School Guidance and Counseling

The Master's Program in School Guidance and Counseling, also based on a developmental model, prepares students to function as guidance counselors in school systems. While the role of the school counselor varies within and across schools, districts, and states, counselors increasingly serve in multiple roles, interacting and consulting with parents teachers, school psychologists, and agencies to provide effective services to students (pre-kindergarten through grade 12). Counselors will be called upon to respond to students of varying backgrounds and ethnic diversity and to interact with students in both a remedial and a developmental way. In addition to the traditional responsibilities of the school counselor, a variety of contemporary issues will face the counselor, including dropout prevention, interpersonal violence, teenage pregnancy reduction of truancy, personal issues and crises, drug and alcohol abuse, etc. The curriculum was designed for the competent training of professionals who will ultimately have an important impact on both the individual student and the school climate.

Varying techniques and strategies will need to be employed by the school counselor, including individual and group counseling, assessment, vocational and career guidance, multicultural counseling, consultation, and program development. Based in psychological and developmental theory, counselor training, therefore, will need to encompass a broad base of techniques, strategies, and interventions.

The School Guidance and Counseling is offered on the main campus in Fort Lauderdale, at various locations in Florida and in Las Vegas, Nevada. Refer to the academic calendar for additional information.

Certification/Endorsement in Guidance and Counseling

The Master of Science in School Guidance and Counseling Program was designed for the continued professional development of persons seeking positions in school guidance.  Individual eligibility must be verified periodically through careful review of state licensure regulations, which are subject to change. For state of Florida certification in guidance and counseling (prekindergarten through grade 12), course work in the Master's Program in School Guidance and Counseling is approved by the Florida Department of Education under Plan 2, Rule 6A-4.018l, Florida Statutes (course-by-course basis). For state of Nevada endorsement as a school counselor, the Master's Program in School Guidance and Counseling holds program approval by the Nevada State Board of Education. Applicants are responsible for verifying requirements for certification/endorsement in guidance and counseling with their local school board certification office or with the state department of education. State of Florida or state of Nevada requirements for certification/endorsement do not necessarily apply to certification requirements in other states. State certification/endorsement requirements are subject to change.

Required Courses:

CGPY 502	Counseling Theories and Techniques	3 Credits
CGPY 507	Research and Evaluation for School Counselors	3 Credits
CGPY 510	Career Development	3 Credits
CGPY 512	Learning & Human Development	3 Credits
CGPY 515	Principles of Counseling and Guidance	3 Credits
CGPY 550	Contemporary Clinical Interventions	3 Credits
CGPY 575	Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues for School Counselors	3 Credits
CGPY 585	Psychology of Exceptional and At-Risk Children	3 Credits
CGPY 595	Application of Technology in School Guidance and Counseling	2 Credits
CGPY 608	Appraisal & Evaluation in School Counseling	3 Credits
CGPY 630	Counseling the Culturally Diverse Student	3 Credits
CGPY 636	Group Counseling	3 Credits
CGPY 665	School Consultation Skills	3 Credits
CGPY 685	School Guidance Pre-Practicum Seminar	2 Credits
CGPY 688	Practicum I: School Guidance	3 Credits
CGPY 689	Practicum II: School Guidance	3 Credits