Counseling and Human Services
The Counseling and Human Services Department offers curriculum leading to both undergraduate and graduate degrees. We offer a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Counseling and Human Services, three Masters of Science degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and School Counseling, and a post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in professional counseling.
Our department is comprised of 11 full time faculty members and one professional staff member. All 11 full time faculty members have national certifications and 6 have professional licenses in the counseling field.
Each of our programs 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 (OOH), overall employment opportunities in counseling are projected to grow faster than average through at least 2020. Much faster than average growth will occur in the field of mental health counseling, faster than average growth will occur in rehabilitation counseling setttings, and employment opportunities for school counselors are projected to grow comparable to other occupations through 2020.
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LeeAnn Eschbach, Ph.D., NCC, LPC
Department Chair and School Counseling Program Co-Director
McGurrin Hall Room 455
E-mail:leeann.eschbach@scranton.edu
Office phone: 570-941-6299
Department phone: 570-941-4236
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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.
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Counseling and Human Services B.S. Program
The Counseling and Human Services (CHS) curriculum is designed to develop in students the values, knowledge and skills necessary to work with people in a variety of settings and situations across the lifespan. The program seeks to train counseling and human service professionals who are self-reflective practitioners, competent care-givers, and community leaders. A concentration in Rehabilitation Services is available.
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S. Program
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program prepares students to work with individuals of all ages, cultures, and capabilities reach their maximum potential in their personal lives and careers. Specifically, community counselors help others gain perspective on their lives, explore options, make decisions, resolve problems, and take action, all the while relying on the clients' strengths and resources. In addition, community counselors serve clients through outreach, advocacy, preventive education, and by influencing public policy.
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Rehabilitation Counseling M.S. Program
This Rehabilitation Counseling curriculum prepares students for a 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 graduates to fill current and anticipated rehabilitation counseling vacancies.
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School Counseling M.S. 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.
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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.
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Undergraduate Counseling and Human Service majors with outstanding academic records may be eligible for early admission to the Clinical Mental Health, 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, and adhere to the procedures 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.
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ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION
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 Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). 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 Clinical Mental Health 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, which is typically taken during their final semester of study or shortly after graduation.
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).
Although 60 graduate credits are required to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC), graduates of all of our professional counseling programs meet the specific educational coursework requirements for licensure.
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Students who successfully complete all curricular and clinical training requirements for either our undergraduate degree or one of our three graduate degrees will receive formal endorsement in their areas of specialization by the faculty of their programs. Formal endorsement includes recommendation for state and/or national certification, recommendation for employment in settings consistent with the training provided in their program, and/or recommendation for additional education in appropriate advanced training programs. Students will receive formal endorsement only in that program for which they have successfully completed all requirements and will be recommended only for certification and employment consistent with training provided.
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