Human Development & Psychological Counseling

• Department Overview
  • Apply
  • Policies
  • F.A.Q.
  • Information and Forms
  • College Student Development Follow-up Survey Results
  • Community Counseling Follow-up Survey ResultsProfessional School Counseling Follow-up Survey Results
• Degree Programs and Listings
• Syllabi
• Faculty and Staff
• Cybrary
• Contact Us

The Department of Human Development & Psychological Counseling is responsible for organizing and providing instructional programs in counseling and other human development functions for public schools, colleges/universities, and various agencies. The department offers courses of instruction leading to a Master of Arts degree with these majors:

1. The Community Counseling program is designed to prepare counselors and other helping professionals to work in a wide variety of human service agencies (including mental health centers, social service agencies, employment and rehabilitation centers, business and industry employee assistance programs, etc.). Various specialized course emphases are available.
2. The Professional School Counseling program (K-12) is designed to meet state licensure requirements and to prepare counselors for elementary, middle, and secondary schools.
3. The College Student Development program is designed to prepare counselors and other college student development (student personnel/student affairs) specialists to work in a post-secondary educational setting (universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, two-year private colleges, and technical institutes/colleges). Approved concentrations are College Counseling and Student Affairs Practice.
4. The Marriage and Family Therapy program is designed to meet the need for advanced preparation of marriage and family therapists who work with families in a wide variety of work settings.

The programs in Community Counseling (M.A.), Professional School Counseling (M.A.), and College Student Development (College Counseling emphasis; M.A.) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body. Graduates are eligible to take the examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. with successful completion qualifying the individual to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC). The Professional School Counseling programs are also accredited/ approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3061.

Equal Opportunity Policy: Appalachian State University is committed to providing equal opportunity in education and employment to all applicants, students, and employees. The university does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. The university actively promotes diversity among students and employees.

The Department of Human Development & Psychological Counseling has adopted RCOE's Mission Statement.