School Adjustment Counseling (MA & CAGS)
The program in school adjustment counseling is designed to prepare educators for a role as a practitioner in the school setting with those skills necessary for work with community agencies and the juvenile court system. Emphasis is on effective counseling and consultation skills necessary for individuals to sensitively serve the needs of culturally diverse groups of children and families. The school adjustment counselor will be prepared to help students make a transition from alternative schools or juvenile facilities back to the regular public school when necessary.
Finally, the individual will be trained to keep abreast of current research in order to apply appropriate and up-to-date research findings to sound educational practice. Successful participation in this program will enable students to take on the role of school social worker/adjustment counselor in the public schools. Students in the program will learn to:
- Develop an awareness of the need, meaning, ethics, and scope ofcounseling services in the school and community
- Develop an understanding of learning and developmental stages both inthe process of normal development and in the case of learning, behavior,social, and emotional difficulties
- Identify adjustment problems of children in educational settings
- Be able to identify, describe, and interact with community agencies andreferral services available to students and families
- Establish the consultative role and to develop communication with otherprofessionals, community agencies, juvenile justice programs, students, andfamilies
- Apply psychological knowledge for appropriate intervention, both in theclassroom and alternative programs
Initial License
Students are required to submit documentation of successful completion of Part I and Part II, the Communication and Literacy Skills Test from the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) before being accepted into the graduate programs leading to licensure.
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