Augmenting Master of Counseling Student Learning Outcomes through Interprofessional Education Experiences with Master of Fine Arts Students

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a pedagogic strategy in which pre-professionals from multiple disciplines learn alongside one another. IPE works most effectively in institutions where related pre-professional programs operate in close proximity and with parallel learning requirements. However, not all counselor education programs co-occur with related disciplines, including programs housed at universities with smaller student populations and fewer related academic programs. The purpose of this article is to report the development, application, and pilot qualitative evaluation of a collaboration at a small university in which masters-level counseling students engaged in creative IPE experiences with students enrolled in a masters-level writing program. Relevant literature is reviewed and the strengths and challenges of utilizing an IPE approach in counselor preparation are examined. Implications for counselor education and research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Counselor education
• creativity
• interprofessional education
• interprofessional collaboration
• creativity in counseling