A Department is Born: A Chronology of the Evolution of the BSC Department of Counselor Education

1937	Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorizes the college to offer the degree of Master of Education.
1952	BSC offers a general Master of Education degree, which includes required coursework (single 3 credit course) in Guidance for all M.Ed. students (Source: "Regulations Governing Courses Leading to the Degree of Master of Education in the State Teacher Colleges - September, 1952) (Course title: "Principles and Practices of Guidance").
1963	State authorizes concentration options for specific fields (minimum of 9 credits beyond the required 3 credit content area courses), under the M.Ed., one of which is "Guidance".
1963 - 1965	BSC offers only two of the authorized content areas for its M.Ed. students - "Elementary Education" and "Secondary Education".
1966 - 1967	"Masters of Education in Guidance" first appears as a specific field of concentration in BSC catalogue of graduate programs and course offerings (Actual start date is January 1966).
1975	BSC Commencement brochure first lists M.Ed. graduates by their specific field of concentration.
1976 -1977	Members of "Guidance and Counseling Committee" listed in catalogue as Martha Jones (Committee Coordinator), Henry Fanning, Leo McGuirk, Vincent Worden, and Raymond ZuWallack, Paul Gaines, James Plotner, and Richard Veno are staff members to the Committee.
1979 -1981	This is the first BSC catalogue in which the field of concentration in "Guidance" is now called the "Master of Education in Counseling".
1992	The Counseling Program's first full time faculty (Dr. Maxine L. Rawlins) is hired and serves as its Coordinator (under the Department of Secondary Education and Professional Programs).
1993	Dr. John Calicchia is hired as the second full-time faculty member in Counseling.
1996	Dr. Victoria L. Bacon is hired as the third full-time faculty member in Counseling.
1996	The "Counseling Programs Committee" is formed - with three members: Dr. Maxine Rawlins, Dr. John Calicchia, and Dr. Victoria L. Bacon - all full-time faculty in Counseling.
1996	The Counseling Programs separates physically from the Department of Secondary Education and Professional Programs - now housed in Maxwell Library.
1996	The Counseling Programs gets part-time secretary.
1998	Dr. Louise Graham is hired as the fourth full-time faculty member in Counseling.
1999	Establishment of the Counseling Technology Center - housed in Tillinghast Hall Room 205.
2001	Dr. Michael Kocet is hired as the fifth full-time faculty member in Counseling.
2001	Counseling Programs secretary is moved from part-time to full-time status.
2002	Counseling moves from one course prefix (GC) to four: GC=General Counseling, MC=Mental Health Counseling, SC=School Guidance Counseling, and HC=Higher Education Counseling.
2002	Director of Fieldwork and Training for the Counseling Programs established - Dr. Maxine Rawlins appointed as first Director.
2003	Counseling adds its sixth program - CAGS in School Guidance Counseling.
May 2003	BSC approves the establishment of the Department of Counselor Education. The Department offers six programs in Mental Health Counseling, School Guidance Counseling, and Higher Education Counseling - three at the Masters level and three at the CAGS/Post Masters level. The Department has five full time faculty members; Dr. Victoria Bacon is elected as the Department's first Chairperson.
	The Department launches its first Web Page.
October 2003	The School of Education and Allied Studies hires an external consultant to evaluate the Department of Counselor Education's readiness for national accreditation by CACREP: The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
	The department launches its first comprehensive Alumni Survey to the 354 known alumni.
November 2003	"Counseling Connections" - a family celebration of becoming a Department, recognition of those who have contributed to five decades of our growth and development, and a forum for alumni and students to connect and network was held on November 19.

Last Modified: December 16, 2003