School Counseling Program

Mission

"The mission of the OSU School Counseling Program is to prepare professional school counselors who are committed to equity, appreciate diversity, see themselves as leaders of educational reform in their schools as well as leaders in their profession; are committed to lifelong learning, collaborate with other helping professionals for the good of students, will advocate for all students including low income and students of color, and will strive to help all students achieve academic success, choose successful career paths, and make effective decisions in their personal lives".

Preparation Standards

Standards to implement this mission have been developed and provide the foundation and direction for preparation of our school-counselors-in training. The eleven standards below describe the knowledge and skills that the faculty believe school counselors must demonstrate if they are to be successful in today's schools. To design the most effective curriculum and field experiences they could, the faculty started with the outcomes they wanted and then designed the program to achieve the outcomes. The faculty believe these standards have guided the design of a coherent and purposeful school counseling program. By reading these standards carefully, you, as a student, can see a blueprint for where you are going and what is expected of you.

Upon graduation, prospective schools counselors will be expected to:

1. Know and Appreciate the Field of School Counseling and Understand the Concepts, Principles, and Processes upon which Counseling and School Counseling are Based
2. Commit to Student Learning and Development
3. Commit to Equity, Diversity, and Efficiency.
4. Commit to the Effective Use of Technology in Student Services.
5. Commit to Facilitating Conducive Environments for Student Learning and Safety.
6. Commit to Using the Knowledge and Skills of the Fields of School Counseling and Education to Provide High Quality School Counseling Programs to Students Based on Their Needs.
7. Commit to Reflection, Inquiry, and High Quality Professional Development.
8. Commit to Professional Dispositions That Reflect the Values and Ethics of the Counseling Profession
9. Commit to Helping Students Solve Problems by Utilizing Individual and Group Counseling Techniques.
10. Commit to Collaborate with the Community to Assist Students and Their Families to Improve Student Success.
11. Commit to Consult with Teachers and Staff to Help Solve Student Problems and Improve Student Behavior.