Counseling and Human Services

Faculty

Lee Ann M. Eschbach, Ed.D., Chair
Elizabeth J. Jacob, Ph.D., Interim Program Director
Lori Ann Bruch, Ed.D.
Pornthip Chalungsooth, Ed.D.
Rebecca Spirito Dalgin, Ph.D.
Oliver J. Morgan, Ph.D.
Ann Marie Toloczko, Ph.D.
Kevin Wilkerson, Ph.D.
Paul Datti, Ph.D. candidate
Amy Banner, Ph.D. candidate

Overview

The Counseling and Human Services curriculum (CHS) is designed to develop in students the values, knowledge and skills necessary to work with people in a variety of settings and situations. The B.S. in Counseling and Human Services program is fully accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE). All students graduating with a degree in CHS are eligible to apply for the Certified Human Services Professional credential upon graduation through the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS).

Mission Statement

The Counseling and Human Services (CHS) undergraduate program at The University of Scranton seeks to train counseling and human service professionals who are self-reflective practitioners, competent care-givers, and community leaders.

The Counseling and Human Services program and the department are committed to the enhancement of human development across the lifespan. Through the interplay of counseling, skill development, social work systems, rehabilitation services, field work experiences, and internships, the program prepares students for work in a variety of settings (agency, school, etc.) as counseling and human service professionals who situate their work within cultural, family, and community (local, regional, national, and global) contexts.

Major Requirements and Sequence of Courses

The Counseling and Human Services program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree that consists of a 131 credit curriculum including 50 credits from CHS major courses and cognate courses. The sequence of courses focuses on understanding normal and abnormal human behavior and adjustment across the lifespan. There is an additional focus on skills development and transforming theory into practice. Core requirements in the major emphasize values, knowledge and skills necessary for all fields of human services. In addition, a variety of electives allow students to develop competence in assisting specific populations. Students in the major are required to complete 6 credits of internship experience totaling 350 hours.

The CHS major is committed to training culturally competent counseling and human services professionals and rooted in the Jesuit liberal arts tradition. In addition to the University of Scranton’s requirements for graduation, students pursuing the CHS degree must maintain a minimum of C (2.0) in all major and cognate courses. All full time students must complete a minimum of 80 hours of service learning as a requirement toward graduation from the College of Professional Studies. Generally, full time students complete a minimum of 10 hours of service learning during each fall and spring semester. College of Graduate and Continuing Education students will meet the service learning requirement by completing major courses that have a service learning component.

The program allies itself to the commitment of the College of Professional Studies’ mission to train students through a balance of theory and practice and community service learning experiences that are vital components of the CHS curriculum. The curriculum is geared toward students who have high social-science interests as well as general scientific interest and aptitude in the social and behavioral sciences. The curriculum prepares students for entry-level positions in a variety of human service positions in private or public settings. Additionally, CHS majors are also prepared for graduate study in counseling, human services, law, psychology, social work, and other related social or behavioral science professions.

Curriculum Programs

The Counseling and Human Services curriculum also provides additional opportunities for CHS majors and minors.

I. Concentration in Rehabilitation Services

Click here to view the Counseling and Human Services, Rehabilitation Services Concentration, BS program.

II. Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program

Click here to view the Counseling and Human Services, BS/MS program.

Program Policies

Interested students must commit to this program no later than the end of their junior year of academic study, adhere to the time frame for application as outlined in The College of Graduate and Continuing Education Catalog, and meet specific admissions criteria.

Please refer to the catalog sections on Special Programs or The Graduate School and to the Graduate School Catalog for the specifics of the program. Such a program allows for the counting of up to 12 credits of graduate work toward the baccalaureate degree. A student who has achieved an overall Grade Point Average* provided below may apply for early admission to a participating master’s degree program.

3.5 After 64 semester hours;
3.4 After 80 semester hours;
3.3 After 96 semester hours
or 3.2 after 112 semester hours

III. International Collaboration with Universidad Iberoamericana

The Department of Counseling and Human Services has developed a collaborative international Graduate program in Community Counseling (Orientacion Psicologia) with El Departemento de Psicologia at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. The collaboration between the two Jesuit sister universities began in 1997. The collaborative Masters program in Community Counseling at the University of Scranton will train culturally competent bilingual counseling professionals to work with Spanish speaking individuals and families in the United States. The University of Scranton and the Department of Counseling and Human Services have been intimately involved and supportive of this collaborative global project. There are unique opportunities available for undergraduate majors to participate in this international collaboration.

IV. Minor in Counseling and Human Services

Click here to view the Counseling and Human Services Minor program.

Fit for the Profession of Counseling and Human Services

The Department of Counseling and Human Services is committed to training culturally competent and self-aware human service practitioners and professionals. The education of professional human services professionals demands evaluation of one’s values, beliefs, attitudes and behavior patterns. In many ways the deepest challenge students will encounter is the combined task of self-assessment, self-correction and self-direction in collaboration with others and across many areas of life: academic, clinical, professional and personal.

In order to address student strengths and growing edges, the CHS department and program have developed a fit for the profession document to assess personal and professional competencies. The document outlines a separate student retention policy and procedures to provide students with direct feedback relative to their progress in the program. It is our hope and expectation that each undergraduate student who joins the Department will succeed in these tasks. The document is available in the Program Manual and on the CHS department and program Web sites.

Counseling and Human Services Honor Society

Tau Upsilon Alpha (Epsilon Chapter)

The Department of Counseling and Human Services successfully began its first National Honor Society for the B.S. program. The founding members were inducted during our inaugural induction in May 2008. The Tau Upsilon Alpha (TUA) National Honor Society is sponsored by the National Organization for Human Services and the EPSILON Chapter is available to recognize academic excellence of undergraduate Counseling and Human Services students.

The Epsilon Chapter of TUA supports the mission of NOHS “to honor academic excellence; to foster life long learning, leadership and development; and to promote excellence in service to humanity.”

Please contact the faculty moderator for TUA for information and the criteria for membership.

Counseling and Human Services Association

Students are required to join the undergraduate Counseling and Human Services Association that is comprised of CHS majors. The Association elects officers annually, meets monthly, participates in community service, and sponsors fund raising activities and educational initiatives across the campus and within the local community. The Department of Counseling and Human Services has a list-serve that you can sign-on to receive all pertinent information relative to the CHSA and other department announcements.

Statement of Reasonable Accommodations for Students

Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the course instructor to review any course related concerns, needs, and/or the possibility of a reasonable accommodation.

In order to receive appropriate accommodations, students with disabilities must register with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and provide relevant documentation. Students should contact Mary Ellen Pichiarello (Extension 4039) or Jim Muniz (Extension 4218) to schedule an appointment.