C.A.G.S. in School Counseling

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) Program in School Counseling is designed to enable students to become certified as Directors of Guidance. Students take a variety of advanced counseling and research courses. The program is designed to train students to develop a variety of skills so as to make them competent to function effectively as administrators and educators in variety of school settings. Students take a variety of advanced counseling and research courses. Students gain advanced training in counseling through the advanced clinical practicum courses and also learn advanced group counseling skills. In addition, students design and implement their own research project. This provides students with the opportunity to study an area of specific interest and to learn more about the integration of research and practice. Students have a major advisor who supervises the project, but students also choose additional faculty members to be part of their research project committee. Additionally, students complete a course in clinical supervision through which they have the opportunity to teach counseling skills to less advanced students and learn about the essential aspects of supervising clinicians. The program emphasizes the reflective practitioner model, and encourages students to continually seek to better themselves personally and professionally and to remain open to ongoing learning experiences so as to increase their sensitivity to the evolving issues of diversity in school counseling.

In addition to the core courses, students complete at least a one semester, 20 hour/week internship at a school of their choosing. While on internship, students take an internship class to provide them with the opportunity to discuss their internship experience, receive feedback about their performance, and learn about other students' internship experiences.

Note: Program is not currently accepting candidates.