Graduate Program in School Counseling

Goals and Objectives	Admission Requirements	Graduate Bulletin
The Program	Program Faculty	Courses (Full or Part-Time)
Program Features	Bilingual Extension	Program Handbook
	Graduate Program in School Counseling PROGRAM REPORT 2010

 

Room 2401 James
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
Telephone: (718) 951- 5938

Mission Statement

The Brooklyn College School Counseling Program prepares a carefully selected and qualified, ethnically diverse body of students to serve as culturally competent, caring, and ethical K-12 school counselors within an urban educational region.  Our students are prepared to advocate for a high quality education for all youngsters in schools in this city and beyond, and to nurture the holistic development of every student—his or her academic competence, and emotional, social and spiritual well-being.  Our program enables counselors to accomplish these aims within complex educational bureaucracies by developing their multicultural competencies and their capacities for critical self-reflection, collaborative leadership, empathy, and imagination. In our classrooms, at field sites in urban schools, and in communities, we strive to model an approach to learning that is democratic, experiential, and evidence-based.  In preparing our students for their role in supporting humane and socially just school environments, we emphasize the development of the courage and skills necessary to challenge harmful biases and stereotypes, while promoting greater understanding and respect. We prepare our students to engage in and lead conversations about diversity issues regarding gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, language, age, spirituality and (dis)ability.  Our graduates are equipped to encourage and guide children and youth in their aspirations and to collaborate with families, community members, and other educators to prepare them well for postsecondary education, meaningful life work, and citizenship. 

 The Program

The program includes two levels of study.  The Master of Science in Education requires the completion of 48 credits and provides graduates with New York State provisional  certification as school counselors.  Students with a bilingual proficiency may complete a 12-credit specialization in Bilingual School Counseling along with the 48 credits in the master's sequence.  This specialization leads to certification with a bilingual extension.  Bilingual students must pass the Bilingual Education Assessments (BEAs) administered by the New York State Education Department.

The second level of study, requiring 12 credits beyond the master's degree, leads to the Advanced Certificate in School Counseling and qualifies recipients for New York State permanent certification.  In recognition of the important connection between schools and their communities, the advanced certificate focuses on community-based counseling, which provides knowledge and skills essential to the school counselor.

The School Counseling Program combines academic theory with practical experience in schools and communities.  Our curriculum emphasizes counseling, coordination, and consultation and endorses the standards espoused by the Transforming School Counseling Initiative and the American School Counselor Association's National Standards and National Model.  The program is preparing a self-study in order to apply for accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).

The program prepares counselors to work with the ethnically and racially diverse populations in New York City's public and private schools.  Working from a holistic approach, the program helps prospective counselors to develop the necessary skills for engaging parents, other educators, students, and community organizations in the process of making schools more responsive, equitable, and caring communities of learning and growth. Brooklyn College is committed to the principle that the school counselor's role is not limited to the counselor's office, but extends to promoting the success and well-being of the school community.  The program emphasizes self-awareness (mindfulness), group dynamics, and a commitment to advocacy and social justice. 

Program Features

·       Cohort Study
Each year, a new cohort of students enters the program, remaining together throughout their course of study.  Through the cohort program, participants develop a network that is helpful both during their academic preparation and after graduation in securing jobs and meeting professional demands.

·       Smaller Classes and Group Dynamics
Classes typically include eighteen to twenty five students, which enables faculty to provide individual assistance and to tailor offerings to the particular needs of the group.  The size of classes also makes possible extensive training in group counseling and group dynamics, important skills for today's counselors.

·       Field Experiences
Field experiences are a valuable part of the School Counseling Program.  Faculty work with students to locate field sites that meet the standards of the program and the School of Education. The program requires 100 hours of supervised practicum experience and 600 hours of supervised internship in schools as well as in community settings.

·       Course work
For the master's degree all students pursue, on a full-time or part-time basis, a common set of courses with each course worth 3 credits.  Students who wish to add the bilingual specialization take 12 credits of additional course work for New York State certification.  For the advanced certificate students take 12 credits, 6 of which include 200 hours of supervised fieldwork experience. 

Program Faculty  

Lynda Sarnoff Acting Program Coordinator 2307 James J718-951- 4800 

Core Faculty: Graciela Elizalde-Utnick, David Forbes,  Maria Scharrón-Del Río, Delida Sanchez