Program Objectives
Consistent with the program’s mission and vision, all graduates will demonstrate competency in sections A and G. They will also demonstrate competency in their respective specialty area outlined in B – F. University program administrators and faculty will ensure compliance in section H.
A. Core Counseling Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Professional Identity and Ethics | Demonstrate an understanding of the counseling profession; develop an identity as a counselor; and demonstrate dispositions, attitudes and behaviors consistent with the norms and ethics of the counseling profession. |
2 | Counseling Theory | Gain significant knowledge of major counseling theories in the context of individual and group counseling and apply this knowledge to the counseling process. |
3 | Helping Relationships | Demonstrate the communication skills required to be effective counselors. Including individual and group counseling techniques that facilitate client growth, and demonstrate the ability to evaluate client progress toward treatment goals. |
4 | Social and Cultural Diversity | Develop an awareness of and an appreciation for social, cultural and familial influences on human development and behavior and recognize the impact of individual differences on the counseling process. Further, develop an understanding and ability to effectively work with marginalized populations. |
5 | Human Growth and Development | Develop an understanding of the phases and complexities of human growth and an appreciation for the nature of human development and its integration within the counseling process. |
6 | Career Development | Demonstrate an understanding of career development and related life factors, their effects on an individual’s mental health and lifestyle, and the application within counseling. |
7 | Group Counseling | Develop both theoretical and experiential understanding of group process, development, dynamics, group counseling theories, methods, skills, and other group approaches. |
8 | Assessment | Gain knowledge and skills in assessment techniques, including standardized instruments, interviewing, and suicide and risk of violence assessments, and be able to apply these skills to individual and group appraisal. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, analyze, and apply information to make evidence-based decisions and solve problems consistent with effective client change. |
9 | Psychodiagnosis | Develop a working knowledge of psychodiagnosis, the ethical implications of diagnosing, and its effect on treatment and counseling practice. |
10 | Addictions | Gain knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of individuals with substance abuse issues and process addictions. |
11 | Crisis, Trauma, and Suicide | Demonstrate knowledge and skills associated with counseling in crisis situations, addressing trauma in clients, and assessing and responding to clients at risk of suicide and fostering client resilience. |
12 | Research and Program Evaluation | Develop the ability to read, critique, evaluate, and contribute to professional research literature. |
B. Clinical Mental Health Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
13-CMHC1 | Mental Health Systems | Demonstrate knowledge and skills associated with working in multidisciplinary mental health care settings, and demonstrate practical knowledge and skills in counseling services, prevention, treatment, referral, and program management. |
14-CMHC2 | Psychopharmacology and Treatment Planning | Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement treatment planning, and a basic understanding of psychopharmacology, and how treatment is coordinated in integrated mental health care settings. |
15-CMHC3 | Counseling Families and Couples | Demonstrate an understanding of systems theory and its application to the dynamics of families and couples. |
C. School Counseling Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
16-SC1 | School Counseling Systems | Develop and demonstrate an understanding of the foundations of school counseling, including the school environment, educational processes, multifaceted prevention and interventions and effective program assessment skills. |
17-SC2 | College and Career Readiness | Develop the ability to assess college and career readiness, creating a college-going culture, addressing achievement gaps, providing exposure to post-secondary education, developing career literacy, interest and planning, and removing systemic barriers for diverse students. |
18-SC3 | Counseling Interventions for Student Success | Students will demonstrate an understanding of the application of developmental theory in the practice of counseling children and adolescents. |
D. Marriage, Couples, and Family Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
19-MCFC1 | Families and Couples from as Systems Perspective | Develop and demonstrate understanding of the major models used in couples and family counseling and applying systems thinking in case formulation. |
20-MCFC2 | Practice of Marriage and Family Counseling | Develop proficiency in the skills and techniques of systems-oriented counseling approaches and their use in work with couples and families. |
21-MCFC3 | Counseling Children and Adolescents in the Family System | Demonstrate the ability to assess a client system’s resources and constraints through the various perspectives including Organization, Sequences, Development, Multicultural, Gender and Internal Family System and select appropriate intervention strategies. |
E. Addiction Counseling Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
22-AC1 | Biopsychosocial Aspects of Addiction | Develop an expanded understanding to addictions and substance abuse that includes concepts such as genetic predispositions, psychological factors, trauma, abuse, family, cultural and political issues and how these interact to influence the treatment of addictions. |
23-AC2 | Treatment of Addictions | Integrate counseling skills with knowledge of addictions to facilitate effective addictions treatment to maintain long term recovery. As well as promote healthy practices, self-awareness and self-care. |
F. Clinical Rehabilitation Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
24-CRC1 | Foundations of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling | Demonstrate an understanding of the history, philosophy, and ethics of rehabilitation counseling. Including understanding of unique roles of clinical rehabilitation counselors. |
25-CRC2 | Biopsychosocial Aspects of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling | Demonstrate an understanding of the biopsychosocial aspects of impairment and disability; with a focus on social and family systems of support for those who are differently-abled. Additional legal, social advocacy, vocational and treatment components will be integrated. |
G. Practical Application Student Learning Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
26-PA1 | Experiential Learning | Through supervised practicum and internship experiences, develop, demonstrate and integrate the knowledge and skills needed to be successful as practicing counselors. |
27-PA2 | Personal Growth and Understanding | Enhance professional dispositions and develop, through self-reflection and insight, an understanding of oneself and the use of self in the counseling process. Develop a personal approach to counseling and client advocacy with a clear understanding of counselor roles and functions. |
H. Learning Environment and System Objectives
Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
28-LE1 | Vital Statistics | Maintain descriptive statistics of the student body. As measured by: A. Applications Data
B. Graduated
|
29-LE2 | Quality Students | Recruit and retain a high quality and diverse student body. As measured by: A. Undergraduate GPA B. Admission Test scores C. Dispositional measures
D. Ongoing Professional Improvement Plans (PIPs)
E. Withdrawals and dismissals |
30-LE3 | Quality Instruction | Maintain quality faculty and instructional resources to effectively transfer knowledge. As measured by: A. Faculty to student ratios B. Core faculty to non-core faculty ratios C. Student course evaluation data D. Student evaluation of clinical site |
31-LE4 | Employment Success | Graduates will be able to successfully obtain and maintain relevant employment. As measured by: A. Pass rates on National/State Exams B. Recommendations for Certifications and/or Licensure C. Number of graduates obtaining entry level licensure and/or certification D. Percentage of graduates employed. (Goal 90/90 – 90% employed within 90 days.) |
Learning Assessment
PLEASE NOTE
Each of the Program Objectives associated with student learning, i.e.,
A. 12 Core Counseling Objectives,
B-F Specialty Objectives, and
G. 2 Practical Learning Objectives,
also serve as Student Learning Objectives (SLO). For each SLO several Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are tracked and measured. This allows program faculty to assess students’ acquisition of knowledge and skills individually. Further, faculty use the collective student learning to assess the effectiveness of learning for the program as a whole. Each SLO is assessed several times throughout the program to determine the foundational knowledge, the associated skill, and integration in the art of counseling.