Niagara University’s school counseling program educates graduate students to become school counselors at the elementary, middle or secondary level. Through intensive course study and field work, students are prepared to create and work within comprehensive and developmental school counseling programs, which focus on the needs of all students in three areas of development: academic, career and personal/social. The school counseling program is 48 credit hours.

Program Highlights

• Listed in Reader’s Digest as a “recession proof” career
• One of nine hot job fields by the Bureau of Labor Statistics/Occupational Information Network
• Ranked as one of the “top 50 occupations with the most openings” by Career Onestop
• Projects promise and employment opportunities for the future across the United States
• All undergraduate degrees can apply

Counseling Program Statement

The counselor preparation programs in Niagara University’s College of Education are founded on a commitment to developing practitioners and leaders in the counseling field who, in the Vincentian tradition, individually and systemically foster human growth and development, and spiritual and emotional well-being within a culturally diverse context. Graduates of these programs are expected to demonstrate qualities such as caring and respect for self and others, and a commitment to equity, social justice, openmindedness and fairness. Additionally, candidates within these programs are expected to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and ethical standards as set forth by the American School Counselors Association, the American Counseling Association and adopted by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP, in its 2009 standards, outlines eight core areas of expertise for mental health counselors:

• Professional orientation and ethical practice
• Human growth and development
• Career development
• Helping relationships
• Group work
• Assessment
• Research and program evaluation

School counselors are vital members of the education team who are skilled at collaborating with students, parents, teachers, administrators and the community. They are leaders and advocates in schools in order to ensure that all students become productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. School counselors promote ethical practices and inspire all students to achieve high academic standards.

• Ranked as one of the “top 50 occupations with the most openings” by Career Onestop, which is sponsored by the Department of Labor
• New York State Department of Labor projects an 8 percent annual increase in jobs as educational, career and school counselors until 2016
• The National Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14 percent increase in jobs nationally through 2018 as educational, career and school counselors
• According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20 states have projected annual increases in counseling jobs higher than New York ranging from 9 to 35 percent growth rate through 2018
• All undergraduate degrees can apply

Professional Counseling Organizations

• American Counseling Association (ACA): www.counseling.org/
• American School Counselors Association (ASCA): www.schoolcounselor.org/