History of counseling psychology in the College

The history of counseling psychology in the College is closely tied to the development of counseling psychology in the United States. Gilbert Wrenn, a Minnesota psychologist who played a key role in the establishment of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Counseling Psychology, joined the faculty at the College of Education in 1936. He continued his work as the assistant director of the newly formed General College, an academic program established to serve the educational needs of students with questionable academic promise or undecided career goals. In 1938 Wrenn moved full-time into the College of Education, which had one guidance course. He began offering classes in personality development and diagnostic counseling, eventually building the course sequence that would become the core foundation for the College's formal counseling psychology program, Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology (CSPP). Between 1937 and 1964 Wrenn advised more than 80 doctoral students. Although he insisted that his students discover their own identities as counselors, some of Wrenn's most successful students attest to the profound impact he had on their professional development.

In 1969 the division of educational psychology in the College established four departments: counseling and student personnel psychology, school psychology, special education, and psychological foundations. Clyde Parker, a former Ph.D. student of Wrenn's, headed the CSPP Program. In 1976 L.Sunny Hansen, along with CSPP faculty and graduate students, developed BORN FREE, a training and development program that broadens career options for women and men by reducing sex-role stereotypes in the schools. Backed by a federal grant under the Women's Educational Equity Act, BORN FREE developed material that trained teachers, administrators, and parents on ways to reduce career-related sex-role stereotyping at all educational levels.

The CSPP program maintains a strong alliance with the larger community on a state, national, and international level. Our students utilize college, University and community resources as they actively participate in the advancement of knowledge through the scholarly production of papers, presentations, and programs. In addition, professors and staff from other units are involved as adjunct faculty in teaching courses, advising students, and supervising practicum. Consistently rated for its high quality, in 2006, U.S. News and World Report rated the CSPP program fourth in the nation.

CSPP faculty are committed to addressing current social issues such as multicultural and diversity concerns, gender roles, and substance abuse prevention. The current core faculty, with selected specialty areas, includes Tom Hummel (experimental design, computer application), Tom Skovholt, program coordinator (counselor development, burnout prevention, and professional psychology), Patricia McCarthy-Veach (counseling process research, genetic counseling), and John Romano (stress and life-style management, prevention).

In addition to its master's graduates, the CSPP program has produced over 300 Ph.D. graduates since 1952. Our Ph.D. graduates become counseling psychologists who provide leadership in a variety of settings, including universities, business, and mental health agencies. Our master's graduates may work in community settings as counselors, college student personnel as advisers, or schools as licensed school counselors. Not content to rest on its reputation for excellence, the CSPP program continues to produce students who make substantial and significant contributions to their communities and to the field of counseling psychology.

Doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) This degree includes excellent training in both the science and practice of counseling psychology. Approved by A.P.A. since 1952, the program's core courses in counseling and research provide a base of knowledge that students can build upon according to their professional interests.

Master of arts (M.A.) This degree provides broad training in counseling and research skills. Our students choose between the three tracks of school counseling, community agency counseling, or student personnel psychology. Our school counseling program is certified by the Board of Teaching (BOT) in Minnesota.