The School Counseling Program prepares students for Residency level Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certification in K - 12 settings, public and private. School counseling program objectives are:
- To prepare reflective school counselors to integrate critical knowledge essential for professional counselors in a diverse society..
- To prepare school counselors to demonstrate foundational skills with self-awareness in practice settings.
- To prepare school counselors to prepare strategies for social justice within and beyond practice settings.
- To prepare school counselors to engage in relationships which demonstrate our professional dispositions.
- To prepare school counselors to demonstrate understanding and application of established and emerging counseling theories through effective use of empowerment techniques for working with diverse populations.
- To prepare school counselors to demonstrate an understanding of established and emerging group counseling theories through effective use of group techniques for working with diverse populations.
- To prepare school counselors to use their understanding of assessment to assess individuals’ abilities, aptitudes, achievements and interests.
- To prepare school counselors to utilize research to evaluate services and make research based professional judgments.
- To prepare school counselors to be change agents who plan, implement, and evaluate a student centered data-driven school counseling program that advances the mission of the school and to address substance use disorder issues in schools.
- To prepare school counselors to work collaboratively with school staff, families, and community members to achieve common goals for the education of all K-12 students, improvement of schools, and advancement of the larger community.
- To prepare school counselors with knowledge and skills to provide quality service in K-12 schools that lead to a more just and humane world.