Counseling
Degree Programs
- Recommended Course Sequence for Community Counseling
- Recommended Course Sequence for School Counseling
General Graduate Program Requirements
The general graduate program requirements for Chadron State College are available on a separate page for easy reference.
The Degree of Master of Arts in Education, Community Counseling
The Community Counseling Program offers a Master of Arts in Education degree. This degree program requires the successful completion of 48 credit hours of graduate education. EDCI 631, Introduction to Graduate Study, should be completed within the first 12 hours of a student’s program of study.
Mission
The mission of the Community Counseling program of the Counseling, Psychology & Social Work Department of Chadron State College is to prepare quality professionals in to pursue careers as community counselors in various public & private agencies & systems.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Community Counseling Program students will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of human growth & development, social & cultural foundations, helping relationships, groups & group procedures, career & lifestyle development, appraisal, research & program evaluation, & professionalism;
- be employed as an entry level professional counselor with entry level professional skills;
- demonstrate knowledge & application of the principles of the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics;
- apply the ACA ethical principles professionally;
- fulfill the pre-graduation requirements of Title 172, Nebraska Department of Health Professional and Occupational Licenses Regulations in the areas of course content & supervised clinical experience;
- analyze the need of rural populations & develop appropriate referral & networking skills;
- demonstrate empathy & skill in counseling diverse cultural, social & gender groups;
- reflect on personal & professional strengths & weakness & identify needs for growth through supervisor consultation & peer relationships;
- provide consultation services to local, state & professional communities;
- read & comprehend professional journal literature.
Program of Study
The Community Counseling Program prepares students to work professionally in various public & private counseling agencies. In Nebraska, as well as most states, persons must be licensed by the state to engage in counseling or therapy. A teaching degree is not required for admittance into the Community Counseling Program.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 531 | Counseling & Communication Skills | 3 |
| COUN 532 | Treatment Issues in Addictions | 3 |
| COUN 533 | Ethical & Legal Issues | 3 |
| COUN 534 | Tests & Measurements | 3 |
| COUN 535 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 536 | Foundation of Professional Identity | 3 |
| COUN 541 | Counseling Theories | 3 |
| COUN 631 | Consultation & Program Development | 3 |
| COUN 632 | Career & Lifestyle Development | 3 |
| COUN 633 | Internship in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 634 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 636 | Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 637 | Advanced Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| COUN 639A | Practicum in Counseling I | 3 |
| COUN 639B | Practicum in Counseling II | 3 |
| ECON 631 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| Total hours | 48 | |
Course Requirements: Counseling Practicum is a key course in the curriculum of the counseling department. Therefore, certain courses are instrumental for the experience of practicum. As practicum is a developmental process it will be offered for 3 credit hours both fall & spring. In order to register for COUN 639A or 639B a student needs to have completed the following courses with a grade of “A” or “B”:
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 531 | Counseling & Comm Skills | 3 |
| COUN 533 | Ethical & Legal Issues | 3 |
| COUN 541 | Counseling Theories | 3 |
The following courses may be taken concurrently with COUN 639A, Practicum I only:
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 535 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 634 | Group Counseling | 3 |
All other courses may be taken at any point in the program prior to COUN 633, Internship, which is the capstone course & must be the last course completed.
*Note: Students who are unable to finish their Internship in 3 credit hours may need to enroll in additional hours for completion of this requirement. The Credentialing Division of the Department of Regulation & Licensure, Nebraska Health & Human Services System, generally approves our counseling courses for professional counseling continuing education (CE) credit.
The Degree of Master of Education, School Counseling
The School Counseling Program offers a Masters of Education degree. This degree program requires the successful completion of 39 credit hours of graduate education. EDCI 631, Introduction to Graduate Study, should be completed within the first 12 hours of a student’s program of study.
Mission
The mission of the School Counseling program of the Counseling, Psychology & Social Work Department of Chadron State College is to prepare quality professionals to be endorsed as school counselors who will meet the needs of students & educational settings of tomorrow.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the School Counseling Program students will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of human growth & development, social & cultural foundations, helping relationships, groups & group procedures, career & lifestyle development, appraisal, research & program evaluation, & professionalism;
- be employed as an entry level professional counselor with entry level professional skills;
- demonstrate knowledge & application of the principles of the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics & the Ethics of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA);
- apply the ACA ethical principles professionally;
- fulfill the pre-graduation requirements of Rule 24, Nebraska Department of Education in the areas of course content & supervised clinical experience;
- analyze the need of rural populations & develop appropriate referral & networking skills;
- demonstrate empathy & skill in counseling diverse cultural, social & gender groups;
- reflect on personal & professional strengths & weaknesses & identify needs for growth through supervisor consultation & peer relationships;
- provide consultation services to local, state & professional communities;
- read & comprehend professional journal literature.
Program of Study
The School Counseling Program prepares students to work professionally as elementary or as secondary school counselors. Students seeking endorsement as school counselors in Nebraska must have at least two years of teaching experience & a valid teaching certificate.
A class in this Program, "Internship in Counseling" (COUN 633), requires affirmation by the graduate student under oath that he/she has no felony or misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude (Guide to Nebraska Teacher Education Institutions, Nebraska Department of Education, Code Section 004.01, subsection 004.11D). Furthermore, enrollment in COUN 633 requires a student's affirmation under oath that he/she does not have any order or determination currently in effect by a court or any other government body of criminal charges because of insanity; or of incapacitation & in need of a guardian; or of an inability to manage his/her property due to mental illness, mental deficiency, chronic use of drugs or chronic intoxication; or because he/she is currently an in-patient or resident in a mental health facility due to a determination by a qualified mental health professional (Guide to Nebraska Teacher Education Institutions, Nebraska Department of Education, Code Section 004.01, subsection 1004.01L).
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 531 | Counseling & Communication Skills | 3 |
| COUN 533 | Ethical & Legal Issues | 3 |
| COUN 534 | Tests & Measurements | 3 |
| COUN 535 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 541 | Counseling Theories | 3 |
| COUN 631 | Consultation & Program Development | 3 |
| COUN 632 | Career & Lifestyle Development | 3 |
| COUN 633 | Internship in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 634 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 635 | School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 637 | Advanced Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| COUN 639A | Practicum in Counseling I | 3 |
| EDCI 631 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| Total hours | 39 | |
For K-6 school counseling endorsement, students must take one 450-hour elementary school counseling internship. For 7-12 school counseling endorsement, students must complete one 450-hour secondary school counseling internship. Students seeking K-12 school counseling endorsement must complete one 900-hour internship. Regardless of the number of hours, students should register for COUN 633. Students may need to take additional credit hours for completion of this requirement.
NOTE: For School Counseling students who wish to obtain licensure as Licensed Professional Counselors from the State of Nebraska, the following courses are needed to complete the requirement: COUN 532, 536, 633, 636, & 639B. Contact a Counseling faculty member for additional information.