Guidance needs of students at the Faculty of Arts, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, according to some variables

Abstract

The present study investigated the counseling needs among students of the Faculty of Arts at Omar Al-Mukhtar University in relation to certain demographic and academic variables. The study addressed an important issue in educational psychology and university counseling, given the increasing psychological social, academic, and vocational challenges faced by university students during the transitional stage of higher education.

The study aimed to identify the level of counseling needs among students, determine the most prominent counseling needs, and examine differences according to gender, academic year, and academic department. The study employed the descriptive analytical comparative approach. The study population consisted of 502 students enrolled in the first and third academic years across eleven departments within the Faculty of Arts. A stratified proportional sample of 217 students was selected. Data were collected using the Counseling Needs Scale developed by Brook (2019).

The results indicated that the overall level of counseling needs among students was high. Psychological and vocational needs ranked first, followed by academic needs, while social needs ranked last. The findings also showed no statistically significant differences according to gender or academic year. However, statistically significant differences were found according to academic department.