Psychological Counselling and Guidance (with Thesis)

About the Program

Final International University Faculty of Educational Sciences Guidance and Psychological Counseling Undergraduate Program started to accept students in the 2016-2017 academic year. The main purpose of the 2-year graduate program is to provide students with psychological counseling and guidance formation and to train qualified counselors.

The main fields of work for our graduates include education, health, social service, and industrial institutions, especially educational institutions.

Vision

Our vision is to ensure that our graduates earn the highest level of respect for themselves and for their widely accepted diplomas at both the national and international levels while they contribute to their country, humanity, and professional lives by utilizing the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their education.

Mission

The mission of the FIU Faculty of Educational Sciences Guidance and Psychological Counseling Program is to help our students gain professional knowledge, develop the skills and values that modern school counselors should possess, and equip them with the highest level of competence and self-confidence so they can carry out their professions effectively. Also, our mission is to provide our students with competencies required for the 21st century which include skills such as learning and innovation, information and communication technology, life and career, and research and inquiry.

Program Aims and Outcomes

The goal of the FIU Faculty of Educational Sciences Guidance and Psychological Counseling Program is to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practice as well as the research skills associated with the field of guidance and psychological counseling, which is mainly education but which also includes health, social work, industry, security, justice, etc. By having the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can provide counseling services to a variety of institutions in the field, students will continuously strive to improve themselves, be sensitive to individual and cultural differences, be capable of displaying leadership skills, be creative and utilize critical thinking, be flexible to working with individuals and groups from different populations and be sensitive to professional ethics.

FIU graduates are expected to acquire the following competencies (learning outcomes) throughout the program:

• Evaluate the structure and function of the Turkish and TRNC education system and their relationship with the field of guidance and psychological counseling while acting in accordance with the legal requirements, regulations, and statutes pertaining to the roles, duties, and responsibilities as designated by the field.
• Accurately use the concepts and terminology pertaining to guidance and psychological counseling and associate them with professional practice.
• Be aware and respect that clients/students who possess a variety of individual differences and resolve these differences using scientific methods while carrying out interventions and preventive measures in accordance with analyses conducted.
• Use their field knowledge and experience to provide guidance and psychological counseling services and establish interdisciplinary connections.
• Evaluate the physical, psychological, social, and cultural needs of clients/students and their families and create opportunities designed to meet these needs both within and outside the school system.
• Work alone or as a team member during assessments, application, problem-solving and needs analysis for students in the field of guidance and counseling.
• Be informed of current research and technological developments in the field and utilize these developments in practice.
• Strive for continuous development and improvement in which they will use their knowledge and field experience to achieve future career goals.
• Use their native language effectively, both written and spoken and use a second language at a level where they can keep track of the international literature and communicate with colleagues.
• Develop a positive attitude towards lifelong learning, change, innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and questioning.
• Develop awareness of social and environmental responsibility and become sensitive to the needs of those around him and contribute to the society he lives in and to the institution he works for, and to the protection of the environment.
• Be sensitive to cultural differences and the diversity of social groups and take an active part in social life.
• Be aware of children’s rights as well as human rights where they can develop a level of interaction at both the personal and institutional level to develop and maintain a safe school and living environment by acting in accordance with the ethical code of conduct.
• Effectively use information produced, analytical methods, and the necessary tools and equipment in all areas of the field of Guidance and Psychological Counseling.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the department can work as psychological counselors in public and private schools, guidance and research centers, university psychological counseling centers, psychological counseling, and rehabilitation centers in military units. As they graduate with the title of psychological counselor, they can work as a psychological counselor in counseling centers. Again, they can work in more specific areas by taking training in areas such as family counseling, clinical psychology, and play therapy, or by pursuing a master's degree. In addition, our graduates will be able to start working as part of the Final family in the first years of their first career as a counselor, depending on their success at Final Education Institutions.