About
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1. History of Establishment The Department of Counseling was established in 2012 within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with the launch of the Master of Arts program in "Family Counseling." Its academic activities commenced in October of the same year with an initial intake of four students. In 2015, the department expanded its scope by introducing a Master's program in "School Counseling." A significant milestone was achieved in 2020 with the establishment of the Bachelor of Arts in Counseling, admitting its first cohort of undergraduate students. Continuing its development trajectory, the department successfully launched a Ph.D. program in "Counseling" in 2021 and a Master's program in "Rehabilitation Counseling" in 2023. Furthermore, in the autumn of 2023, following an agreement between the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology and Farhangian University, the Department of Counseling at the University of Kurdistan was commissioned to establish a Bachelor's program in "Education for Children with Special Needs." 2. Message from the Head of the Department Esteemed Students, The field of counseling is not merely an academic discipline; it is a humanistic mission that empowers you to transform lives, alleviate suffering, and rekindle hope in the hearts of others. In today's world, fraught with psychological and social challenges, your role as a compassionate, committed, and professional counselor is more valuable than ever. The University of Kurdistan, with its distinguished faculty, advanced research facilities, and dynamic academic environment, provides an ideal platform for your scientific and professional growth. Here, in the heart of the beautiful city of Sanandaj, you will not only acquire the theoretical knowledge of counseling but also cultivate the moral fortitude and interpersonal skills necessary to become an impactful practitioner. We believe in your potential. By pursuing your studies in this field, you will become ambassadors of kindness and change, with the daily opportunity to help individuals navigate the most difficult moments of their lives and find a path toward light. A brilliant future awaits you—a future in which you will not only achieve personal success but also contribute to building a healthier and more vibrant society. We are proud to accompany you on this journey. 3. Department Objectives The Department of Counseling has outlined a strategic plan to expand its existing graduate specializations and ensure the continuity of student admissions in these programs. The department intends to increase its faculty members in proportion to the active specializations to enhance educational and research quality. In the area of academic publications, the plan is to increase the number of specialized departmental journals to three: the Journal of Family Counseling and Psychotherapy, the Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling, and the Journal of School Counseling. Another key objective is the annual admission of international students to its graduate programs. Furthermore, the department seeks to strengthen its research infrastructure by equipping specialized laboratories and hiring full-time technical staff. Prioritizing demand-driven theses and encouraging student participation in externally funded research projects are also central to our goals. Finally, the long-term vision includes the administrative separation of the Master's specializations (Family, Rehabilitation, and School) into independent departments to facilitate more focused qualitative and quantitative development in each area. 4. Academic Specializations Currently, the Department of Counseling offers a Ph.D. in Counseling, Master of Arts programs in Family, School, and Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling. The department operates with five full-time faculty members, including one Full Professor in Family Counseling, two Associate Professors in the same field, and two Assistant Professors specializing in Rehabilitation and Career Counseling. According to the department's development plan, recruitment of new faculty members with expertise in Rehabilitation Counseling and School Counseling is scheduled for the upcoming years. In addition to its permanent academic staff, the department collaborates with experienced professors from other universities across various counseling domains to enrich its educational and research programs. 5. Position of the Department within the Faculty With a total of 242 students enrolled across its various programs, the Department of Counseling is one of the most populous departments within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This student body comprises 148 undergraduate students, 77 master's students across three specializations (Family, School, and Rehabilitation), and 17 doctoral candidates. The department's portfolio—consisting of one undergraduate program, three master's specializations, and a doctoral program, complemented by two well-equipped laboratories—has secured it a distinguished position within the faculty's structure. These capacities and the diversity of its academic offerings have established the Department of Counseling as a key educational and research hub in the humanities. |
