The School of Education and Behavioral Studies

Gene A. Sale, Dean

Professors

Phil Henry, Ph.D.
Henry Virkler, Ph.D.

Associate Professors

Olga Dietlin, Ph.D.
Thomas Dodson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

Katie Maslowe, Psy.D.
Steve Vensel, Ph.D.

Mission

The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to prepare students in the disciplines of Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling from a Christian perspective. The program is designed to provide both a biblical and intellectual foundation for understanding and studying human nature in its spiritual, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and institutional expressions. The program seeks to develop Christian character, personal integrity, critical thinking skills, a healthy personality, clinical skills and academic proficiency. It will prepare students to assess and diagnose problems and to design and implement prevention and treatment strategies.

Through a rigorous academic curriculum, field based experiential learning, personal growth experiences, and a close mentoring relationship with highly skilled faculty, students will be prepared to enter the field of professional counseling in a wide variety of settings including schools, community agencies, private practices, and government agencies. The program is designed to prepare students to seek Florida licensure in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling and Mental Health Counseling or Florida certification in School Counseling. For those who do not plan to seek licensure but would like advanced understanding of human functioning and psychopathology, a General Counseling Studies specialization is provided.

The curriculum is divided into five separate areas of specialization for students desiring:

licensure in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling;
licensure in Mental Health Counseling;
certification in School Counseling;
licensure as Mental Health Counselors with a principle focus in substance abuse counseling; and
advanced understanding of psychological health and psychopathology because such information would be useful in their career, but who do not intend to pursue licensure.

For state licensure/certification, there are work experience and exams that must be completed following graduation, before licensure/certification is granted.

Admission To Degree Candidacy

At the completion of a minimum of 18 hours and no more than 27 hours of course work, which must include satisfactory completion of PSY 5133 - Counseling Skills I , and PSY 5113 - Group Theories and Practice , a student must apply for admission to candidacy for the degree. Candidacy requires a minimum GPA of 3.0, satisfactory ratings of students by faculty each semester and completion of a personal growth group experience or its equivalent.

Licensure/Certification

The Palm Beach Atlantic University Counselor Education Program has a carefully planned curriculum designed to meet the requirements for professional licensure or certification in the State of Florida, and other states with similar licensure laws, under four* separate specializations:

Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling Specialization
Mental Health Counseling Specialization
School Counseling Specialization
Addictions/Mental Health Counseling Specialization

* As previously mentioned, the General Counseling Studies Specialization is not intended to lead to licensure or certification.

Master of Counseling Curriculum Requirements

Course requirements for each individual specialization under the M.S. in Counseling can be found via the links below. (Failure to follow the sample degree plan may result in a delay in graduation.)