Counselor Education & Student Affairs
School Counseling
Master of Science
The Department of Counselor Education offers a Master of Science degree in School Counseling designed to prepare counselors to work as Professional School Counselors in PreK-12 school settings. The CACREP accredited 60-credit School Certification and Licensure Program meets the Pennsylvania Department of Education's requirements to be a PreK-12 Pennsylvania Certified School Counselor and meets the academic requirements for the Pennsylvania state Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.
The program consists of core counseling courses, specialty area courses, and 700 hours of field experience. School counseling students are eligible to sit for the PRAXIS exam. Upon successful program completion and qualifying score on the Professional School Counselor PRAXIS examination, certification as a Professional School Counselor is granted through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Successful completion of the program also meets the educational requirements for Pennsylvania state licensure in Professional Counseling (LPC) and are eligible to take the National Certified Counselor (NCC) examination, a state licensure prerequisite.
The school counselor preparation program is structured around several core tenets:
- Development of personal awareness of self as a counselor
- Knowledge of counseling and educational concepts
- Skills in counseling students at a variety of age and developmental levels
Included in the program is an emphasis on developing assessment and research skills and using research findings in school counseling. The School Counseling program (CACREP accredited) effectively prepares graduates for a broad range of career possibilities, including working in public and private school settings, community settings, hospitals, educational institutions, and private practice settings.
This program is accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs)
Student Learning Outcomes
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Counseling Masters Programs (MA or MS)
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the ethical standards in counseling and the advocacy role of counselors in addressing institutional and social barriers which impede access, equity and success for clients
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the multicultural competencies and the effects of power and privilege for counselors and clients.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about human growth and development across the life span, have an awareness of the complexity of human development, and its impact on development of treatment plans and interventions
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about ethical and culturally relevant strategies for addressing career development and demonstrate knowledge in career assessment.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge in essential interviewing, counseling and case conceptualizing skilled and will use evidenced-based strategies and techniques for prevention and intervention.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about the dynamics associated with group process and development and demonstrate knowledge on the ethical and culturally relevant strategies for designing and facilitating groups.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge in the use of assessments for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes and demonstrate knowledge about ethical and culturally relevant strategies for selecting, administering and interpreting assessment and test results.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about the identification of evidence-based counseling practices and the evaluation of counseling interventions and programs.
School Counseling - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in school counseling and ethical decision making.
Clinical Mental Health - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in clinical mental health counseling and ethical decision making and advocacy.
Addiction - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in addiction counseling and ethical decision making and advocacy.
Marriage, Couple and Family - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in marriage, couple and family counseling and ethical decision making.