Guidance and Psychological Counseling

The Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling (RPD) at Hasan Kalyoncu University was established in 2012 within the Faculty of Education. The RPD Department aims to train qualified psychological counselors and researchers through its undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs.

In the RPD Department, which adopts a scientifically grounded, practice-oriented, ethically committed and student-centered educational approach, the aim is to develop students' professional knowledge, skills and competencies by integrating theoretical knowledge with practice. Our students have the opportunity to pursue their professional development in a multifaceted way with the support of a strong academic staff, practice-oriented courses, rich internship opportunities and the application and research centers within our university.

OUR VISION

To contribute to supporting the development of the individuals who will carry Turkey to success at the highest level in physical, mental, social and emotional terms, in line with their interests and abilities.

OUR MISSION

To train Psychological Counselors who are open to change, productive, committed to ethical principles, and engaged in high-quality scientific research and development activities needed by the country in the face of cultural, economic and technological developments.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

UNDERGRADUATE, MASTER'S and DOCTORAL programs are offered in the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling.

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING

Within the scope of Guidance and Psychological Counseling services, the aim is to train psychological counselors who can support individuals' development in the personal/social, educational/academic and career areas and their well-being in daily life. In this context, students are given theoretical and applied courses. The program, which has no preparatory class, is taught in Turkish, and the duration of education is four years.

MASTER'S EDUCATION IN GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING

Graduates of Guidance and Psychological Counseling and Psychology undergraduate programs may apply to the Guidance and Psychological Counseling master's program. This program aims to train experts in its own field of science. The master's program, enriched with special areas of specialization such as school counseling, career counseling and family/marriage counseling, is conducted as a thesis program. The duration of the thesis master's program is 2 years (4 semesters), and the language of instruction is Turkish.

The RPD Undergraduate Program has been accredited by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (EPDAD); it is a program that meets national quality standards and carries out its educational activities in line with an approach of continuous improvement.

DOCTORAL EDUCATION IN GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING

The RPD doctoral program, to which graduates of Guidance and Psychological Counseling and Psychology master's programs may apply, is a program enriched, as in the master's program, with special areas of specialization such as school, career and family/marriage counseling. The duration of the program is 4 years (8 semesters), and the language of instruction is Turkish. This program provides the opportunity to graduate with a doctoral degree.

ACADEMIC STAFF

The Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling at Hasan Kalyoncu University stands out as a strong department in Turkey with its strong academic staff. Our academic staff, providing education at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels, includes 2 professors, 1 associate professor, 5 assistant professors and 2 research assistants.

INTERNSHIP AND OBSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES

Within the scope of the applied courses in the undergraduate program of the RPD Department, students carry out internship and observation activities in various institutions in order to observe guidance and psychological counseling services on site and to gain professional practice experience. In this context, students gain practical experience in various institutions such as Guidance and Research Centers (RAM), Education Centers for Children with Autism, Schools for the Visually Impaired, Special Education and Rehabilitation Centers, Practice Schools and Vocational Training Centers, courthouses, public schools at the primary, middle and high school levels, centers for combating addiction, children's homes and nursing homes.

In addition, within the scope of the School Guidance Practices course conducted in the 7th and 8th semesters, our students have the opportunity to do applied internships in the guidance services of schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. In this process, students gain practical experience in individual counseling, group counseling, classroom guidance practices, psychoeducation activities, the application of individual assessment techniques, the planning, implementation and evaluation processes of guidance services, and the duties and responsibilities of school psychological counselors.

GRADUATES

Students who graduate from the Guidance and Psychological Counseling Undergraduate Program graduate with the competence to carry out psychological counseling and guidance services aimed at supporting individuals' personal, social, educational and career development. In line with these competencies, graduates can take on various roles as school psychological counselors, psychological counselors, specialists, or under different titles within the scope of the relevant legislation, in public institutions, the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Our graduates have employment opportunities in different units of institutions such as the Ministry of National Education (at different levels of instruction in public and private schools, in Science and Art Centers, Guidance and Research Centers, and special education institutions), the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policies, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, universities (Guidance and Counseling Application and Research Centers and Career Centers), local governments, non-governmental organizations and private companies. In addition, they can also work as academics through academic development opportunities at universities in Turkey and abroad.

