Announcement

Each program provides students with the skills, strategies, and knowledge to succeed in their chosen field. Specific curricular requirements are listed under the respective programs. Each program provides students with clinical experience opportunities as practicum and/or internship experiences congruent with appropriate career goals for each degree. A minimum of two clinical experiences are required in all our degree programs.

The counseling profession is growing rapidly. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, overall employment opportunities in counseling are projected to grow faster than average through at least 2014. Faster than average growth will occur in the fields of rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and mental health counseling in the coming years..

Our department is comprised of 10 full time faculty members and one professional staff member.

The Department of Counseling and Human Services in the Panuska College of Professional Studies at the University of Scranton seeks to train counseling and human service professionals who are self-reflective practitioners, competent care-givers, and community leaders. Special emphasis is placed on the achievement of excellence in academic and professional competencies.

The Department is committed to the enhancement of human development across the lifespan. Each program prepares students for work in a variety of settings (agency, school, etc.) as counseling and human service professionals who situate their work in cultural, family, and community (local, regional, national, and global) contexts.

Counseling and Human Services Undergraduate Major
The Counseling and Human Services curriculum (CHS) is designed to develop in students the values, knowledge and skills necessary to work with people in a variety of settings and situations. The program seeks to train counseling and human service professionals who are self-reflection practitioners, competent care-givers, and community leaders.

Community Counseling MS Program
This program is designed to prepare individuals for counseling and related positions in a variety of public or private agencies. In this profession, counselors help individuals of all ages, cultures and capabilities reach their maximum potential in their personal lives and careers.

Rehabilitation Counseling MS Program
This program prepares students for career in a variety of counseling settings with the primary goal of acquiring and applying the specialized, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to effectively assist and support individuals with disabilities throughout the rehabilitation process. A Rehabilitation Counseling: Criminal Justice Concentration is available. Career opportunities in rehabilitation counseling are excellent, as there are not sufficient numbers of qualified students to fill current and anticipated rehabilitation counseling vacancies.

School Counseling MS Program
Professional school counselors assist students with academic, career, and personal/social development. Their roles and responsibilities are integral to the fulfillment of every school’s overall educational mission. Trained as leaders, advocates, collaborators and systemic change experts, school counselors work with the entire school community to develop and deliver comprehensive, results-based K-12 programs designed to respond to the needs of all students.

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Professional Counseling
Designed to meet educational requirements for licensure as a counselor in the state of Pennsylvania, this program allows students to take a minimum of 12 additional graduate credits in professional counseling.

Accelerated MS Degree Program
Undergraduate Counseling and Human Service majors with outstanding academic records may be eligible for early admission to the Community, Rehabilitation or School Counseling graduate degree program through the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program. This program allows students to complete up to 12 credits of graduate work during their undergraduate program. Interested students must commit to this program no later than the end of their junior year of academic study, adhere to the time frame for application and required grade point average outlined in the University of Scranton Catalog. Interested undergraduate students from other relevant discipline areas may be considered.

The Counseling and Human Services undergraduate program is fully accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE).  All students graduating with a degree in CHS are eligible to apply for the Certified Human Services Professional credential upon graduation through the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS).

Both the Community Counseling and School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). In addition, the School Counseling program is a part of the teacher education unit at the University of Scranton, which is accredited by NCATE. Our Rehabilitation Counseling program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Both CACREP and CORE are specialized accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Graduates of our Community Counseling and School Counseling programs meet all the educational and experiential requirements for becoming a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Graduates of the Rehabilitation Counseling program meet all necessary requirements to be recognized as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC(), To receive these certifications, candidates must pass a national examination in their final semester of study.

Graduates of our School Counseling program also meet the academic requirements for the Educational Specialist I certificate in elementary or secondary school counseling granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Graduates of our professional counseling programs meet the educational requirements for licen sure as professional counselors (LPC).