Date of Award:

5-1991

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Psychology

Committee Chair(s)

Keith T. Checketts

Committee

Keith T. Checketts

Committee

Michael Bertoch

Committee

Glen Maw

Committee

Izar Martinez

Abstract

This study presented data gathered from Utah school counselors about demographic information, counseling and guidance programs in Utah, certification requirements, future personnel needs, quality and appropriateness of training programs, philosophy of public schools, and needs and/or concerns. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 450 school counselors employed in the State of Utah. Utah school counselors were found to be primarily Caucasians over the age of 36 years. The majority of counselors in Utah were employed in secondary schools. Caseloads for secondary school counselors ranged from 300 to 600 students per counselor, and caseloads for elementary school counselors ranged from 900 to in excess of 1200 students per counselor. The critical shortage of counselors has justified the employment of noncertified counselors in the elementary schools. On a scale from excellent to poor the majority of school counselors described their school counselor preparation programs as adequate to good. Counselors would like to see the adoption of a comprehensive school counseling and guidance program with the complete support of administrators and school district personnel. Secondary and elementary school counselors were concerned with the community's perception of their duties as clerical and administrative.

Young people and minorities should be encouraged to enter the school counseling field, filling the critical shortage need. School counselor preparation programs should be flexible enough to work with teachers and/or interested parties who currently work full time but would like to enter counselor training programs.

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