Skip to main content Skip to footer
Get Started
First slide
Counseling Department (Instruction)
First slide
Counseling Department (Instruction)
Home > Student Services > Counseling Office > First slide Counseling Department (Instruction)

Counseling Department (Instruction)

The mission of the instructional Counseling Department is to teach students the strategies to become self-aware, develop educational and career goals, make decisions and problem solve, and accept responsibility for gaining the skills to become a more proficient and confident learner.

  • COUNS 100 Success Strategies for the Adult Re-Entry Student
    3 units | CSU transferable 
    This course integrates personal growth and values, academic study strategies and critical and creative thinking proficiency for adult reentry students, emphasizing the attainment of lifelong success in academic, professional, and personal development.
     
    COUNS 110 Career Life-Planning
    3 units | CSU transferable 
    This course introduces self-assessment tools to identify college majors and careers by clarifying interests, skills, values, and personality type. Students also examine the decision-making process, self-management, life roles and goal-setting. It includes a review of labor market trends, career research, interviewing skills, resume and cover letter writing, and job search strategies.
     
    COUNS 111 Introduction to College and Strategies for Success
    1 unit | CSU transferable
    This course focuses on the various components necessary for college planning and academic success. Readiness for college will be explored with special attention given to students' responsibilities, study skills assessment, personal values, motivation, and goal setting. Topics include values clarification, decision making, study skills, choosing a major, the responsible student, and educational planning. Students will identify their educational goals and develop a personal plan to reach those goals.
     
    COUNS 120 University Transfer Planning
    1 unit | CSU transferable
    This course provides students with information and resources to facilitate a smooth transfer to 4 year colleges and universities. Topics include UC/CSU applications, major and general education requirements, financial aid/scholarships, personalized student education plans, and analysis of factors involved in the selection of transfer schools.
     
    COUNS 142 Learning to Learn
    3 units | CSU & UC transferable
    Focuses on brain-based learning strategies that develop self-regulatory learning: discovering self-motivation; gaining self-awareness; developing emotional intelligence; employing interdependence; accepting personal responsibility; applying active listening; reading and note-taking; monitoring performance; and developing a growth mindset that believes in self. Students will combine theory and practice to become successful learners and successful college students.
    UC credit limitation: COUNS 142 and COUNS 150 combined maximum credit 3 semester units
     
    COUNS 150 Student Success
    3 units | CSU & UC transferable
    This course is designed for new students as a complete orientation of the responsibilities and benefits of higher education. Educational planning, goal setting, and career choices are examined. Study and life survival skills are provided to ensure a successful academic experience.
    UC credit limitation: COUNS 142 and COUNS 150 combined maximum credit 3 semester units
    COUNS 200 Survey of the Counseling Profession
    3 units | CSU
    Surveys the profession of counseling and guidance by examining the different approaches to counseling in various specialties and settings. Students will develop competencies for the profession by exploring an integrated approach to counseling, which includes the utilization of basic helping skills, theories, case studies, current counseling trends, as well as legal and ethical issues.

  • Non-Credit College Skills

    NC.CGSL 001 Resources/Strategies for College
    8 hours | Offered as pass/no pass only
    Introduces the skills necessary to succeed in credit courses. Topics that will be covered are academic expectations, Financial aid options, CA Residency status, academic and career educational options, COC Resources and goal setting.

    NC.CGSL 002 Online Learning and Strategies
    8 hours | Offered as pass/no pass only
    Introduces the practical strategies and skills necessary to succeed in distance education. Students will learn how to anticipate, avoid, and/ or solve typical problems encountered in the distance learning environment.

    NC.CGSL 003 Money Management College & Beyond
    8 hours | Offered as pass/no pass only
    Develops a foundation of money management and financial literacy including budgeting to meet educational goals. Strategies include FAFSA, scholarships, student loans, consumer credit, and banking products such as checking and saving accounts.
     
    NC.CGSL 004 Career Exploration
    8 hours | Offered as pass/no pass only
    Provides students with career exploration techniques. Emphasis is placed on selecting a career based on self-examination of interest, values, abilities, and personality through assessment inventories, skill exercises, and career research.
     

    Non-Credit Counseling

     NC.COUN 015 Upgrade to Good Academic Standing

    8 hours | Offered as pass/no-pass only
    Designed for students who are on Academic and/or Progress Probation, this course is intended to help students understand the different levels and types of academic standings at College of the Canyons. Students will be empowered to make the choices and changes needed to return to good standing by examining how the adoption of a self-efficacy mindset, growth mindset, and resilient mindset can positively influence their thoughts, behaviors, and thus academic outcomes.
     
  • Instructional Counseling Faculty

    Full-time Faculty

    Adjunct Faculty

    Lauren Franco

    Patricia Garcia

    Angela Harris

    Garrett Hooper

    Samir Hamawe

    Julie Hovden

    Alisha Kaminsky

    Stephanie Lee

    Susan Ling

    Albert Loaiza

    Dora Lozano

    Ann Marchesan

    Graciela Martinez

    Mireya Milian

    Anh Nguyen

    Aivee Ortega

    April Reardon

    Thomas Requejo

    Liz Shaker

    Diane Solomon

    Erika Torgeson

    Lauren Yeh

    Albert Alas

    Eva Alonzo Ayon

    Jennifer L. Anthony

    Souhalia Elmoukari

    Samuel Philipp T. Embuido, 

    Sandra Esqueda

    Patricia Lara

    Gretcen Lindgreen

    Josh R. Nowak

    Jasmine Oros

    Justin Thomas

    Allan Woskanian
 

ASSOCIATE DEGREES OFFERED

Liberal Arts and Sciences: Health Science Emphasis
LIberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities Emphasis
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Math and Science Emphasis
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Social Science Emphasis

*Cal-GETC General Education courses required to complete Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees listed above.

CERTIFICATES OFFERED

Certificate of Specialization: Pre-Counseling 

NON-CREDIT COUNSELING CERTIFICATES

Certificate of Competency: College Success Toolkit
Program Requirements:

  • NC.CGSL 001: Resources and Strategies for College Success
  • NC.CGSL 002: Online Learning and Strategies for Success
  • NC.CGSL 003: Money Management for College and Beyond

Certificate of Competency: Upgrade to Academic Success
Program Requirements:

  • NC.COUN 015: Upgrade to Good Academic Standing
  • Plus one course from the following:
    • NC.CGSL 001: Resources and Strategies for College Success
    • NC.CGSL 002: Online Learning and Strategies for Success
    • NC.CGSL 003: Money Management for College and Beyond
Counseling student. -