School Counseling Program Goals, Objectives, and Competencies
The University of Texas at El Paso School Counseling Program (SC) seeks to prepare students to be effective counselors in a diverse world and profession. Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Consistent with the values of the counseling profession, the school counseling program seeks to infuse multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills throughout the curriculum. The program is structured to ensure that students will develop professional identities as school counselors and will master the knowledge and counseling skills needed to practice effectively. Students will be trained for careers in public, private, and/or charter K-12 settings. Based on the philosophy articulated in our Mission Statement and based on the CACREP standards, the Texas Administrator Code, and the Texas Exam Framework for School Counselors, the School Counseling Program Goals, Objectives, and Competencies are as follows:
Goal # 1 Knowledge of Core Counseling Subject Areas and K-12 Learner
Objectives for Goal #1:
- Become knowledgeable about the counseling profession and ethical practice in counseling
- Become knowledgeable about social diversity and cultural competence
- Become knowledgeable about human growth, development, and learning
- Become knowledgeable about career development
- Become knowledgeable about helping relationships, counseling theories, and the counseling process from individual and family system perspectives
- Become knowledgeable about group work
- Become knowledgeable about assessment
- Become knowledgeable about research and program evaluation
- Become knowledgeable about promoting the educational, personal, social, and career development of the learner as outlined in The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and the American School Counselor Association.
- Become knowledgeable about the development, monitoring, revision, and evaluation of a campus based on The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and/or the American School Counselor Association that promotes learners' knowledge, skills, motivation, and personal growth.
- Become knowledgeable about promoting academic success for all learners by acknowledging, respecting, and responding to diversity while building on similarities that bond all people.
- Become knowledgeable about advocating for all students and the school and demonstrate effective professional and interpersonal communication skills.
- Be knowledgeable about continuing professional development, exhibit a commitment to learning and improving the profession, and model professional ethics and personal integrity.
- Be knowledgeable about the foundation of the school counseling profession
- Be knowledgeable about the contextual dimensions and practices of the school counselor’s role, especially as the role relates to student–clients and the profession.
Competencies Expected for These Objectives:
- Proficient knowledge base in each subject area, especially the expectations of a professional school counselor.
- Proficiency in the application of the knowledge for each subject area, especially expectations of a professional school counselor
- Proficiency in oral and written communication of the knowledge of each subject area, especially the expectations of a professional school counselor
Goal #2 Proficient in the development, demonstration, and evaluation of school counseling programs, strategies, and interventions.
Objectives for Goal #2:
- Develop and demonstrate the foundational knowledge to promote the educational, personal, social, and career development of the learner as outlined in The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and/or the American School Counselor Association
- Develop and demonstrate the knowledge of designing, monitoring, revising, and evaluating a campus based on The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling and/or the American School Counselor Association Programs that promotes learners' knowledge, skills, motivation, and personal growth.
- Develop and demonstrate the knowledge to apply school counselor practices especially related to the following areas: guidance, responsive services, individual planning, systems support, and program management.
Competencies Expected for these Objectives:
- Proficiency in developing and demonstrating the academic, social/emotional, and career preparation and readiness of school-aged children.
- Proficiency in comprehending, explaining, designing, evaluating, and evolving a comprehensive school counseling program.
- Proficiency in conceptualizing cases; applying evidence-based practices, strategies, and techniques; and evaluating outcomes for a variety of school and youth-related issues pertaining to the areas of academic, social/emotional, and career development.
Goal #3 Proficient in communication, consultation, and collaboration techniques and strategies and embodies and promotes professionalism, equity, and ethical behavior.
Objectives for Goal #3:
- Develop and demonstrate the knowledge to promote academic success for all learners by acknowledging, respecting, and responding to diversity while building on similarities that bond all people.
- Develop and demonstrate the knowledge to advocate for all students and the school, and demonstrate effective professional and interpersonal communication skills.
- Develop and demonstrate knowledge of continuing professional development, demonstrate a commitment to learning and improving the profession, and model professional ethics and personal integrity.
- Develop and demonstrate knowledge of school counseling practices, especially in relation to the following areas: communication, consultation, collaboration, professional practice, and critical thinking.
Competencies Expected for These Objectives:
- Proficiency in understanding and relating to student-clients in an emotionally sensitive and respectful
- Proficiency in behaving in a highly professional, ethical, and mature manner in interactions with student–clients, colleagues, professionals, and all other school stakeholders.
- Proficiency in the ability to seek, reflect upon, and respond to supervisory feedback in a manner that enhances personal and professional growth and