This includes facilitating positive change in the growth, development, and interactions of individuals throughout their lifespans. In addition to preparing professional counselor and student development in higher education professionals as facilitative change agents, the counseling program prepares future professionals to further the development of potential within individuals. The faculty are committed to preparing outstanding professionals at the graduate level through its regionally and nationally recognized program. Counseling is a process that assists individuals in learning about themselves, their environment, and methods of handling their roles, relationships, and concerns. Counseling and human development is an applied field in which the professional counselor integrates theoretical background and facilitative skills to assist clients in understanding the development of a problem and in planning and exercising appropriate interventions.
Counseling seeks to facilitate clients desired changes and self-understandings.
Counseling Programs at NIU Education in counseling and human development is designed to prepare professional counselors and human development specialists. The program includes strong didactic and experiential course work, a varied theoretical approach, a quality teaching faculty who also value research and professional association involvement, and a well-equipped counseling laboratory. The two degrees offered are M.S.Ed. The M.S.Ed. degree is intended to provide students with entry-level skills to work as counselors in schools, in community or private sector agencies, or at higher education institutions. D. degree prepares students for teaching in counselor education programs and for advanced practitioner work in counseling and human development in educational institutions, agencies, or private sector settings.