Students who are preparing to specialize as college counselors and student affairs professionals will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to promote the academic, career, personal, and social development of individuals in higher education settings. Counselor education programs with a specialty area in college counseling and student affairs must document where each of the lettered standards listed below is covered in the curriculum.

FOUNDATIONS
1. history and development of college counseling and student affairs
2. student development theories relevant to student learning and personal, career, and identity development
3. organizational, management, and leadership theories relevant in higher education settings
4. principles of student development and the effect on life, education, and career choices
5. assessments specific to higher education settings
CONTEXTUAL DIMENSIONS
1. roles and settings of college counselors and student affairs professionals
2. roles of college counselors and student affairs professionals in relation to the operation of the institution’s emergency management plan, and crises, disasters, and trauma
3. roles of college counselors and student affairs professionals in collaborating with personnel from other educational settings to facilitate college and postsecondary transitions
4. characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of individuals at risk for mental health and behavioral disorders
5. models of violence prevention in higher education settings
6. signs and symptoms of substance abuse in individuals in higher education settings
7. current trends in higher education and the diversity of higher education environments
8. organizational culture, budgeting and finance, and personnel practices in higher education
9. environmental, political, and cultural factors that affect the practice of counseling in higher education settings
10. the influence of institutional, systemic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal barriers on learning and career opportunities in higher education
11. influence of learning styles and other personal characteristics on learning
12. policies, programs, and services that are equitable and responsive to the unique needs of individuals in higher education settings
13. unique needs of diverse individuals in higher education settings, including residents, commuters, distance learners, individuals with disabilities, adult learners, and student athletes, as well as nontraditional, international, transfer, and first-generation students
14. higher education resources to improve student learning, personal growth, professional identity development, and mental health
15. professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to the practice of counseling in higher education settings
16. legal and ethical considerations specific to higher education environments
PRACTICE
1. collaboration within the higher education community to develop programs and interventions to promote the academic, social, and career success of individuals in higher education settings
2. strategies to assist individuals in higher education settings with personal/social development
3. interventions related to a broad range of mental health issues for individuals in higher education settings
4. strategies for addiction prevention and intervention for individuals in higher education settings
5. use of multiple data sources to inform programs and services in higher education settings

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a distinct academic discipline that has its roots in educational and vocational guidance and counseling, human development, supervision, and clinical practice. The primary focus of counselor education programs is the training and preparation of professional counselors who are competent to practice, abide by the ethics of the counseling profession, and hold strong counseling identities. At the doctoral level, counselor education programs may focus on the preparation and training of future academic professionals who will teach the curriculum of counseling theory and practice and include specialized practice areas such as Addiction Counseling; Career Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; College Counseling and Student Affairs; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; and School Counseling.