduate level course from any department of the University. It is expected that students will consult with their advisor regarding the course elected.

Clinical Experience (9 hours)

• PSY-6982 Practicum
• PSY-6992 Internship

Capstone Experience
        Option #7: Portfolio and Oral Defense