Opportunities and Activities : University of Dayton, Ohio

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Students in the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services can choose from several extra-curricular activities that cater specifically to their degree program.

Our experiential learning opportunities, along with clubs and organizations, enhance the learning experience and provide awareness of real-world concepts in areas related to counselor education and human services.

Internships and Practicums

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical mental health counseling graduate students participate in both an internship and practicum. Practicum experiences offer students the opportunity to hone their skills for professional practice. During their internship experience, students can diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders.

School Counseling

School counseling graduate students complete a 100-hour practicum, where they can start to hone the skills needed for professional practice. They also participate in a 600-hour internship, which takes place in a K-12 school district.

School Psychology

School psychology students participate in practicum experiences starting in the first semester; a total of 200 practicum hours are required across four 50-hour practicum courses. The final year of the program is a 10-month, hands-on, full-time internship supervised by licensed school psychologists.

Internship details

The internship occurs during your final year of the program (year 3 for full-time students or year 4 for part-time students). It is a full-time position in a PK-12 setting; 1,200 hours are required to obtain the School Psychologist license.
Student input is sought prior to internship placements, but final placements are determined by program faculty.
Students are placed in pre-approved sites by program faculty if they remain in Ohio to be eligible for the school psychology statewide internship program. Students who work full-time during their coursework years are required to leave their position to complete the internship.
Students who choose to do an out-of-state internship are responsible for locating their own placement.

Practicum Details

For practicums, students are generally responsible for locating their own practicum sites; the process is guided by program faculty.
Students attain a minimum of 200 practicum hours prior to internship. These are attained in four practicum courses, each requiring 50 hours of experience.

Brain Health Collective

The Brain Health Collective is dedicated to producing interdisciplinary research and community partnerships that contribute to the greater good surrounding brain health. The collective is dedicated to producing interdisciplinary research and community partnerships that contribute to the greater good surrounding brain health.

Explore the Brain Health Collective

Community Wellness Initiative

The Community Wellness Initiative is a collaborative effort between community partners, organizations and campus departments. Here, graduate students studying clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and school psychology work alongside faculty in a lab structure, gaining real-world experience in mental health research.

Explore the Community Wellness Initiative

Clubs and Organizations

American Counseling Association

ACA is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. It provides education, community and professional development opportunities for members, which includes counselors in various practice settings and counselors-in-training.

American School Counselor Association

ASCA supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, career and social/emotional development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. The group also provides professional development to its members, which includes students studying school counseling.

Chi Sigma Iota

International honor society for graduate students studying clinical mental health counseling, school counseling. Promotes scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and recognizes high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling.

UD is home to two CSI chapters — Upsilon Delta and Upsilon Delta Chi.

Ecotherapy Club

Ecotherapy Club's mission is to create a supportive community that encourages exploration of the healing benefits of nature, promotes environmental awareness, contributes to sustainable practices, and integrates nature-base therapeutic techniques into counseling and human services.

Future School Psychologists of Ohio Club

Partnership between UD's school psychology program and the Ohio School Psychologists Association. This affiliate program is for undergraduate students interested in the field of school psychology.

School psychology graduate students play an integral role in the organization.

Graduate Community Fellows

Helps build community partnerships to benefit the greater Dayton community while enhancing the learning experience of UD students through service.

National Association of School Psychologists

Provides support for school psychologists through scholarships, grants, professional development opportunities, information sharing and other means to enable them to better serve students.

Ohio Counseling Association

OCA represents many fields of counseling in the State of Ohio — school, career, mental health, and rehabilitation counselors. Members, which includes graduate students studying counseling, can benefit from professional development, access to a peer-reviewed journal, leadership opportunities, grants and mentoring.

Ohio School Counselor Association

OSCA represents and advocates for the interests of professional school counselors in Ohio. Membership is open to school counseling professionals and graduate students studying school counseling.

Ohio School Psychologists Association

OSPA's membership includes school psychologists who are employed across the state in both public and private schools and agencies, as well as faculty and students in graduate training programs.

School Psychologists of the University of Dayton

SPUD is a professional organization that provides support for graduate students studying school psychology (it was the first officially recognized graduate student organization on campus!).

SPUD also provides opportunities for leadership, service, fundraising, professional development, and social activities.

Southwest Ohio School Psychologists' Association

A branch of Ohio School Psychologists Association that serves 10 counties in Southwest Ohio (including Montgomery County — home to UD). OSPA provides opportunities for the professional growth of school psychologists and promotes the profession of school psychology. Membership is available to graduate students studying school psychology.

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