SCHOOL COUNSELING
A highly-regarded graduate program for working students that teaches how to integrate counseling and leadership skills to support students and schools through transitions
School counselors perform a vital role in facilitating change — for students, teachers, parents, and schools as a whole. The School Counseling Program emphasizes social justice and helping skills that are applied in the context of a comprehensive counseling and guidance program. School counseling students become multiculturally competent and skilled social change agents, achievement advocates, and educational leaders who address issues of equity to help youth reach their educational, career and personal/social potential.
Master of Arts in Education/School Counseling Program
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 who demonstrate technological competence, professionalism, ethical decision-making, and knowledge of legal matters.
To prepare school counselors to be multiculturally competent leaders who practice advocacy, value diversity, and promote social justice.
To prepare school counselors to use in-depth knowledge of human growth and development to improve student learning, well-being, and to enhance resiliency.
To prepare school counselors with career development knowledge and skills to help students make informed career decisions and engage in educational planning that maximizes their potential
To prepare school counselors who demonstrate an understanding and application of established and emerging counseling theories through effective use of individual techniques for working with a diverse population.
To prepare school counselors who demonstrate an understanding of established and emerging group counseling theories through effective use of group techniques for working with a diverse population.
To prepare school counselors to use their understanding of assessment to assess student 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 plan, implement, and evaluate a student centered data-driven school counseling program that advances the mission of the school.
To prepare school counselors to work collaboratively with school staff, families, and community members to achieve common goals for the education of students, improvement of schools, and advancement of the larger community.
To prepare school counselors with knowledge and skills to integrate academic, career, and personal/social student competencies, including Washington State Learning Goals and Essential Academic Learning Requirements, into the school counseling program.