Welcome
Youngstown State University is located an hour from Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Educational Leadership develops professionals who are committed to empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.
The mission of the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Educational Leadership is to develop professional counselors, school psychologists, and related helping professionals. We seek to produce graduates who are sensitive to the impacts of human development, culture, and context upon students and consumers of education and counseling services. Graduates are caring and compassionate administrators, counselors and helping professionals; who are self-reflective; who promote opportunity and social justice for the impoverished urban and rural populations; and, who are committed to empowering individuals to thrive, and to achieve their fullest potential.
We offer several graduate degree programs. The CACREP accredited masters degree in Counseling has options in a) Clinical Mental Health Counseling, b) School Counseling, c) Addiction Counseling, and d) Student Affairs & College Counseling. The educational specialist degree in School Psychology includes a master’s degree in Intervention Services. An ELCC approved masters degree in Educational Administration and doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Post-masters program coursework can lead to licensure as a principal, superintendent, or administrative specialist.
The faculty and students within the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Educational Leadership are committed to academic success, excellence, and engagement. The department has a consistent record of accomplishments in relation to the mission and goals of YSU, assessment activities/results, research and scholarly activity by faculty and students, examples of student success and academic excellence, and community engagement activities.
Jake J. Protivnak, Ph.D.
Department Chairperson / Professor
4103 Beeghly College of Education
(330) 941-1936
jjprotivnak@ysu.edu
For more information about the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Educational Leadership, contact the Department Office at 330-941-3257 or visit our Department website.
undergraduate course Work Areas
Counseling
The counseling program offers a limited number of undergraduate elective courses for students who are interested in developing counseling knowledge and skills and/or pursuing a graduate degree in counseling. The undergraduate counseling courses focus on mental health and wellness, leadership, career/life planning, and helping skills.The counseling program offers an MS in Education degree with program options in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, student affairs, college counseling, and addiction counseling. Candidates in clinical mental health, school, college, and addiction counseling are prepared to meet the requirements for licensure and national certification as a counselor. A complete listing of program options and course descriptions are presented in the YSU Graduate Catalog and on the department's website.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 1587 | Introduction to Health and Wellness in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| COUN 1588 | Exploring Leadership: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COUN 1589 | Success in Career and Life Planning | 3 |
| COUN 2650 | Foundations of Helping Skills for Allied Health Professionals | 3 |
| COUN 2651 | Foundations of Helping Skills for Human Ecology Professionals | 2 |
Reading and Study Skills (RSS)
The Department offers undergraduate Reading and Study Skills courses for students who are interested in improving reading skills.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| RSS 1510A | Advanced College Success Skills | 3 |
| RSS 1510B | Basic College Success Skills | 3 |
| RSS 1510C | STEM Advanced College Success Skills | 4 |
Chair
Jake J. Protivnak, Ph.D., Professor, Chair
Professor
Kathleen Aspiranti, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Jane Beese, Ed.D., Associate Professor
Kristin L. Bruns, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Carrie R. Jackson, D.Ed., Assistant Professor
Charles Jeffords, Ed.D., Assistant Professor
Victoria E. White Kress, Ph.D., Professor
Karen H. Larwin, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Don Martin, Ph.D., Professor
Kenneth L. Miller, Ph.D., Professor
Matthew Paylo, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Richard W. VanVoorhis, D.Ed., Associate Professor
Charles B. Vergon, J.D., Professor
Amy E. Williams, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Counseling
COUN 1587 Introduction to Health and Wellness in Contemporary Society 3 s.h.
Provides an introduction to the wellness model integrating physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Using current research, students explore decision-making models examining ethical, theoretical, multicultural, and practical concerns in developing their own wellness strategies.
Gen Ed: Well Being, Social and Personal Awareness.
COUN 1588 Exploring Leadership: Theory and Practice 3 s.h.
Introduction to the study of leadership through theoretical and practical applications. Through group interaction, discussions, and change projects, students will develop their leadership knowledge while acquiring skills to solve leadership challenges within diverse organizations. The course will provide students with intellectual and interpersonal opportunities to practice the process of becoming effective leaders.
COUN 1589 Success in Career and Life Planning 3 s.h.
The course will facilitate the development of career and life planning skills. This course is designed for, but not restricted to, entering and undeclared students. This course will emphasize identifying strengths, clarifying values, exploring career options, developing effective decision-making skills, and learning life skills related to health, finances, relationships, and community responsibility.
COUN 2650 Foundations of Helping Skills for Allied Health Professionals 3 s.h.
