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This research study analyzed the curriculum of school counselor preparation programs and programs’ emphasis on preparing counselors to support students in their college admissions and college choice processes. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including surveys of counselor education department chairs and document analysis of the curricular offerings in all CACREP-accredited school counseling specialty programs. Results indicated only one-third of programs include distinct college admissions counseling courses and substantial variation in college admissions counseling competencies within program curricula. Programs were three times more likely to offer substance abuse and twice as likely to offer marriage and family therapy courses.

Tara Hornor, Ph.D., is a professor and coordinator of higher education
leadership programs at The Citadel. Her professional background includes
experience in a variety of administrative positions in higher education
including service as an associate provost and leadership positions in academic
affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, and institutional research.
Hornor holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of
Arizona and master’s degrees in school counseling, instructional design, and
human resource management.

Aaron Oberman, Ph.D., is an associate professor of counselor education at The
Citadel and serves as the program coordinator for school counseling programs.
His scholarly interests include the ASCA National Model and best practices in
teaching and training school counseling students.

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