We are committed to cultivating immersive learning experiences provide students with the knowledge, skills and cultural competence necessary to become effective, research-informed counselors and counselor educators who will positively impact the clients, students, communities, and systems locally and globally. We actively reflect the values of diversity, multiculturalism, and global awareness in our approach to fostering a culturally responsive educational environment.
Belief Statements
Becoming a successful counselor, clinical supervisor, and/or counselor educator is emergent based on integration of theory, knowledge, skills, professional behavior, and integrity. As a program of quality, we believe in:
Promoting student and faculty collaboration to advocate on behalf of clients, social systems, and the counseling profession.
Promoting academic and clinical excellence by cultivating leadership among students. At the entry level, we cultivate leader-practitioners. At the doctoral level, we cultivate excellence in teaching, supervision, research/scholarship, counseling, and leadership.
Championing diversity and social justice for those who are marginalized and oppressed based on, but not limited to, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, size, family structure, socioeconomics/class status, religion, language, spirituality, physical abilities, health, veteran status, and age.
Training culturally responsive counselors to work in diverse settings, with diverse clients, and to advocate for underserved clients and minoritized populations.
Recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and students who promote equality, social justice, and well-being in all they do.
Engaging in ongoing dialogue, exchange of ideas, and immersion experiences that promote empathy and compassion toward all individuals.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge within the eight core curriculum areas (objective comprehensive examination) and a specialty area (essay comprehensive examination)
Demonstrate developmentally appropriate counseling skills in a minimum of four semesters (610/620 practicum, Advanced Practicum, two semesters of internship)
Demonstrate personal growth throughout the program in relationships with peers, clients, supervisors, and faculty (supervision, student review meetings)
Demonstrate professional behavior including: self-aware, ethical, inclusive, responsible, life-long learner, self-efficacious, clinically competent, receptive to feedback, affirming of diversity, committed to client welfare, collaborative, leader, and advocate (rubric completed by advisors)
Demonstrate leadership and advocacy for professional counseling (leadership roles, faculty observations)