The primary goal of the Psychological Counseling and Guidance (PCG) program is to educate professional counselors who will work in institutions and organizations that provide psychological counseling and support services, contributing positively to individuals' personal, social, academic and career development.
Another objective of the program is to educate qualified counselors who positively influence PCG practices at national and international levels, possess creative and critical thinking skills, and are capable of leadership in their field.
Psychological counselors adopt lifelong development and learning as guiding principles in supporting individuals' well-being and reflect this in all their professional practices, their personal philosophy of life and their approach to people. Psychological counselors make effective use of cognitive and psychosocial development theories and concepts (cognitive, emotional, physical, moral and spiritual) related to the developmental stages of the life cycle.
Professionals in the field are aware of the profound impact of psychosocial and cultural factors on human development and can propose solutions for developmental crises. Our Psychological Counseling and Guidance Program values multiculturalism and takes into account the cultural needs of specific groups (religion, ethnicity, political views, social classes based on socioeconomic status, language, sexual orientation and gender identity, belief systems, age groups and individuals with special needs), aiming at interventions suited to these cultural needs.
Our undergraduate program adheres to professional ethical standards and legal obligations and acts accordingly; it informs the relevant parties in ethical dilemmas and maintains its professional competence and development in line with ethical principles. In addition, we strive to ensure that our graduates understand educational systems, learning approaches and the factors affecting learning, and develop a critical thinking approach to issues in education.
Mission
The primary mission of the Psychological Counseling and Guidance (PCG) program is to educate counseling professionals who
- contribute positively to individuals' personal, social, academic and career development,
- are able to provide psychological counseling and support services,
- adhere to professional ethical standards and legal obligations,
- are sensitive to cultural diversity and multiculturalism,
- and adopt supporting individual well-being and lifelong development as guiding principles.
Within this scope, the program aims to educate counselors who can effectively apply theories of cognitive, emotional, physical, moral and spiritual development; develop appropriate solutions for developmental crises; make sound decisions in ethical dilemmas; and develop a critical thinking approach in educational processes.
Vision
The primary vision of the Psychological Counseling and Guidance (PCG) program is to educate qualified counselors who
- positively influence PCG practices at national and international levels,
- are creative, innovative and capable of critical thinking,
- are capable of leadership in their field,
- and support the mental health, development and learning of individuals and society.
In line with this vision, the program aims to educate professionals who approach human development, cultural diversity and educational processes from a holistic perspective and who are committed to contemporary and ethical values.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Psychological Counseling and Guidance undergraduate program may work as school counselors in public and private schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. School counselors conduct consultation activities with individuals, parents, teachers, administrators and institutions regarding guidance, developmental needs, problems, programs and school activities; develop programs for groups; and access information resources.
School counselors understand the process of human change within the framework of counseling theories and demonstrate effective counseling skills to help clients set appropriate goals, achieve these goals and improve their capacity to cope with life situations.
The other institutions where graduates may work are listed below:
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Justice
- Social Services and Child Protection Agency
- Turkish Armed Forces
- Police Academies
- Human Resources Departments of Companies
- Private Education and Counseling Centers
The learning outcomes of the Psychological Counseling and Guidance undergraduate program have been prepared on the basis of the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework (TYYÇ) for undergraduate education and the qualifications of the Basic Field of Teacher Training and Educational Sciences, as well as the standards of CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) and ASCA (American School Counselor Association).
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