The graduate programs in counseling are committed to building thoughtful,informed, caring Christian persons who are contributing professionals to thefield of counseling psychology. It is our goal that persons completing theprogram acquire the skills and perspectives requisite to effectiveness in theconduct of both their professional and personal lives. We also regard asessential the student's knowledge of and appreciation for the contributions oforthodox Christianity and the Wesleyan/Armenian tradition to understanding humannature, human behavior, and factors affecting behavior change. The graduateprograms in counseling foster in her graduate students the formulation of apersonal interpretation of human behavior that is compatible with a Christianconcept of personality and is supported by the experimental data of soundscientific psychology. The focus of the graduate counseling programs, therefore,is on producing qualified, credible professionals who can bring the addeddimension of a Christian perspective that guides their professionalendeavors.

ABOUT GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN COUNSELING
The Mission of the GraduatePrograms in Counseling

The graduate programs in counseling are committed to building thoughtful,informed, caring Christian persons who are contributing professionals to thefield of counseling psychology. It is our goal that persons completing theprogram acquire the skills and perspectives requisite to effectiveness in theconduct of both their professional and personal lives. We also regard asessential the student's knowledge of and appreciation for the contributions oforthodox Christianity and the Wesleyan/Armenian tradition to understanding humannature, human behavior, and factors affecting behavior change. The graduate programs in counseling foster the formulation of a personal interpretation ofhuman behavior that is compatible with a Christian concept of personality. Thisformulation should be supported by the experimental data of sound scientificpsychology. The focus of the graduate counseling programs, therefore, is on producing qualified, credible professionals who can bring the added dimension ofa Christian perspective that guides their professional endeavors.

Degree Programs
There are two graduate degree programs in counseling; a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology (MSCP) and a Master ofArts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT). The MSCP program is designed to meet the academic requirements for the state of Oklahoma's Licensed ProfessionalCounselor credential and the MAMFT program fulfills the academic requirements for the Oklahoma Licensed Marital and Family Therapist credential. Both programsshare a common core of coursework and are delivered in an accelerated,modularized format.

What Our Graduates Are Saying...
Thegraduates of our program have demonstrated success in passing the LPC exam andare valued in the community for their competence as counselors. This is what ourgraduates are saying about the program…

“Participating in the MSCP program at SNU was one of the most challenging andrewarding periods of my life. I firmly believe the program provided all thenecessary ingredients to prepare me emotionally and intellectually for aprofessional career in counseling. The professors in the program were current intheir field expertise, interesting in their presentation of material, andinvolved and helpful with students. I found that my MSCP coursework prepared meto successfully pass the National Counselor Exam. Since graduation, I haveworked in the University Counseling Center in which I did my internship. I wouldstrongly encourage anyone who desires a level of excellence in their pursuit ofa counseling career to enroll at SNU.” Linda Comingdeer, Group 6

“The distinguishing component of SNU’s graduate programs in psychology is thespirit of ‘togetherness’ engendered by the interactive, modular experience. Inthis setting, one receives the personal attention of exceptional professors andthe moral support of fellow classmates. It is an environment where the studentis challenged, provoked, and encouraged to fully engage their potential. Myinternship required that I take the Certified Behavior Analyst (CBA)examination. Out of more than 30 people who completed the exam, I was one ofonly five who passed. My success on the CBA can be directly attributed to onefactor- the academic preparation I received in my graduate studies at SNU!” WesLee, Group 11

“As a working wife and mother, the accelerated one day a week curriculum atSNU allowed me to attain the goal of completing a higher education degree that Iotherwise would not have accomplished. The curriculum thoroughly prepared me forthe LPC exam. I greatly improved my communication and presentation skills that Icurrently use in my profession. The instructors were knowledgeable, thorough,friendly, and obviously cared for the students as individuals. I highlyrecommend this program to anyone interested in the counseling field.” ChristiParrish, Group 2

SPECIFIC EMPHASES OF THE CURRICULUM
The specific emphases of theprogram reflect the vehicles by which the student's holistic development isengaged, within the philosophical perspectives articulated above. In each of thespecific areas listed below, we endeavor to engage in consistent, purposefulinterweaving and/or juxtaposition of Christian faith perspectives with soundpsychological thought.

The emphases of the program include thefollowing:

• Understanding of the discipline's major issues (philosophical, methodological, social), and an articulation of the complexities of those issues
• Understanding of the current trends and developments in the field within the context of the historical underpinnings of the discipline
• Appreciation for and development of research skills which are essential to understanding the current work of the field as well as to becoming a contributing professional to the field
• Use of a scientist-practitioner model of graduate training in counseling
• Application of current theoretical and research findings to various problems/issues that typically arise in counseling settings
• Development of requisite skills and techniques (listening, reflecting, responding, testing, interpreting, diagnosing, etc.) to be effective as a counselor in today's world
• Increased depth of understanding in selected content areas
• Comparison of various theoretical approaches (and their implications for practice), with integration/synthesis of the commonalties and analysis of the differences
• Sufficient familiarity with various theoretical and world-view positions so that the student can state the basic assumptions of a particular perspective and compose a coherent argument which follows from that specific set of assumptions
• Understanding of the principles that guide ethical decision-making as a practitioner (e.g. those adopted by the APA, AAMFT, ACA)
• Fostering an on-going quest for knowledge, which manifests itself in continuing professional development, professional contribution to the field, and life-long learning
• Continuing improvement of written communication skills
• Continuing improvement of oral communication skills
• Expression of a personal philosophy of life from which one's professional emphases and commitments arise; ultimately, this results in the articulation of a preferred counseling approach, along with practice of that approach