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Mission Statement

The faculty members in the Department of Counselor Education endeavor to promote excellence in counselor education and counseling research. Our counseling program help prepares students to:

• Serve as professional counselors, system advocates, educational leaders, team members, consultants, and practitioners who maximize opportunities for individuals, groups, and communities and especially underserved populations;
• Address the developmental, academic, career, mental health, personal, cultural, social, spiritual and wellness needs of those we serve within the context of counseling;
• Help individuals, groups and communities strive to find meaning, involvement, worth, and self-esteem in their lives;
• Plan and conduct qualitative, mixed design and quantitative research studies to further the knowledge base and best practice initiatives of the counseling profession; and finally
• Consult and interface with various school and community organizations to promote client and societal well being.

The departmental faculty members and supervisors mentor students in order that they may develop into strong professional counselors who can practice in a variety of settings some of which may include community agencies, mental health systems, school, educational and academic campuses, addiction and chemical dependency clinics, and rehabilitation services organizations. Students who go on for advanced preparation, acquire more supervision and attain advanced certifications may develop even more professional practice options.

Faculty in the Department of Counselor Education have focused and strong research agendas. Some of topic research areas include Social justice, Multicultural counseling models for community and school counselors, Outcomes research for school counselors, African American Identity development, Prevention of Hate Crimes, Early intervention and trauma, Performative counseling techniques, Counselor preparation for competent practice in Play, Art, Story, Narrative and Biblio therapy practices, Counselor Education Mentorship, International counseling and international counselor education, Relationship of trauma and addiction, Use of technology in counseling; and Community mental health and school counseling pedagogy.

All students earn a graduate degree in our program, who complete either the Community Mental Health Counseling program (M.S.) or the School Counseling program (M.Ed.) are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE), the exam will also be used for the Clinical Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential in Nevada (passed by the legislature in 2007), and the State of Nevada licensing exam in Alcohol and Drug Counseling (LADC). Students interested in becoming Rehabilitation Counselors will be eligible to sit for the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam with completion of Community and Mental Health Counseling M.S. degree and the Advanced Graduate Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate. Students who complete the School Counseling program meet the endorsement requirements for the State of Nevada.