History
The Counseling Programs in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology of the College of Education have been preparing counselors for nearly four decades. During the 1950s and 1960s, the major emphasis was on training candidates for school counseling positions. Beginning in the early 1970s, a significant number of students opted for agency counseling and others chose the college and community college programs. In 1977, a new curriculum resulted in a new degree, the Master of Counseling. In 1987 the graduate program in rehabilitation counseling became part of the other counseling programs. In 1998, curriculum was updated and a single degree, the Master of Arts, was offered for all programs. To date, several hundred students have completed these programs preparing to serve in all levels of K-12 schools, post-secondary counseling centers, and a wide variety of community and social service agencies including mental health centers, youth service bureaus and correctional facilities. The faculty is currently seeking accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for the School Counseling and Community Counseling Programs.