Graduates can work as school psychological counselors (guidance teachers) in public and private schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education; and as psychological counselors in Guidance and Research Centers (RAM), special education and rehabilitation centers, children's homes, private psychological counseling and psychotherapy centers, daycare centers, children's nurseries, preschool education institutions, study centers and private tutoring institutions, military high schools, non-commissioned officer vocational schools, military academies, Turkish Armed Forces Guidance and Psychological Counseling Centers, and Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM). Psychological counselors who perform their military service in the medical corps can work as psychological counselors in military institutions with the rank of lieutenant. Furthermore, they can work as career counselors or specialists in family and juvenile courts, probation directorates and penal institutions; at the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), private companies, local governments, health institutions and public education centers, as well as in the human resources and training units of enterprises. In addition, they can work as psychological counselors or specialists in institutions such as daycare centers, preschool education institutions, dormitories, community centers and marriage and family counseling centers affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and in institutions such as the Vocational Qualifications Authority; and as specialists in health centers affiliated with universities and in psychological counseling and guidance application and research centers. Graduates who complete their graduate education in the field of audiology can work as audiologists in public and private health institutions. Graduates who prefer an academic career can work as academics at universities by completing their graduate education.

PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

The curriculum of the RPD Department includes, in addition to theoretical courses, rich applied courses aimed at developing students' professional knowledge and skills. The undergraduate program includes applied courses in which students can develop their psychological counseling skills and gain experience in research and project preparation. In this context, in the Individual Counseling Practice I and II courses and the Career Counseling Practice course, students gain experience in planning, conducting and evaluating the psychological counseling process with real clients under supervision, while developing their psychological counseling skills. In the Project Development in RPD and Project Preparation in Education courses, students acquire research and project design and implementation skills. Within the scope of the Community Service Practices course, students plan and carry out social responsibility projects for different segments of society, gaining teamwork, volunteering, social sensitivity and social responsibility awareness.

In addition, there are application and research units affiliated with the Rectorate of Hasan Kalyoncu University, which faculty members of the Faculty of Education and the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling support as founders, administrators and practitioners, and where students find development opportunities through observation and experience. Some of these are listed below.

Kalyoncu Gifted and Talented Application and Research Center (KUYMER)

KUYMER was established to improve the quality of the educational programs implemented for gifted individuals, to support the developmental potential of gifted individuals, and to contribute to studies on giftedness throughout the country. In line with this purpose, activities are carried out such as establishing an education, research and application laboratory supporting the development of gifted individuals; conducting research at national and international levels; preparing projects and contributing to existing research and projects; organizing joint studies with national and international institutions and organizations operating in the field of gifted individuals; and preparing application and research projects. For detailed information about the center's expert staff and the services and seminars provided within the center, please visit http://kuymer.hku.edu.tr.

Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center (PDR-MER)

PDR-MER, which has been providing services since 2015, was established to meet the psychological support needs of students. At the center, individual and group counseling services are provided free of charge by specialists. Individual counseling services are provided on topics where students need individual support, such as academic achievement, adjustment problems, close relationships and career planning. Group counseling services are carried out as counseling groups on topics such as getting to know oneself, coping with anxiety and developing interpersonal relationships, and as psychoeducation groups on predetermined topics such as academic procrastination and adjustment to university life. For detailed information about the center's expert staff, the services and seminars provided within the center, and the resources that can be used, please visit https://pdrmer.hku.edu.tr/.

