Counseling and Student Personnel (MS) Professional School Counseling K-12

Summary

Professional School Counseling prepares individuals for careers as school counselors in K-12 schools and alternative education centers. Particular emphasis is placed on the professional school counselor's role in enhancing the mental health of children and adolescents, and the early identification of potential mental health concerns among K-12 students. Consultation with program faculty is required to determine specific coursework necessary to fulfill licensure requirements.
Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Master of Science

Major Credits

60

Total Credits

60

Locations

Mankato

Career Cluster

Human Services

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Program Requirements

Common Core

Focus on helping skills model, professional issues, and skill acquisition of basic listening responses.

Prerequisites: none

A combination of classroom lecture and interaction with community professionals involved in crisis intervention. Designed to give students practical experience in distinguishing between crisis intervention, theory, and practice.

Prerequisites: none

This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of theories of career development, career guidance, career choice, and decision-making. Career counseling interviews and assessment techniques are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

Major theories of group development are presented along with analysis of group notes, group techniques, and groups for special populations. An experiential component is included for experience in group processes.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

This course will prepare students to effectively understand and utilize the results of research and will provide an understanding of the processes involved in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting of research, including program evaluation research.

Prerequisites: none

Emphasis Common Core

Provides an overview of theory, research, and practice regarding counseling with children and adolescents. Developmentally and culturally appropriate counseling strategies are stressed. Relevant current topics are examined.

Prerequisites: none

Theories of human development and the family cycle are presented as the basis for multi-contextual assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment skills when working with contemporary families.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides an overview of mental disorders and disabilities impacting children and adolescents, with particular attention devoted to early identification and intervention in a school setting.

Prerequisites: none

Roles and functions of the professional school counselor in a school setting. Survey of comprehensive school counseling programs.

Prerequisites: none

Nature and use of measurement tools in counseling with particular emphasis on representative standardized tests, norms, and basic research procedures.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the professional school counselors' role within and use of data-driven practices to make informed, culturally responsive decisions while working in multi-tiered, multi-domain systems of support (MTSS) leading to evidence-based intervention and program accountability.

Prerequisites: none

A review and analysis of major counseling theories coupled with empirical support and specific counseling theory techniques and theoretical case analysis.

Prerequisites: none

Emphasis on knowledge and skill acquisition of advanced listening responses, helping interventions, and counseling strategies.

Prerequisites: CSP 645

Overview of family theories and family functioning. Focus on techniques and skills to address issues of contemporary families.

Prerequisites: none

Fundamentals of treatment plan development in counseling, with particular focus on the integration of personality assessment, intake interviewing and diagnostic classification data.

Prerequisites: none

The course provides an overview of identity building and professional skills related to advocacy, leadership, and school counselor supervision. The course will assess styles, provide models for consideration, and explore how to align these practices with positive student outcomes.

Prerequisites: none

Developmental needs and characteristics of children and adolescents. School guidance programs and interventions that respond to these needs.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised integrative practicum experiences. Admission by prior application.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s). * Students may need four credits to meet licensure requirements. Consult with your advisor on credits needed for your program.

Supervised integrative practicum experiences. Admission by prior application.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised integrative experiences. Admission by prior application. Pre-requisities: permission from instructor.

Prerequisites: none

Degree Plan

The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 12 Credits

Focus on helping skills model, professional issues, and skill acquisition of basic listening responses.

Prerequisites: none

This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.

Prerequisites: none

Roles and functions of the professional school counselor in a school setting. Survey of comprehensive school counseling programs.

Prerequisites: none

A review and analysis of major counseling theories coupled with empirical support and specific counseling theory techniques and theoretical case analysis.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 12 Credits

This course focuses on the professional school counselors' role within and use of data-driven practices to make informed, culturally responsive decisions while working in multi-tiered, multi-domain systems of support (MTSS) leading to evidence-based intervention and program accountability.

Prerequisites: none

Emphasis on knowledge and skill acquisition of advanced listening responses, helping interventions, and counseling strategies.

Prerequisites: CSP 645

Major theories of group development are presented along with analysis of group notes, group techniques, and groups for special populations. An experiential component is included for experience in group processes.

Prerequisites: none

This course will prepare students to effectively understand and utilize the results of research and will provide an understanding of the processes involved in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting of research, including program evaluation research.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 9 Credits

Overview of theories of career development, career guidance, career choice, and decision-making. Career counseling interviews and assessment techniques are also emphasized.

Prerequisites: none

Basic appraisal principles and applications of projective and objective personality assessment tools in counseling practice.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of family theories and family functioning. Focus on techniques and skills to address issues of contemporary families.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 12 Credits

Provides an overview of theory, research, and practice regarding counseling with children and adolescents. Developmentally and culturally appropriate counseling strategies are stressed. Relevant current topics are examined.

Prerequisites: none

Fundamentals of treatment plan development in counseling, with particular focus on the integration of personality assessment, intake interviewing and diagnostic classification data.

Prerequisites: none

Developmental needs and characteristics of children and adolescents. School guidance programs and interventions that respond to these needs.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised integrative practicum experiences. Admission by prior application.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 12 Credits

A combination of classroom lecture and interaction with community professionals involved in crisis intervention. Designed to give students practical experience in distinguishing between crisis intervention, theory, and practice.

Prerequisites: none

Theories of human development and the family cycle are presented as the basis for multi-contextual assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment skills when working with contemporary families.

Prerequisites: none

The course provides an overview of identity building and professional skills related to advocacy, leadership, and school counselor supervision. The course will assess styles, provide models for consideration, and explore how to align these practices with positive student outcomes.

Prerequisites: none

Supervised integrative practicum experiences. Admission by prior application.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 3 Credits

This course provides an overview of mental disorders and disabilities impacting children and adolescents, with particular attention devoted to early identification and intervention in a school setting.

Prerequisites: none