NSU’s Division of Applied Interdisciplinary Studies will host a Shark Chat on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. in Room 2057 of the Maltz Building to provide an overview of the Master’s in Science in Mental Health Counseling program.
Shark Chats are live interdisciplinary panel discussions featuring NSU faculty, alumni and students from NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies, Institute for the Study of Human Service, Health and justice, Mailman Segal Center for Human Development and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Each chat revolves around topics related to NSU Master’s and Doctoral programs, graduate financial aid options and careers in interdisciplinary studies.
Associate Professor at the Center for Psychological Studies Shannon Karl will present at the Mental Health Counseling Shark Chat. She said that the event is an opportunity for everybody, but it is mainly aimed at students interested in meeting faculty members and learning more information about the program.
Karl said that this event will focus on different career paths in the mental health field. There will also be a question and answer sessions and light refreshments will be served.
“Our program is not exclusive to undergraduates studying psychology. We’re open to undergraduates across disciplines who have a passion for helping others and becoming a mental health counselor,” she said.
Karl also said that undergraduates should attend Shark Chats to network with faculty, students and community affiliates and that they should volunteer with different organizations and businesses in the community, especially if they would like more experience.
“You never know where networking opportunities will come from and it’s great for current students to share their experiences with community members and prospective students,” she said.
An additional discussion regarding careers in psychology and mental health will be held on Nov. 14 at 1p.m. in Room 2057 of the Maltz Building. It will feature an academic panel with Assistant Professor Christine Ajayi, Associate Professor Denise Crammer, Associate Professor Sarah Valley-Gray and Professor Ralph Cash.
The Mental Health Counseling program consists of 60 credit hours and is designed to help students become mental health professionals and work in various settings, such as businesses, clinics, hospices, hospitals, educational facilities and private practices. Toward the end of the program, students are required to take a counseling practicum or internship with mental health services in the community.
Karl said that students should follow their passion, regardless of whether it is in the field of psychology or not.
“Those people who are passionate about what they do in the world of work and passionate about their career are the ones that are most successful,” she said. “Learn as much as you can about the different career options out there. Take advantage of these learning and networking opportunities and follow your passion.”
For more information on the master’s program, visit cps.nova.edu/programs/mhc. For more information on mental health counseling as a profession, visit mentalhealthcounseling.org.
Space is limited and reservations are required to attend. To RSVP, visit nova.edu/dais/sharkchats/index.html and click on the “register online” button at the bottom of the page.
