Counselor Education 617
COED 617: Introduction to Professional School Counseling
Prerequisite: None
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the profession of PK-12 school counseling to students employed or considering emplyoemtn in the school setting and to those in administrative positions who require a working knowledge of the role and function of the professional school counselor. Content areas include foundations and contextual dimensions of PK-12 school counseling, consultation, and collaboration with other school-based professionals and community agencies.
Detailed Description of Course
The content of the course will include the following topics/units:
1) Becoming a Professional School Counselor
2) Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling
3) The American School Counseling Association (ASCA National Model
4) ASCA School Counselor Competencies
5) Standards for Public School Counseling (PSC) Programs in Virginia
6) Developmental Classroom Guidance
7) Culturally Competent School Counselors
8) Leadership and Advocay
9) LGBT Issues in Schools
10) Family Systems Influence in Students Behavior
11) Consultation, Collaboration and Parent Involvement
12) PSC and Students with Disabilities
13) Counseling Individuals and Groups in Schools
14) Students with Comlpex and Specialized Problems
15) Students with Mental and Emotional Disorders
16) Systematic and Data-Driven School Counseling
17) Accountability and Outcomes Research in School Counseling
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course may include, but is not limited to a variety of instructional strategies, e.g. lab or field experience, student presentations, student development of materials, role-playing/simulation, cooperative/group learning, demonstrations, computer-assisted instruction, case studies, self-paced instruction, writing-to-learn activities, oral communication activities, use of audio-visual materials, guest speakers, lecture, etc.
Goals and Objectives of this Course
The overall objectives are for students to gain experience, develop competencies, integrate past learning experiences, and gain insight into the current issues of the school counseling profession. The following learning objectives based on the CACREP 2016 Standards will also be included:
1) History and development of school counseling; models of school counseling programs; models of P-12 comprehensive career development; models of school-based collaboration and consultation; assessments specific to P-12 education. (SC Foundations 5.G.1.a-e)
2) School counselors roles as leaders, advocates, and systems change agents in P-12 schools; school counselors roles in consultation with families, P-12 and postsecondary school personnel, and community agencies; school counselor roles in relation to college and career readiness; school counselor roles in school leadership and multidisciplinary teams; school counselor roles and responsibilities in relation to the school emergency management plans, and crises, disasters, and trauma. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2a-e)
3) Competencies to advocate for school counseling roles. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.f.)
4) Characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of students at risk for mental health and behavioral disorders. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.g.)
5) Common medications that affect learning, behavior, and mood in children and adolescents. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.h.)
6) Signs and symptoms of substance abuse in children and adolescents as well as the signs and symptoms of living in home where substance abuse occurs (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G2.i.)
7) Qualities and styles of effective leadership in schools. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.j)
8) Community resources and referral sources. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.k.)
9) Professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to the practice of school counseling (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.m.)
10) Legislation and government policy relevant to school counseling. (SC Contextual Dimensions; 5.G.2.m.)
11) Legal and ethical considerations specific to school counseling. (SC Contextual Dimensions: 5.G.2.n.)
Assessment Measures
Class participation rubric, presentation rubric, quiz
Other Course Information
Probable Required Text: Erford, B.T. (2015). Transforming thes chool counseling profession (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Review and Approval
May 4, 2017