School Counseling

Program Learning Outcomes

“Expected student learning outcomes specify the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes students are expected to attain in courses or in a program.” Page 69. Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), 2018.

Through coursework and clinical training, students majoring in School Counseling will:

1. Exhibit proficiency in counseling skills unique to forming and utilizing professional relationships in school and community settings.
2. Perform competently in the foundational knowledge base, outlined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Program (CACREP), as well as the specific subject matter (2016 CACREP Standards 5.G) required for delivery of ethical, professional care in a counseling specialization. The knowledge base required by CACREP include the following core area:
   • professional counseling orientation and ethical practice,
   • social and cultural diversity,
   • human growth and development,
   • career development,
   • counseling and helping relationships,
   • group counseling and group work,
   • assessment and testing, and
   • research and program evaluation (2016 CACREP Standards 2.F.1-8).
3. Demonstrate ability to integrate theologically informed and spiritually sensitive interventions in counseling practice when appropriate and desired by clients.
4. Effectively apply counseling knowledge, skills and dispositions in professional practice.

Getting Started

To meet the CACREP accreditation requirement, ALL students will participate in a mandatory online orientation prior to the start of their semester.

Core Counseling Courses (36 Credit Hours)

• COU 5000 - Orientation and Student Portfolio 0 Credit Hours
• COU 5133 - Counseling Skills and Characteristics 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5413 - Foundations of Counseling 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5103 - Counseling Theories and Techniques 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5003 - Human Growth and Development 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5033 - Research and Program Evaluation 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5113 - Group Theories and Practice 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5123 - Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5403 - Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5023 - Assessment and Testing 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5443 - Career Counseling and Development 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5163 - Foundations of Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Counseling 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5173 - Faith, Spirituality, and Counseling 3 Credit Hours

Specialization Courses (21 Credit Hours)

• COU 5243 - Conferring with Groups, Agencies, Teachers, and Parents 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5733 - School Counseling Practicum 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5743 - School Counseling Internship 3 Credit Hours (take twice)
• COU 5233 - Psychosocial Issues of Childhood and Adolescence 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5283 - Principles, Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of School Counseling Programs 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5153 - Brief and Other Specialized Approaches for Use with K-12 Populations 3 Credit Hours

Elective Approved by Advisor (3 Credit Hours)

Three additional credit hours are required to complete the program of study.

Optional Concentrations:

Students need to discuss with their advisors whether they should also pursue one of the optional concentrations offered by the CE Program, designed to complement their counseling degree and to enhance student knowledge and skills in a specific area. These concentrations are:

Crisis and Trauma Counseling

• COU 5163 - Foundations of Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Counseling 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5373 - The Physiological and Spiritual Effects of Trauma 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5273 - Trauma Counseling: Competencies & Interventions 3 Credit Hours

Marriage and Family Therapy Studies

• COU 5333 - Dynamics of Marriage and Family Systems 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5353 - Family Therapy Theory and Techniques 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5363 - Marriage Theory and Counseling Techniques 3 Credit Hours

Play Therapy

• COU 5233 - Psychosocial Issues of Childhood and Adolescence 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5043 - Foundations of Play Therapy 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5053 - Play Therapy & Expressive Arts Techniques in Counseling 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5073 - Advanced Play Therapy Theories & Practices 3 Credit Hours

Additional Courses That May Be Considered as Electives

Any of the courses listed as part of the concentrations above may be considered as an elective. In addition to those, the following Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization courses may also be considered:

• COU 5263 - Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5433 - Substance Abuse I: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention 3 Credit Hours
• COU 5323 - Human Sexuality Theory and Counseling Techniques 3 Credit Hours

*Electives Must Be Approved By Your Advisor*

Meet with your Advisor at least once every Fall and Spring semester. This will allow the opportunity to plan a degree sequence specific to your academic and professional goals.

Sample Degree Plan

School Counseling Degree Plans