College: Educational Programs

This major focuses on counseling and guidance principles and practices to support individuals' personal, academic, and professional development. Students gain skills in counseling theories, assessment techniques, career counseling, and mental health support, preparing for careers in educational environments, mental health facilities, and related fields.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand counseling theories and techniques.
• Develop skills in individual and group counseling.
• Learn assessment and diagnostic techniques.
• Explore career development and counseling strategies.
• Analyze ethical considerations and professional standards in counseling.
• Develop critical thinking, empathy, and interpersonal skills.

Main Outline:

1. Introduction to Counseling and Guidance - Overview of counseling and guidance principles, roles, and industry trends.
2. Counseling Theories - Core theories such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and multicultural approaches.
3. Assessment and Diagnosis - Psychological testing, diagnostic interviews, and mental health assessments.
4. Individual and Group Counseling - Techniques for conducting individual and group counseling sessions.
5. Career Development and Counseling - Career counseling, vocational assessment, and job search strategies.
6. Mental Health and Wellness - Understanding mental health disorders and prevention and intervention strategies.
7. Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling - Professional ethics, confidentiality, and legal considerations in counseling practice.
8. Multicultural Counseling - Cultural competence, diversity, and inclusive counseling practices.
9. Practical Training - Real-world experiences in counseling settings, such as schools, mental health clinics, or community agencies.
10. Capstone Project - Comprehensive project applying counseling and guidance skills, such as developing a counseling program, conducting a case study, or creating a mental health awareness campaign.

Assessment Methods:

• Counseling theory analyses, assessment and diagnostic reports, individual and group counseling session plans, career development and counseling strategies, mental health and wellness projects, ethical and legal issues essays, multicultural counseling studies, training reports, capstone projects, group projects, and presentations.

Recommended Textbooks:

• "Introduction to Counseling and Guidance" by various authors.
• "Counseling Theories" by various authors.
• "Assessment and Diagnosis" by various authors.
• "Individual and Group Counseling" by various authors.
• "Career Development and Counseling" by various authors.
• "Mental Health and Wellness" by various authors.
• "Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling" by various authors.
• "Multicultural Counseling" by various authors.

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of psychology and human development, with an interest in counseling and mental health support.

Duration of the Major:

Typically 4 years for a bachelor's degree or 2 years for a master's degree in counseling and guidance.

Certification:

Graduates can earn certifications from professional organizations like the American Counseling Association (ACA), the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), or equivalent counseling certifications.

Target Audience:

Aspiring counselors, school counselors, mental health professionals, career counselors, and professionals seeking careers in educational institutions, mental health facilities, community agencies, and related fields. This major equips students with counseling and guidance skills necessary to support personal, academic, and professional development of individuals, enhancing careers in various counseling roles and mental health support.