Master Program Objectives

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Counseling (M.COUN) program faculty is to nurture the
next generation of highly skilled and ethically-minded counseling professionals. The Department of Counseling faculty believe that providing comprehensive education grounded in evidence-based practices and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; prepares students to excel in counseling practice, research, advocacy, and leadership within the counseling profession. The Master of Counseling Degree is designed to be the strong foundation upon which graduates enter a lifetime career in the counseling profession.

Objectives

The counseling program offers five specialty practice areas to meet students’ learning and professional career goals:

Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; School Counseling; and Student Affairs Counseling.

Students will experience a variety of learning opportunities through rigorous
coursework, hands-on experiences, and supportive mentorship. We strive to empower our
students to make meaningful and healthy contributions to the well-being of individuals, couples, families, and communities while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct. The clinical nature of this program allows students to graduate with confidence in their abilities to meet future client needs and state licensure requirements as professional counselors. In addition, graduates from the School Counseling specialty practice area meet the requirements for the Idaho School Counselor Pupil Service Staff Certificate; while graduates from the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialty practice area meet the requirements to apply for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

Objectives for all students within the counseling program align with the CACREP core
areas and seek to maintain each of the following for all graduates.

1. Develop a strong sense of professional counseling identity and ethical practice.
2. Facilitate student exploration of the meaning and practice of culturally competent
   counseling and exploration of personal biases, privileges, and identities.
3. Prepare students to conceptualize clients from a developmental perspective and consider how this may impact client experiences throughout the lifespan.
4.  Prepare students to work with clients in any stage of career development and life-work balance.
5. Provide students with a foundational knowledge of counseling skills and building
   therapeutic relationships.
6. Prepare students to engage with group counseling facilitation and systems approaches.
7. Prepare students to be competent in clinical assessment, program evaluation and
   consumers and producers of knowledge.

Student Professional Objectives:

In addition to the above curricular objectives, the Department of Counseling has program specific objectives. These include:

1. School Counseling students will obtain certification as school counselors.
2. Students in all majors (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Student Affairs Counseling) will obtain the appropriate state licensure as professional counselors.