Master of Arts in Counseling
Mission
The program's mission is to educate professional counselors to work with persons across the lifespan, including those with disabilities. As such, the program curriculum draws from foundational content in clinical mental health and clinical rehabilitation. Through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, use of data and action, graduates demonstrate professional competence in identifying and overcoming barriers to equal access in academic, professional, social, personal, environmental, and career opportunities for all persons. Graduates are dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of personal empowerment, achievement, and quality of life for all.
MA Counseling Program Objectives
- All students will demonstrate mastery of key performance indicators of the CACREP core and specialty standards before graduating.
- The Program will recruit and retain a diverse student body that reflects the diverse communities in which they will be practice post-graduation.
- The program will prepare its students for certification and licensure as professional counselors in a variety of clinical and academic settings.
The three (3) objectives above include the preparation of counselors:
- for state licensure and national counselor certifications.
- who acquire multicultural competence and humility to work effectively with diverse populations, client supports and family, communities, as well as program administrators and all other stakeholders.
- who possess expertise in counseling, including theory and research, assessment and evaluation, and intervention techniques with an emphasis on persons with mental health disorders and other disabilities.
- who have the knowledge and expertise to practice within rehabilitation and mental health counseling programs.
- who demonstrate healthy self-awareness and understanding, and who understand how to balance self-care while ensuring client care.
- who counsel within the ethical guidelines of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA), and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) and other relevant professional ethics codes.
- who counsel with sensitivity, caring, and appropriate counseling approaches for diverse environments and populations.
- who promote social justice, anti-racism, and assist others in self-advocacy or and consult and advocate on behalf of those who are unable to self-advocate.
Courses delivered in a variety of formats
- MA Counseling Program and its two specialties - Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling are offered as in-person programs. (face-to-face).
Work of a counselor
As a counselor, you will engage in relationships that empower diverse population groups including children, adolescents, adults, and individuals with disabilities. Depending on your area of emphasis, you may work in school or rehabilitation settings, as well as a wide variety of other settings, including (but not limited to):
- Mental health treatment programs
- Substance abuse treatment centers
- Public school systems
- Hospitals
- Prisons
- Private practice
- Residential facilities
- Business and industry
- Ministry
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Community-based rehabilitation agencies
- Private rehabilitation agencies
- Insurance companies
- Colleges/Universities
- Independent living centers
- Employee assistance programs
- Job training centers