Professional School Counseling

PCN 122 – Group Experience & Self-Evaluation

The course provides students with an in depth self-evaluation for both personal development and professional development for the human services field. Student learning occurs through in-class instruction and group participation during class. The teaching method is experiential in nature. The course consists of an off campus weekend seminar during the first semester of the freshman year. Students will be required to read a textbook on spiritual formation and complete a reflection journal post seminar.

PCN 123 – Introduction to the Counseling Profession

This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop an overview perspective to the helping profession focusing specifically on the areas of school counseling and professional counseling. It will explore the purpose, function, core values, and knowledge base unique to professional counseling, including a history of the field, an overview of therapeutic interventions and what the role of a professional counselor looks like as an occupation. In the realm of professional counseling concepts such as: an introductory level discussion concerning professional counseling theory and intervention, personality theory, how to approach a client, and career options. Also, the course will address historical perspectives of school counseling, the nature of the profession; the new leadership role for the professional school counselor; the ASCA model of comprehensive services; the responsive services of the school counselor; and what school counseling will look like in the future. Class activities and discussions, written assignments, and quizzes will assess student knowledge of course material. Instructional PowerPoint lectures will serve as the primary teaching modality.

PCN 201 – Systems of Counseling I: Christian

This course examines the history of Christian counseling as it relates to the integration of theology and psychology. Consideration is given for the broad range of approaches including: biblical counseling, levels-of-explanation, integration, and Christian psychology. Course content includes study and application of the principles and methods for effective biblical change

PCN 212 – Systems of Counseling II: Psychology

This course surveys the various psychological systems of counseling beginning with the early pioneers extending to the most recent therapeutic methodologies. Consideration is given for an eclectic approach that utilizes a foundational methodology with intervention strategies from various schools of thought.

PCN 351 & 352 – Therapy Lab 1 & 2

The course will meet for one class at the beginning of the semester wherein students will be informed of the process of Therapy Lab. Each student will be paired with a therapist. Therapist and student will meet together for 10 one hour appointments throughout the semester. Goals and objectives will be developed by the student facilitated through the counselor and followed through during the course of therapy. Students will benefit from the two-fold approach of this course: provide client experience of therapy and provide opportunity for the student to work through their own life difficulties and personal development issues. Professional and ethical confidentiality will be maintained throughout.

PSC 555 – Group Counseling in the Schools

This is a clinical course designed to give students didactic and experiential introduction to theory, practice, and treatment in group counseling. The course will cover the theoretical foundations of group counselling and group work, contemporary theories, and group counseling leadership skills including group selection, group formation, group interventions, and group evaluation.

PSC 521 – Foundations of School Counseling and Program Planning

This course will provide a foundation for understanding the academic needs of all students Pre-K-12, their families, schools and communities and the role of the school counselor in facilitating their academic, career, and personal-social success. Students will be introduced to the ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs.

PSC 526 – Collaboration, Consultation and Coordination

Students will develop an understanding of the importance of teaming and collaboration in the development, implementation and evaluation of the school counseling program and in facilitating change in school expectations, climate, policy and practice to better meet the needs of students.

PSC 556 – Career Development in the Schools

This course will equip students to understand, assess and apply career development theory in school and counseling settings in terms of career stewardship development. Students will examine and contribute to a curriculum of interventions to teach others to plan and serve faithfully in the contemporary world of work with the talents entrusted to them. This course introduces the student through hands-on learning to the use of career and vocational assessment tools commonly used in career counseling. Concepts and theories concerning the planning and preparation for vocations provide background information in regards to the use of these assessment tools.

PSC 601 – Professional Service I in School Counseling

Students will participate in school counseling practice experiences that provide for the application of theory and the development of counseling skills under supervision. The Professional Service I experience will provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to provide counseling services for a diverse population of students. The student will participate in a minimum of 250 hours of field work in addition to classroom based assignments with a minimum of 100 direct student service hours.

PSC 535 – Exceptional Students: Population, Policies, & Procedures

This course is designed to prepare the school counselor to identify the variety of students included in the exceptional student populations and their special needs. The schools are required by law(s) to offer services for all these populations. The school counselor will learn the policies and procedures to provide these services in the classroom, through the school counselor’s office, and from each of the service agencies involved in a potential IEP.

PSC 523 – Leadership and Advocacy in Education

School Counselors serve as leaders within the educational context. This course will examine various models of effective educational leadership, the role of the school counselor in effecting change and the development of strategies for advocating for the needs of diverse and multicultural students, families, schools and communities.

PSC 602 – Professional Service II in School Counseling

In this capstone course students will complete a 600 hour supervised internship experience that provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to design and implement a comprehensive school counseling program at each grade level (K-4, 5-8, and 9-12). Students will provide individual and group counseling, classroom guidance lessons, and systemic advocacy interventions. Students will receive supervision and performance review as part of this course.