Departmental courses are the basis of training in education and human services.
The Department of Educational Foundations and Counseling Programs includes the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, history and philosophy. Research in these areas, when applied to education and counseling, provides the foundation for understanding individuals in the learning and counseling process and the social psychological context in which personal development and learning occur. In addition, the study of the history and the philosophic foundations of American education and counseling is essential for enabling future teachers and counselors to meet the ever-changing intellectual and social needs of a diverse body of individuals in a pluralistic, democratic society. All courses are anchored in theory and research-based knowledge from which we emphasize applications to the urban environment, the applied use of theory to influence policy and practice, and solutions to concrete and practical problems that school and counseling professionals experience in daily practice. The department's preparation of teachers and counselors goes beyond the acquisition of specific skills and methods.