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Chair's Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Counseling and Human Services! Thank you for your interest in our programs. We have three distinct programs in our department: an undergraduate human services program with traditional and online program formats, a counseling graduate program (M.S.Ed, Ed.S., Ph.D.) on the Norfolk campus, and a counseling graduate program (M.S.Ed) on the NCI Martinsville campus. We are proud of our award-winning faculty, students, and programs.

The mission of the department is to prepare human services and counseling professionals to provide supportive, educational, and counseling services in a wide range of settings, including agencies, PK-12 schools, and colleges and universities; to contribute to knowledge in human services and counseling through scholarly contributions of faculty members and students; and to provide service to the human services and counseling professions, the community, and Old Dominion University.

The Human Services bachelor's degree program prepares students for entry-level positions in a wide variety of community service settings. Graduates are prepared to assist clients in coping successfully with developmental tasks of normal growth and in solving problems caused by personal, social, and environmental stress.  Human service professionals are employed in a wide variety of settings including mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse, aging or gerontology, domestic violence, youth service, correction or criminal justice, health care, recreation or fitness, and vocational rehabilitation. The program coordinator of the Human Services program is Dr. Tammi Milliken (hmsv@odu.edu), and there are 5 full-time faculty assigned to this program. This program is offered at the Norfolk campus as well as several TeleTechnet sites. Additionally, the Human Services online program is under development, with 2012 enrollment beginning soon. If you would like additional information about the online program, click the "Human Services Undergraduate Online Program" link on the left side of this page, or contact Dr. Milliken.

The counseling graduate program at the Norfolk campus offers master's degrees that prepare professionals for counseling careers in a variety of settings including colleges, universities, community mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment programs, rehabilitation agencies, private practices, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.  This program offers Ph.D. degrees for counselors who wish to become university faculty members in counseling preparation programs or wish to provide leadership in counseling agencies, organizations, school systems, or private practices. The Graduate Program Director of the Norfolk campus is Dr. Tim Grothaus(coun@odu.edu), and there are 11 full-time faculty assigned to this program.

The following graduate degree programs at the Norfolk campus are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP):

  • Ph.D. in Counseling
  • M.S.Ed. in Counseling with three optional specializations:
    • College Counseling
    • Mental Health Counseling
    • School Counseling

In addition an Ed.S. degree program is offered.  CACREP does not accredit Ed.S. degree programs.

The NCI Martinsville counseling graduate program offers a M.S.Ed program with two specialty areas: mental health counseling and school counseling. The Graduate Program Director of this program is Dr. Chris Wood (wood@odu.edu ), and there are 3 full-time faculty assigned to this program. The entire program (with exception of 3 courses that must be completed in person on the NCI campus in Martinsville) may be completed at the TeleTechnet sites that offer two-way video, or from any location by personal computer that has two-way video equipment installed. The two master's degree specialty programs were designed to meet CACREP standards, and they are now accredited.

The CHS faculty are particularly committed to educating students who are dedicated to reducing disparities in society based on race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and other social group memberships.

Please enjoy reviewing our website and learning more about our programs.  If you need more information please call 757.683.3326 or email dhays@odu.edu or directors of respective programs.

Again, welcome!

Dr. Danica G. Hays
Chair, Department of Counseling and Human Services