Counseling Program Comprehensive Assessment Plan


Comprehensive Plan for Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning Objectives

In an effort to maintain the highest level of training and skills acquisition, the counselor education department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is committed to continuous evaluation of student learning. The faculty has chosen six learning domains that align with the overall program objectives: Theoretical Orientation, Research and Evaluation, Professional Orientation and Counseling Skills, Knowledge of Organizations and Administration, Multicultural Competency, and Professional/Personal Wellness. The counseling faculty examines student learning in each of these domains longitudinally by collecting data at three points during students' matriculation in the program. This data is utilized to make changes and augment teaching and training for students in order to maintain excellence in the Counselor Education Department. Domains and data collection points are as follows:

Learning Domain
First Assessment/Evaluation
Second Assessment/Evaluation
Final Assessment/Evaluation
Theoretical Orientation
Program Objective A
ESPY 5440:
Theories Paper
EPSY 5550:
Practicum Theory Paper
EPSY 5590/5700/ 5710/5720:
Internship Theory/Case Study Paper
Research and Evaluation
Program Objective B
EPSY 5010:
Research Question Project
ESPY 5480:
Group Assessment Critique
EPSY 5650/5610:
Public Policy Paper (CC)*
Measurement Project (SC)**
Professional Orientation and Counseling Skills
Program Objective C
EPSY 5450:
Final Skills Tape Evaluation
EPSY 5470:
Structured Group Paper
EPSY 5590/5700/ 5710/5720:
Final Performance Evaluation
Knowledge of Organizations and Administration
Program Objective D
EPSY 5020:
Annotated Bibliography Project
EPSY 5610/5620:
Resource Portfolio (CC)*
Portfolio Project (SC)**
EPSY 5590/5700/ 5710/5720:
Final Performance Evaluation
Multicultural Competency
Program Objective E
EPSY 5020:
Multicultural Awareness-Knowledge-Skills Survey: Counselor Ed (MAKSS-C)
EPSY 5760:
MAKSS-C
EPSY 5550:
MAKSS-C
Professional/Personal Wellness
EPSY 5450:
Wellness Plan, 5 Factor WEL
EPSY 5550:
Wellness Plan
EPSY 5590/5700/ 5710/5720:
Wellness Plan, 5 Factor WEL

(*denotes Community Counseling course project)  (** denotes School Counseling course project)

While in the first year of data collection, the faculty is beginning to develop databases that will analyze the six areas of competency to determine which current teaching practices are successful, and which will need to be augmented in the future to maintain high academic and professional development standards. While methods of data collection have been established, data analysis procedures are still in the experimental stage until more information is obtained for appropriate statistical analysis. Each domain has its own type of data to be collected. A descriptor of these can be seen below:

Program Objective A: Theoretical Orientation (As measured by Bloom's Taxonomy Ranking)

Program Objective B: Research and Evaluation (As measured by Individual Assignment grades and Qualitative Report)

Program Objective C: Professional Orientation and Counseling Skills (As measured by Individual Assignment grades and Qualitative Report)

Program Objective D: Knowledge of Organizations and Administration (As measured by Individual Assignment grades and Qualitative Report)

Program Objective E: Multicultural Competency (As measured by MAKSS-C at three points and Qualitatively in written assignment in the second data collection point)

Professional/Personal Wellness (As measured by the 5 Factor-WEL at two points and Qualitatively in the written student wellness plans at three points)

The final evaluation point of student learning is assessed through the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE). Students are required to take this exam the semester before their anticipated graduation, giving them the opportunity to retake the exam during their final semester in the event that they do not pass.

Students in the counseling program are introduced to these learning concepts in their Student Handbook, which is presented along with the aforementioned assessment schedule during their student orientation. Please see Appendix A.14, pg. 43 for student information.