Mission

The Xavier University graduate program in community counseling, consistent with the mission of Xavier University, seeks to prepare individuals to serve as effective professional helpers in diverse community counseling environments.

The program is designed to provide graduate training to individuals primarily from the following geographical areas: central and southwestern Ohio, southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky. Since a majority of students are employed, class and curricular offerings are scheduled in the late afternoon, evenings, and weekends to accommodate student schedules.

Masters of Arts in Community Counseling Program Objectives

To achieve its mission, Xavier's Program in Community Counseling offers a variety of academic and experiential activities focused upon the following objectives:

1. Students will understand current knowledge and positions from lay and professional groups concerning the counseling and human development needs of a pluralistic society as these needs are articulated in the Communtiy setting;
2. Students will identify with the counseling profession in general and actively participate in appropriate professional groups and professional development activities associated with the field;
3. Students will understand and adhere to ethical behaviors in all domains within their counseling activities. These ethical behaviors include, but are not limited to: confidentiality, assessment, group work, and consultation;
4. Students will understand the development and the impact of transcultural relationships, issues and trends in a multi cultural and diverse society and upon individual clientele. Students will be able to understand their own and others' attitudes and beliefs and behaviors and the influence these have upon the counseling services and processes with diverse populations;
5. Students will understand the nature of the Helping Relationship and possess competencies in counseling and consultation activities. Theoretical understandings and appropriate techniques will be satisfactorily demonstrated;
6. Students will understand the nature of Human Growth and Development and the needs of individuals at all developmental levels. Additionally, students will be able to design and deliver services appropriate to the developmental stages of their clientele;
7. Students will understand, through academic and experiential activities, the purpose of groups and their development and dynamics. Group work approaches that include counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills will also be demonstrated;
8. Students will understand the nature of career development and related life factors and possess skill in assisting individual to address these issues;
9. Students will understand individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation as well as adhere to the ethical uses of assessment and evaluation techniques.
10. Students will understand and demonstrate via completion of major project, components of research methodology, statistical analysis, needs assessment and program evaluation. They will appreciate the importance of research as well as opportunities and difficulties in conducting research in the counseling profession.