This section descibes Alumni's best experiences and suggestions for corrective action...
QXI. Suggestions
Best things about your classes/program		What changes in classes/program would you suggest?
Training, Personal growth, Relationships		More training/Theory for marriage counseling
faculty knowledge, encouragement thought provoking assignments		teach how training can be utilized in jobs following graduation i.e. 'real world' locally.
Meeting peer group - going through the courses as a type of unit instructor I chose were great		more emphasis on the 3 biggest issues: substance abuse; domestic violence; sexual trauma/abuse.
Actually, cuss gives a great foundation and practical experience. getting into the field enables to grow through added life experience and professional experience. I believe the basics are covered as best they can be at they student level.		Adding additional theory for MFT; focus on exam theory, adding: normative, strategic, Object Relations.
Personal Development was expected & supported throughout program. Staff was very knowledgeable 7 supportive.		Play Therapy Classes; Art Therapy Required.
The students/friendships I made Instructors I connected with Resources provided for school counseling		More choices for evening classes More multicultural classes other than 1 unit classes
AS a current professional wishing to obtain a PPS credential, my experience in the counseling field was taken into account.		1. Help finding job placement. 2. Classes on master scheduling, career counseling and academic counseling (nuts & Bo Hs experience)
Community Counseling Professors were encouraging & motivating		I am absolutely disgusted that I cannot find a job. I am disgusted that the networking, job placement assistance is so poor. There has been very little support from this program after I graduated. It is awful that I cannot go back and take MFT degree class
warm, accepting environment. Helpful and caring students and staff. Practicum and field study taught me everything I know! I loved the program, but there does need to be improvements		There's an inequity in the migrant counseling cohort.
Size of classes. Knowledge from professors.		Drop the human sexuality and add more theory development.
The High Standards of students expected by DR. S Estrada Freeman. The willingness of staff & faculty to assist students		More selection process of students - require higher standards of students to enter & remain in program, allow a student Rep to sit in on faculty meetings.
The students & professors - the climate of the classroom.		The program was very east compared to the MSW curriculum. It I hadn't been through the MSW I would have been very unprepared. I was shocked there was virtually no assigned - reading, papers, projects too simple.
I received a good basic theoretical base, began self discovery & had excellent hands - on training in practical classes.		More mentoring of the older student in re-entering the academic world.
the practical counseling experience and the multicultural emphasis.		no changes.
The encouragement from some of the instructors trickled down to the students, which created a strong and consistent support system among classmates.		requirement to participate in personal therapy drop the ed research class
Focus on personal issues which would effect our counseling. Acquiring the skills to help others.		Less emphasis on Ph. & more on knowledge & experience
my career courses. they were the most informative.		No more classes where students present information from the book - professors need to teach.
my professors were fabulous.		ethics needs to be included, the theory & practice wasn't covered in the he classes, career needs an employment law component.
marriage and family seminar curriculum		the best experiences were the hands on classes where I counseled groups of students and received immediate feedback.
Small class size, flexible scheduling		very tired of the diversity board. try stressing responsibility and American culture.
The diversity - ethnic, age, gender, sexual orientation, life - was tremendous. It was an education in itself. I was thankful for this most of all.		smaller class size; additional theory classes.
I really feel I have a more extensive background in theory as compared to my colleagues		more rigor assessment & ethics class required.
Great experience. The professors and peers learned so much from both.		more structure. higher standards needed.
I am a nurse - I spend 80% of time counseling my patients easing their distress. The academic world does not seem to value my experience.		organization communication among staff & to students
Taught by people working in the field w/very usable knowledge.		there are not that many school counseling positions available. it would be helpful to know what counseling positions can cross over.
Lasting relationship with instructors.		I would liked to have more training hands on technique to use while counseling.
instructors - Barry turner, exile Simmons, & al Levin		More classes on assessment tools.
Professors challenged me to excel, created cooperative learning experience.		A bit more directive can cure bad job market for school counselors.
The ability to interact and relate to faculty who continue to work in the field and interactive theory. with every day experiences.		reduce theory load by offering 2 levels that allow for more time & depth. More sites & better supervision for practicum & internships.
