College of Education - Counselor Education Department

**The Counselor Education Department, a unit within the College of Education at Portland State University, provides quality education to support the professional growth of educators, counselors, and human services professionals.** The Counselor Education Department programs offer a balance between academic excellence and direct clinical experience. The Counselor Education Department involves experts in academia and the community in all phases of the planning, development, and implementation of offerings in order to respond to community needs with innovative and effective strategies. Our Counselor Education masters programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Please visit the Counselor Education department's [program accreditation page](https://www.pdx.edu/education/coun/program-accreditation) to learn more about CACREP accreditation. We are conveniently located in downtown Portland, Oregon. Campus facilities provide a central site for those who work and live near the city. Programs are also offered throughout the metropolitan area and in select sites statewide. **Mission Statement** The mission of the Counselor Education Department is to provide high quality training and curricular experiences to masters-level graduate students in counseling, leading to eligibility for certification and licensure as professional counselors. We train academically-grounded and clinically-skilled generalist counselors who are competent to work with diverse clients and in a variety of settings, with special emphasis on issues that emerge in a diverse metropolitan environment. Along with a common curriculum that supports generalist counselor preparation, the Counselor Education Department honors and supports learning associated with four programs: (a) Clinical Mental Health Counseling, (b) Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, (c) Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, and (d) School Counseling. We support our students as they become critical thinkers, innovative practitioners, and leaders in the counseling profession and in their particular specializations. The Counselor Education mission statement reflects the following Guiding Principles of the College of Education.