PROGRAM SERVICES

Program Overview

The Florida A&M Counselor Education Program is a master’s degree program offered in the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Services in the College of Education. The program provides the educational requirements for graduates to become eligible to become professional school counselors and clinical mental health counselors in diverse settings, namely public schools K-12, and community and other mental health settings.

This program offers graduate study which emphasizes both didactic and affective experiences as necessary dimensions in the growth and development of professional learners. Special effort is made to sensitize and provide the candidate with experiences and skills to be relevant in working with individuals, groups, couples, families, and populations representing varied backgrounds and motivations. Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural effectiveness constitute a pervasive focus in all program studies. Overall, the Counselor Education program seeks to prepare candidates with skills and competencies that result in excellent leaders of schools and other educational entities.

The Master of Education degree sequence in Counselor Education requires a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of graduate coursework in the areas of school and mental health counseling. School Counselors are certification eligible by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Division of Certification. Clinical Mental Health Counselors are licensure eligible by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling.

The Master of Science degree for School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires a written thesis and 3-6 additional credit hours.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to train prospective school and mental health counselors for the new century as agents of change, who have the ability to assess, develop, implement, and sustain up-to-date counseling initiatives that are representative of a multicultural and pluralistic society. We support our students as they become critical thinkers, innovative practitioners, and leaders in the counseling profession and in their particular specializations. We promote the following ideas:

• Excellence in ethical practice in teaching, clinical practice and service

• Free exchange of human and cultural richness for a global society

• Contributions to the greater understanding of values to promote the well-being of all people

• Promote a climate of social justice through self-awareness of self and others

• Ensure our identity as professional counselors maintained by CACREP accreditation standards

Program Goals and Objectives

Criteria for awarding the degree require that candidates demonstrate the following program goals (applicable and other program objectives are found on each course syllabus). The learner will be able to:

• Define and give examples of the philosophical, sociological, career and political implications of cultural features in personal social relationships.

• Recognize the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.

• Articulate concepts underlying the dynamics of contemporary social issues especially as they affect personal development.

• Construct facets of an environment which are conducive to the development of positive mental health.

• Utilize effectively a variety of counseling procedures for establishing and implementing facilitative relationships.

• Demonstrate ability to explain and critique research including problem identification, objectives, hypotheses, method and design, implications and conclusions.

• Select and apply a range of appraisal techniques appropriate for varied clientele.

• Utilize group dynamics in a variety of settings with diverse groups to promote cognitive/ emotional growth.

• Provide information/resources to individuals/groups in decision making processes regarding career development and educational/occupational choices.

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of program development including rationale, needs assessment, objectives, implementation strategies and program evaluation procedures.

• Apply ethical standards and legal mandates in personal and professional relationships and practices.

• Confer knowledgeably with candidates, parents, teachers, administrators.

• Meet all requirements for Florida Certification in School Counseling and licensure eligibility as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

​

​

​

Counseling Handbook 2021