Group classes, law & Ethics with May Strube, learning about self.		None- I really enjoyed and got a lot out of the program.
Diversity among student, excellent advisor, interesting course material		I enjoyed the program.
The connections, friendships &networking that begins in the program & continues on after graduation.		There is a division between faculty from medical model bandwagon and the experiential method - students clearly felt this during my time.
practicum group personal growth		The group processes showed probably be observed - mine was not profitable.
Kind, accessible and encouraging faculty		listen to complaints of students - they are very valuable in the success of the program
The instructors were well educated and openly shared their knowledge.		I had a 'quaint' experience thanks to professor Mari noble man.
Dr. Marinoble All Career Classes The Campus itself & the students		Adding a core course on the topic of ethics in counseling.
learning theory & practice, stretching as a person & professional research & writing thesis		More integration of Counseling (school) program and Teacher Education program.
faculty investment in the student. Building of supportive environment.		More classes on diagnosis and treatment.
My own personal growth.		Suggest a better understanding of the theories. 282 units need to increase.
The growth and experience encouraged by most teachers		More professional/respected program. Stricter standards.
Strong cohort of students by emphasis, strong multicultural emphasis. Instructors who were practicing in their field.		More opportunities to meet people in field for job placement (career fairs, etc.), more emphasis on trends in field (financial, growing areas for work, etc.)
The amount of time spent on teaching me about personal counseling and the different counseling theories.		More options for class selection. Offer more elective courses in areas of administration and evaluation. Anyone working in higher education needs a strong understanding of assessment.
practicing in the clinic, observing and being observed.		Making the disability class a semester course and the ethnicity classes instead of 1 unit courses.
theory was great. prep for real world ok, placement in field needs more attention. mine was a waste of time.		More group and family counseling strategies, more professional identity information, exposure to professional groups.
faculty support open-mindedness		1. More training in specific interventions for teens with divorce, low motivation, health issues. 2. More training in academic High School Counseling 3. Opportunities for professional development after graduation 4. More career education for High School
flexibility - excellent Advisor		More opportunities to be paid for field study.
I loved the support of the program, both professional and personal.		Applying theory to real life practice. Prep for MFT exams
I appreciated the knowledge of the professors. Majority really care about their students and jobs. I felt that there should be more teachers like them.		Disseminate department information to students in a timely manner; more sections of popular/core classes available; more accountability of tenured teachers; and more help with the field study process as well as more designated sites.
Personal awareness and basic introduction to therapy.		incorporate information on working with students with disabilities.
Professors with real-life experience in field, not just 'book smart'. Hands-on practice and experience, opportunities to have instructors currently working in field.		It's one of those things when you're in it, it can be real intense. Sometimes, you put a group of highly emotionally charged people together at once and the intensity and energy is tenfold. There probably is no way around it. Its energy. Something one must
The faculty. The challenge to look at ourselves as well as those around us.		Utilizing/inviting past CSUS counseling graduates to discuss the 'current job market'
The small classes; the one on one student teacher access.		As I was almost done I noticed a shift from personal exploration to a more theory based model. I know for me I learned much more about counseling by exploring my own issues and working with people on theirs, than the theory classes on different models.
Flexibility of professors, supervision, diversity classes, the fact that the course work covered all aspects of counseling in a school setting.
Theory & Practice, Individual Counseling, Practicum & School internships
Small class sizes allowed good contact between faculty and students. Faculty extremely helpful to students and almost always available when needed.
All of the personal growth experiences.
Feeling of community; strong emphasis on cultural diversity as related to the field; supportive teachers and staff; and a variety of different teaching styles available.
The internship experience was terrific. The class on developing a Guidance curriculum and the national standards of school counseling invaluable.
Incredible experience. The faculty/ my advisors, bar-none, was the backbone of training & knowledge. Relationships built and a fraternal spirit within the Counseling program.
Classmates & support
The modeling of effective communication & counseling skills by teachers. Personal exploration of ones own issues while learning counseling skills. I learned so much about myself having gone through the program.