Skill development in learning how to foster helping relationships and increase communication skills with individual, family, or group-related patient needs in a health care setting. Emphasis on ethical, cultural, socioeconomic, and special needs in allied health care settings. Includes an experiential skill video training component.
COUN 2651 Foundations of Helping Skills for Human Ecology Professionals 2 s.h.
The course will facilitate the development of helping skills with individual, family and/or groups. Emphasis is on ethical, cultural, socioeconomic, and special needs in human service settings. Courses will include overview of counseling skills and theories that will assist students to address client care needs.
COUN 5821 Seminar in Guidance and Counseling 1-3 s.h.
Study of selected topics chosen by staff, e.g. career guidance, counseling process, and other contemporary issues in school personnel work.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5822 Seminar in Guidance and Counseling 1-3 s.h.
Study of selected topics chosen by staff, e.g. career guidance, counseling process, and other contemporary issues in school personnel work.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5823 Career Education and Career Guidance 2 s.h.
Study of public school career education and career guidance programs; the career education continuum, legislation relating to vocational programs, historical development, and principles of vocational education and vocational guidance. Also a survey of economic services: distributive education, human resources, programs, and placement.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5825 Group Processes in the School 2 s.h.
An introduction to group activities applicable to the needs of students in the school setting. Includes the study of group processes and group dynamics for social and personal problem solving as well as in the general area of individual and group behavior. Also a study of programs that provide for counselor-teacher cooperation in the development of groups in the classroom.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5879 Talented Students and Their Families 3 s.h.
A study of consulting and referral practices related to the developmental, social and personal difficulties often experienced by gifted/talented students and their families. Includes a field study component.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5888 Introduction to Health and Wellness Counseling 3 s.h.
Provides an introduction to basic counseling principles with special focus on those factors encountered in the provision of health and wellness-related services.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5895 Counseling Workshop 1-3 s.h.
Selected topics related to prevention and intervention approaches in school and community settings. Designed primarily as continuing professional education, this course is not included in counseling degree programs.
Prereq.: Upper-division standing.
COUN 5898 Orientation and Ethical Issues in Community Counseling 3 s.h.
This course provides students with an introduction to the field of professional counseling and the foundations of community counseling. The course addresses the following topics: history, philosophy, cultural dynamics, advocacy, consultation, technology applications, and trends in professional and community counseling. The counseling profession's ethical standards are also addressed with an emphasis on the ACA code of ethics and counselor ethical decision making processes. Requirements differ for undergraduate and graduate students.
Reading & Study Skills
RSS 1510A Advanced College Success Skills 3 s.h.
A course designed to develop students' skills essential for college studying. The primary focus is improving the comprehension and retention of college textbooks. Major topics include reading rate flexibility, vocabulary growth, learning style preferences, and critical reading skills. Students meet for classroom instruction, computer-aided instruction, and small group tutoring sessions to discuss and practice strategies. Open to students based on Composition and Reading Placement Test (CRPT). Grading is A, B, C, NC. Does not count toward a degree.
RSS 1510B Basic College Success Skills 3 s.h.
A course designed to acquaint and assist students in their transition to studying at the college level. Course content stresses development of skills in word recognition, vocabulary, and reading to find main ideas, supporting evidence and conclusions in college textbooks. Students meet for classroom instruction and small group tutoring sessions to discuss and practice various thinking, listening, and reading strategies to improve college performance. Open to students based on Composition and Reading Placement Test (CRPT). Grading is A, B, C, NC. Does not count toward a degree.
RSS 1510C STEM Advanced College Success Skills 4 s.h.
Develops study skills in STEM disciplines by improving comprehension and retention of textbook and lecture materials. Covers reading rate flexibility, vocabulary growth, learning style preferences, critical reading, and problem solving. Uses classroom instruction, computer-aided instruction, and small-group tutoring sessions to apply strategies, including STEM-based lecture applications. Grading: A, B, C, N/C. Does not count toward a degree.
Prereq.: ENGL 1540 and RSS 1510A.
RSS 1570 Approaches to Professional Assessments 2 s.h.
A course designed to assist students in preparation for graduate and professional-level standardized tests. Students will critically analyze the basic components of such tests. Emphasis will be placed on test requirements, test formats, guidelines for answering and scoring, and test-taking strategies.
RSS 1571 Approaches to Professional Assessments/Applications 1 s.h.
A course designed to prepare students for graduate and professional-level standardized tests. In study groups, students will critically analyze the basic components of the test for which they are preparing, including requirements, test formats, guideline for answering and scoring, and test-taking strategies, in conjunction with effective pedagogical procedures.