Course Descriptions

The Certificate of Advanced Study in Education with a specialization in College Counseling requires 30 credit hours of study. To provide flexibility for working professionals the program may be completed in 1-3 years.

• Program Sequence: The Advanced Certificate in Education with a specialization in College Coursing requires 24 core course credits with 6 elective course credits. The possible 1-3 year tracks are included in the program sequence.

• Course Descriptions: See an overview of each course.

NOTE: GC806 and GC807 are required for members of the College Counseling Corps, an AmeriCorps program. In lieu of the Field Experience courses, traditional students and school counseling professionals will take GC808 and GC809, which enables students to develop a research plan customized to their individual school and/or district's needs.

Program Sequence:

Course Descriptions:

• GC800 Introduction to College Counseling I    (3 credits)
  Studies the specialized knowledge and skills requisite to college counseling including its history and philosophy, and the role of the professional school counselor. Introduces contextual dimensions of ethical college counseling relevant to the professional practice of school counseling in secondary school settings as well as systematic, programmatic approaches to practice aligned with the guidelines and standards of the American School Counselor Association and the American Counseling Association. Implications of FERPA and the special needs of student athletes are considered.
   
• GC801 Introduction to College Counseling II    (3 credits)
  Provides an overview of colleges, college culture, and admissions practices through in-depth tours of private and public colleges and universities in Maryland and the surrounding region. Reflection and advocacy are integral as students work individually and in groups applying the concepts of GC800 Introduction to College Counseling I to the practical experience of this course.
   
• GC802 College and Career Counseling   (3 credits)
  Reviews theories of career development and the counseling techniques appropriate for use with adolescents planning beyond high school. Discusses ethical counseling in these contexts and acquaints students with various educational and occupational information sources. Emphasis is given to technology and computer based systems as well as the needs of special student populations. 
   
• GC803 Financing Higher Education: Theory & Practice   (3 credits)
  Introduces the historical factors, theories and economic policies which inform current financial aid practices. Studies the various types and sources of student financial aid, eligibility, application processes, and timelines. Guidelines for professional school counselors working with students and families through these complex processes as well as those used for interpreting the financial aid package are discussed. 
    
• GC804 Access & Equity in Higher Education  (3 credits)
  Studies the historical and current issues regarding access and equity  in higher education for traditionally underrepresented populations including English Language Learners, students with special needs and undocumented students. Introduces key research and trends of the field. Emphasizes advocacy and asset-based, solution focused counseling approaches to the issues of access, equity, and diversity relevant to the work of secondary school counselors.
    
• GC805 College Testing & Assessment   (3 credits)
  Provides an in-depth exploration of the assessments and inventories used in the college planning process. Major concepts including validity, reliability, bias, and ethical use of testing are discussed.  Emphasis is on those aspects important to the secondary school counselor as a consumer and administrator of testing information.
   
• GC806 College Counseling Field Experience I    (3 credits)
  Students implement a college access counseling program while working under the supervision of a professional school counselor. All programs are fully integrated with the school site’s comprehensive school counseling program; aligned with the ASCA national model; and include appropriate consideration of delivery, management, and accountability systems. Students are engaged in a minimum of thirty-two hours of college counseling service per week. GC806 and GC807 constitute the full field experience required.
   
• GC807 College Counseling Field Experience II    (3 credits)
  Students implement a college access counseling program while working under the supervision of a professional school counselor. All programs are fully integrated with the school site’s comprehensive school counseling program; aligned with the ASCA national model; and include appropriate consideration of delivery, management, and accountability systems. Students are engaged in a minimum of thirty-two hours of college counseling service per week. GC806 and GC807 constitute the full field experience required.
   
• GC808 Research in College Access Counseling I    (3 credits)
  Individual projects geared to specific needs or interests of students. Specific requirements related to each independent study will be approved on an individual basis. GC808 and GC809 constitute the full research component required.
    
• GC809 Research in College Access Counseling II    (3 credits)
  Individual projects geared to specific needs or interests of students. Specific requirements related to each independent study will be approved on an individual basis. GC808 and GC809 constitute the full research component required.