A Framework for Teaching Undergraduate Courses on Counseling Psychology : Implications for Occupational and Educational Aspirations

Abstract

Consistent with the discipline, undergraduate courses about the field of counseling psychology (CP) should focus on the themes of counseling research, practice, and theory. Pedagogical suggestions for this framework are presented. Preliminary findings regarding the usefulness of this structure were highlighted through students’ post-course reports. Evidence suggested that students felt they learned about CP research, clinical practice, and theory within the course, and thought that what they learned was relevant to their careers and life. Pretest and posttest comparisons demonstrated that, though the students’ occupational aspirations did not significantly change, their educational aspirations decreased by the end of the course as hypothesized.