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The School Counseling program is a CACREP approved 48 semester-hour program that leads to licensure in the state of Ohio as a school counselor.In addition to successful completion of all program coursework, candidates for the School Counselor license must pass the Praxis II Speciality exam (School Guidance & Counseling). Note: As of January, 2003, a teaching credential is no longer required to apply for the license.

Below are the school counseling course requirements with some brief descriptions.

CNS 620 Laboratory in Counseling Techniques (3 credits).
Prerequisite: Admission to one of the counseling programs. Practicum in individual counseling with a focus on skill development and the establishment of a trusting counseling relationship. Students conduct actual counseling sessions with other class participants. Orientation to the role of the professional counselor in school and non-school settings is included. Must be taken in the first semester of enrollment in the counseling program. Graded on an S/U basis.

CNS 604 Cultural and Social Foundations in Counseling (2 credits).
Provides a foundations background in current social/cultural issues, including multiculturalism, alcohol/drug use and dependency, and issues related to our pluralistic society.

CNS 611 Appraisal in Counseling (2 credits).
An introductory study of the psychological tests most widely used in the fields of school and clinical counseling. Includes an introduction to the practical use of psychological tests as well as material on test construction, validation, reliability, ethics, and testing in a culturally diverse society. Designed to train the counselor as a responsive, reflective professional who is a partner in the counseling process.

CNS 617 Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling (3 credits).
Introduction to ethical standards for the profession and to the research relevant to ethical behavior of counselors in mental health and school settings. Study of important legal developments related to confidentiality, testing, research, and supervision. Application of ethical and legal standards to complex cases. Examination of emerging ethical issues and models of ethical decision-making.

CNS 622 Individual Counseling: Theory and Process (3 credits).
Prerequisite: Admission to counseling program or permission of instructor. An overview of the stages of the counseling process and major theories of counseling. Humanistic, psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive theories are discussed with attention to research literature and application to diverse populations. Focus is on evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the theories and building counseling skills through class exercises and role playing.

CNS 623 Group Process and Practice (3 credits).
Prerequisites: CNS 620 and CNS 622. Overview of group dynamics, leadership, and procedures. Examines the use of interactive groups to reach the goals of a school or agency guidance program. Students are required to participate in group activities.

CNS 624 Career Development and Information Services (3 credits).
Intensive study of the psychological and social factors in career development, as well as major theories of career development and how they influence the use of career and educational information in schools and agencies. Includes a review of major assessment tools and computer packages to assist in career decision-making. Discussion of the relationship of career to other facets of development.

CNS 670 Counseling Children and Adolescents (3 credits).
Prerequisite: CNS 622 or equivalent. Major theories and interventions in counseling children and adolescents in schools and community settings. Topics include psychoanalytic, humanistic, play-therapy, behavioral, and cognitive models of counseling children and adolescents, and issues in multicultural counseling for this population.

CNS 678 Foundations of School Counseling (3 credits).
Prerequisite: Admission to counseling program or permission of instructor. Survey of the history, philosophy, and current trends in school counseling. Role, function, and identity of the school counselor. Developmental approaches to assist students at points of educational and personal transition. Collaborative work and consultation with other school personnel such as teachers, administrators, school social workers, and nurses.

CNS 679 Techniques in School Counseling (3 credits).
Prerequisite: CNS 678. Use management, analysis, and presentation of data from school-based information to design a comprehensive developmental school-counseling program. Individual, group, and classroom guidance approaches that assist students to be successful academically. Addresses career and personal/social concerns. Approaches to peer facilitation as an intervention strategy.

CNS 680 Counseling Practicum (3 credits).
Prerequisites: Admission to the school or community counseling program, and CNS 620, CNS 622, CNS 623, CNS 624, and CNS 617, or equivalents. Offers students field placements in schools or community agencies in which they provide individual and group counseling to clients under the supervision of a qualified professional. Placement requires a minimum of 100 hours on site, 40 of which must be in direct service to clients. Students also meet on campus for individual and/or group supervision weekly.

CNS 706 Psychopathology and Diagnosis for Counselors (3 credits).
Prerequisite: CNS 622 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. A review of major categories of psychopathology with emphasis on the behavioral, cognitive, and affective components of human dysfunction. Emphasis on the assessment of psychopathology, research evidence, and controversies about the appropriate role of the diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders in a multicultural society. Introduction to the current diagnostic manual in use in mental health settings. Review of testing concepts and the use of testing in diagnosing psychopathology.

EDB 601 EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH (3 SEMESTER CREDITS):
An introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods used in educational research. The emphasis is on understanding, interpreting, and critiquing research studies. The role of socio-cultural context in research is considered. The course includes a technology strand where students are introduced to computer technologies useful in research.

ETE 501 TECHNOLOGY STRAND (Two semester credits): Must be taken with EDB 601

ALD 603 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT (3 SEMESTER CREDITS): Basic introduction to human growth and development.

CNS 685 Internship in School Counseling (two semesters; 3 credits per semester).
Prerequisites: CNS 604, CNS 679, CNS 680, CNS 706, and approval of application two semesters in advance. Supervised field experience in school counseling, development of skills in counseling students, consulting with school personnel, interaction with parents and guardians. Emphasis on the development of individual counseling skills. Application for internship must be submitted two semesters in advance, and enrollment must begin in fall semester.