Career Application and Research Center (Career Center)

The Hasan Kalyoncu University Career Center, which has been providing services since 2015, provides students with career development support before and after graduation. This support includes developing students' work/professional life skills starting before graduation, enabling students to make science-based department and career choices, and conducting individual and group career counseling services with students who have difficulty making career decisions. Another aim of the Career Center is to follow the career development processes of graduated students and to provide them with the support they need. Graduate tracking studies also enable the review of university programs and the course syllabi conducted within these programs. For detailed information about the center's expert staff and the services and seminars provided within the center, please visit https://kariyer.hku.edu.tr/.

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

All students within Hasan Kalyoncu University can benefit from various exchange programs around the world. In this way, they can gain the opportunity to participate in both cultural and academic activities in different countries of the world. Our university has collaborations within the scope of Erasmus+ and other international exchange programs with various higher education institutions in Finland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Azerbaijan, and many of our students at the undergraduate and graduate levels benefit from these programs. Thanks to the courses they take at universities abroad, RPD students have the opportunity to become closely acquainted with the psychological counseling and guidance services offered in different countries; at the same time, by participating in cultural activities and social events, they can find personal development opportunities in acquiring the fundamental qualities that psychological counselors should possess (such as tolerance, empathy and unconditional acceptance).

In addition, our graduates can continue their master's and doctoral education at universities in Turkey and abroad, pursuing their academic careers at the international level, and can find opportunities to work at educational institutions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and private companies in different countries. Our Department aims to graduate its students with the qualifications and competencies that will enable them to benefit from international academic and professional development opportunities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Do graduates only become guidance teachers?

Program graduates do not work only in schools. Our graduates, who serve as guidance teachers in public schools and private schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MEB), can also, as detailed above under the Graduates heading, work in institutions and organizations outside MEB under various titles such as psychological counselor, pedagogue, specialist, career counselor, and marriage and family counselor.

What are the differences between the RPD, Psychology and Social Work departments?

All three departments mentioned are fundamentally among the social assistance professions. However, starting from a basic point such as the difference in the faculties to which they are affiliated, it is possible to list various differences. First, the courses taken in these three departments differ. Although theoretical courses such as introduction to psychology and scientific research methods are common to the RPD and psychology departments, the institutions where practice takes place and the contents of the applied courses differ. In the Guidance and Psychological Counseling program, starting from the second year, there are courses that predominantly involve practice, such as Observation in Schools, Individual Counseling Practice, Group Counseling Practice, Vocational Guidance Practice, Institutional Experience and Fieldwork. RPD graduates receive the title of “psychological counselor”, while Psychology graduates receive the title of “psychologist”. Social work, on the other hand, is a field of work that aims to change the quality of life of individuals, families and society in a positive direction or to improve existing conditions, and they do not provide psychological help services. Those who complete the Social Work Department are given the title of “Social Worker / Social Work Specialist”.

Can I open my own office after graduating from the RPD Program?

After graduating from the RPD undergraduate program, it is possible to open an education and counseling center as a psychological counselor. In order to provide counseling in a specific area (for example, family and couple counseling, trauma and grief counseling, career counseling, clinical psychology), you need to complete a master's degree in these areas. As an RPD graduate, you can apply to master's programs in these areas. In addition, provided that appropriate teams of different specialists are formed, it is also possible to open different centers such as special education and rehabilitation centers, children's daycare centers and care homes, and elderly care centers.

What does it mean that your program holds EPDAD accreditation?

Our Guidance and Psychological Counseling Undergraduate Program has been accredited by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (EPDAD). This accreditation shows that the program meets national standards in terms of education and training, academic staff, curriculum, practice opportunities, measurement and evaluation processes, and quality assurance. It is also an important quality assurance documenting that our program is regularly evaluated with an approach of continuous improvement and aims to train qualified psychological counselors.

Do you have active student clubs?

We have a student club called the HKÜ PDR Society, founded by RPD undergraduate students. This club continues its work with different activities such as meeting and orientation events for newly arriving students, planning social events, taking part in volunteer activities within the scope of community service practices, film screenings and analyses related to psychological counseling, and social responsibility activities.