Counseling and Human Services

Faculty

Lori Ann Bruch, Ed.D., Chair
Paul Datti, Ph.D., Program Director
Tiffany Bordonado, Ph.D.
Julie A. Cerrito, Ph.D.
Rebecca Spirito Dalgin, Ph.D.
Lee Ann M. Eschbach, Ph.D.
Oliver J. Morgan, Ph.D.
Katherine E. Purswell, Ph.D.
Brandice Ricciardi, M.S., LPC
Kevin Wilkerson, Ph.D.
Benjamin T. Willis, Ph.D.

Overview

The Counseling and Human Services (CHS) curriculum is designed to develop in students the values, knowledge and skills necessary to work with people in a variety of settings and situations. The Bachelor of Science in the CHS 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 Human Services - Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) 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 program has a multi-disciplinary perspective with special emphasis placed on the achievement of excellence in academic and professional competencies.

The CHS program and department are committed to the enhancement of human development across the lifespan. Through the interplay of counseling, skill development, human service 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 (CHS) program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree that consists of a 124-127 credit curriculum including 58 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 is 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 a C (2.00) in all major and cognate courses, as well as select General Education courses. All full time students must complete a minimum of 80 hours of community based learning and participate in the PCPS TAPESTRY Program as requirements toward graduation from the Panuska College of Professional Studies. Generally, full time students complete a minimum of 10 hours of community based learning during each fall and spring semester.

Many students find CHS to be an academic major that is congruent with their career goals. Thus, it is common to transfer into the CHS major. After a meeting with the Program Director or Department Chair and review of acceptable academic progress, transfer students are welcome. Yet, in most cases it is necessary to complete this transfer no later than first semester of the student’s sophomore year in order to complete the prescribed course sequence.

The program allies itself to the commitment of the Panuska College of Professional Studies’ mission to train students through a balance of theory and practice and community based 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 (CHS) 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. Accelerated Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program

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

Program Policies

Interested students must commit to this program no later than March 1 of their junior year of academic study, adhere to the time frame for
application as outlined in the Graduate Catalog, and meet specific admissions criteria.

    Please refer to the Special Programs  section in the Undergraduate Catalog or the Graduate Studies 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.

3.50 after 64 semester hours;
3.40 after 80 semester hours;
3.30 after 96 semester hours
or 3.20 after 112 semester hours

III. Minor in Counseling and Human Services

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

Fitness for the Profession of Counseling and Human Services

The Department of Counseling and Human Services is committed to training culturally competent and self-aware practitioners and professionals. The education of counseling and 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 Fitness 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.

Clearances and Background Checks

Many internship sites in the CHS field require several clearances (e.g., criminal background checks, child abuse clearance, fingerprints, etc.). It is the student’s responsibility to work with the Director of Field Placement or the internship site to secure needed clearances prior to beginning internship experiences.

Please note that while criminal histories or offenses incurred while in or prior to the program do not necessarily prevent you being successful, students should be aware of the University Code of Conduct and that some human service agencies, depending on the offense(s) may not allow an internship or employment. If you believe this situation may affect you, it is suggested that you discuss the matter with the CHS Program Director or CHS Department Chair.

Counseling and Human Services Honor Society

Tau Upsilon Alpha (Epsilon Chapter)

The Department of Counseling and Human Services has a National Honor Society for the B.S. program. 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 TUA chapter advisor, Dr. Paul Datti at paul.datti@scranton.edu for information and the criteria for membership.

Counseling and Human Services Association

The undergraduate Counseling and Human Services Association (CHSA) is comprised of CHS majors and others interested in counseling and human services. CHSA 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 which CHS majors and faculty are placed so as 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 course instructors to review any course related concerns, needs, and/or the possibility of reasonable accommodations.

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 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo (Extension 4218) to schedule an appointment.

Course Information

Courses for Counseling and Human Services are listed under the prefix CHS. For more information on these courses, visit our Counseling and Human Services Department Courses page. For more information on all courses offered, visit our Course Descriptions page.

Click here for information on the Accelerated Master’s Degree and Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs . For information on Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and School Counseling click on Counseling and Human Services, Accelerated BS/MS .

For more information about the Counseling and Human Services department, visit its website.