Mission Statement for the Department of Counseling

The mission of the Department of Counseling is to create an environment conducive to spirituality, self-examination, collaboration, and reflection for the development and growth of professional counselors who are leaders,  advocates, and change agents within both communities and various school settings at local, national, and international levels. Counselors in training at Hampton University will advance to optimize individual development, academic and career development,  and emotional and spiritual health within these communities through their leadership, advocacy, and spirituality as emerging professionals.

Degrees Offered: 

The Department of Counseling offers an experiential focused curriculum leading to a Master of Arts degree in four counseling areas, the Education Specialist degree in Counseling, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education and Supervision:

• General Counseling (Does not meet Virginia requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor)
• School Counseling
• Student Affairs/College Student Development
• Community Mental Health Counseling
• Pastoral Counseling
• Addiction Counseling
• Educational Specialist
• Educational Specialist (online courses)
• Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision

Currently, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs has accredited the School, Student Affairs, Community Mental Health and Community Mental Health and Pastoral concentrations. Programs are accredited until 2023.

Method of Instruction Delivery

With the exception of General Counseling, all Master of Arts courses are delivered face-to-face in either a lecture or tutorial format. General Counseling and Education Specialist programs are delivered face-to-face and online. The Doctor of Philosophy courses are delivered in hybrid fashion—face-to-face and online.

Accredited with Stipulation

The M.A. in School Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
The M.A. in Community Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
The M.A. in Student Affairs/ College Development is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Program Objectives:

Program objectives for the Counselor Education program have been developed for the overall Master of Arts in the Counselor of Education degree program with objectives developed for application to each program concentration: Community Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Student Affairs/College development.

The program objectives for the counselor education program include the following: the student will demonstrate the reflection of openness in small group activities; the student will demonstrate growth and reflection through self-examination; the student will know professional identity; the student will demonstrate working within diverse populations through successful participation in community activities; the student will identify cultural differences among ethnic and economic groups; and the student will demonstrate the establishment and maintenance of healthy boundaries.

The counselor education program’s program objectives reflect current knowledge and projected needs concerning counseling practice in a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations as students are challenged with the development of a global worldview, through experiential activities, personal experiences and didactic instruction.

Annually during the first month of the semester, input is solicited from counselor education program faculty. Solicitation of former student input and community partners is collected through a survey that is administered during the second semester of the academic year.

Goal #1. Through didactic instruction, experiential exercises, and personal experiences, challenge students to examine and reflect upon their personal growth as individuals.

Program Area Objectives:

• 1.1 Student will demonstrate reflection and openness in small group activities. Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (small group activities in COU 619); Measure 2: Essay (rubric for reflections in COU 619). (Professional Practice)
• 1.2 Student will demonstrate growth and reflection (self-examination). Measure 1: Essay (rubric for self-assessment report in COU 622); Measure 2: Performance-based assessment (rubrics for written Comprehensive Examination question regarding growth in eight CACREP areas). (Professional Practice)
• 1.3 Student will know professional identity. Measure: multiple choice test (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) Section VIII in COU 702). (Professional Identity)

Goal #2. To inspire students to find their voice in a collaborative, reflective environment and speak for those who cannot or will not speak for themselves.

Program Area Objectives:

• 2.1 Student will demonstrate working with diverse populations through successful participation in community activities. Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (performance grade for community activities in COU 603). (Professional Practice)
• 2.2 Student will identify cultural differences among ethnic and economic groups. Measure: multiple choice test (CPCE Section II in COU 702). (Professional Practice)
• 2.3 Student will demonstrate establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries. Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (clinical site supervisors’ reports during practicum (COU 618); Measure 2: Performance-based assessment (clinical site supervisors’ reports during specific internship course). (Professional Practice)
• 2.4 Students identify the influences of culture and spirituality on development. Measure: multiple choice test (CPCE Section I in COU 702). (Professional Practice)

Goal #3. To provide specific counseling services supported by research in settings to optimize human development.

Program Area Objectives:

• 3.1 Student will know theories of counseling. Measure 1: multiple choice test (CPCE Section Ill in COU 702); Measure 2: multiple choice test (CPCE Section V in COU 702); Measure 3: multiple choice test (CPCE Section IV in COU 702).
• 3.2 Student will apply techniques of counseling. Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during practicum (COU 618)); Measure 2: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during specific internship course). (Professional Practice)
• 3.3 Student will know appraisal procedures. Measure 1: total score for multiple-choice tests (mid-term and final tests in COU 622); Measure 2: multiple choice test (CPCE Section VI in COU 702). (Professional Practice)
• 3.4 Student will demonstrate individual and group counseling.
  Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during practicum COU 618); Measure 2: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during specific internship course). (Professional Practice)
• 3.5 Student will demonstrate collaboration. Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during specific internship courses). (Professional Practice)
• 3.6 Student will develop a counseling theoretical orientation specific to their concentration.
  Measure 1: multiple choice test (CPCE Section VII in COU 702);
  Measure 2: Performance-based assessment (Comprehensive Examination Part I essay question on theoretical orientation, COU 702). (Professional Practice)
• 3.7 Student will demonstrate ethical behavior. Measure 1: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during practicum (COU 618); Measure 2: Performance-based assessment (on-site field supervisors’ reports during specific internship course). (Professional Identity and Professional Practice)

Objectives are written and measured through coursework as evidenced by faculty in their assessments. Counselor candidates construct objectives for consumers during field experiences and practicum as culminating experiences progress.

Program objectives for the counselor education program will be located under the School of Liberal Arts and Education. The website is continuously monitored for necessary updates.