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 be technologically competent, professional, ethical decision-makers, and knowledgeable of legal matters.
- To prepare school counselors to be multicultural and social justice competent leaders who tailor their approach to align with clients’ cultural worldview, practice advocacy, value diversity, and promote social justice.
- To prepare school counselors to use knowledge of human growth and development to improve client understanding, well-being, addictions, and to enhance resiliency from a multicultural and social justice framework.
- To prepare school counselors with career development knowledge and skills to help individuals make informed career decisions.
- 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.