Page 135 - 2016-2018 Graduate Catalog (Revised)

The program in School Counseling, in accordance with the Department
of Counseling's mission, advocates equality of opportunity for all
Candidates. It is designed to educate counselors across multicultural
and diverse school-age populations in understanding and applying
various counseling methods and techniques to address educational,
vocational, and personal concerns. This broad approach will permit
the counselor to develop a repertoire of methods and select the most
appropriate for the particular problem and the specific Candidate. The
counselor will develop this repertoire of methods and themes by
becoming an academic scholar and effective practitioner, as well as by
demonstrating the use of technological applications, and by
demonstrating an understanding of multicultural and global
perspectives of Candidates, special populations, and personal and
interpersonal perspectives. Through this program, the counselor
obtains a variety of conceptual approaches to counseling and an
understanding of the social and psychological factors in influencing
human development and behavior. Students will also acquire the
ability to address the need for social equity and the closing of the
achievement gap.

Mission Statement
It is the Mission of the School Counseling program to prepare the most
highly skilled, knowledgeable, and competent professional school
counselors. Candidates will be equipped to carry out the roles and
responsibilities of professional school counselors that are endorsed by
the American School Counseling Association, the Maryland State
Department of Education and the Council of the Accreditation of
Counseling Education and Related Programs. School Counselors will
be skilled in understanding the needs of diverse populations who
present with a myriad of learning styles and abilities. It will be the
focus of all school counselors to address the Achievement Gap in this
region and country through research based interventions and
practices that are data driven. The faculty shall possess the training
and experience to prepare students to address the needs of the entire
school community as an advocate, leader, collaborator and
coordinator. The curriculum will provide a range of academic
experiences that focus on the changing needs of a diverse population
of students Pre K – 12.

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