The mission of the IUPUI School Counseling Program is to prepare highly competent professional counselors for Indiana, the nation, and beyond, who can work effectively with people in school, community, mental health and related settings. We:

1. are committed to the training of students who represent diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, and disability status;
2. promote a strong sense of professional identity in students;
3. prepare professional counselors who understand counseling and related theories and can effectively translate such theory into effective practice with diverse client populations;
4. prepare reflective, ethical, and highly skilled practitioners who are knowledgeable and skilled in the most current and effective methods of counseling, consultation, collaboration, leadership, and advocacy;
5. prepare professional counselors who are committed to helping others fulfill their human potential though the use of facilitative, consultative, and collaborative skills.
6. aid students to earn appropriate licensure and/or certification in their chosen area;
7. emphasize a commitment to the value of inquiry and best practices in the counseling field; and
8. work in partnership with a range of constituents to effect thoughtful change at local, national and international levels.

Graduates of the School Counseling Program:

• understand the Indiana School Counselor Educator standards and the eight core content areas which comprise the Professional Counseling Identity and the foundations, contextual dimensions and skills standards of the School Counseling specialty area identified by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP);
• understand the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels and the impact of contextual factors on development with particular emphasis on urban populations;
• can design, implement and evaluate transformative school counseling programs and/or components of a transformative school counseling program;
• have effective communication skills that can be utilized to advocate for student well-being at multiple ecological levels and promote counseling programs and counselor roles;
• understand the process of individual counseling and are effective counselors with individuals;
• understand the process of group counseling and can effectively facilitate diverse groups, both small and large;
• understand the process of consultation and can effectively consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and relevant constituents;
• understand individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation, including appropriate uses and !imitations of the various assessment strategies;
• have knowledge of and continually demonstrate ethical and legal behaviors consistent with the counseling profession, particularly among the needs of historically marginalized groups;
• stay abreast of current research and apply empirically supported interventions in counseling practice in a pluralistic society;
• continue to search out avenues to increase their effectiveness through community, civic and professional involvements; and