Counseling, Couples and Family Counseling, M.Ed.

Counseling Program Admission and Completion Requirements

Program Admission

The Counseling program limits its enrollment to 22 new students each fall and 22 each spring. Screening begins February 1 for admission in the fall semester and September 15 for admission in the spring and continues until the cohort is filled. Applicants must have attempted either the MAT or the GRE in order to be considered and must have submitted an acceptable score [MAT (388) or GRE (290-verbal + quantitative)] within the first 12 hours of coursework in order to obtain unconditional admission.

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate study, students applying for the Counseling program must submit an essay with their application. This essay should consist of a brief statement of long-range professional goals in counseling. The essay should be word processed and approximately two pages long. Name, program track and anticipated date of enrollment should be typed at the top of the first page. This essay will be used by the department admissions committee in selecting applicants for the program. No application will be reviewed without the essay. In addition, a personal interview with the counseling faculty will be required. Applicants will be contacted regarding the scheduling of this interview after all other application materials have been received. Candidates for School Counseling must present evidence of a clear criminal background check.

Completion Requirements

Although the following curriculum outline is similar for the clinical mental health and school counseling tracks, the track selected will determine the specific courses, as well as the practicum and internship placement. Students in the School Counseling track must complete their internship in a school setting in order to qualify for the Class A Certificate in School Counseling. School Counseling students must also earn a passing score on the Praxis II and the Basic Skills Test in order to qualify for certification. Students in the School Counseling track will be required to take a special-education course if they have not previously done so. In addition, all students must earn a satisfactory score on a written comprehensive examination covering the eight content areas required by CACREP. Students who do not pass the comprehensive exam in three attempts will be required to complete remediation determined by the faculty prior to a subsequent attempt. Each subsequent attempt will require additional remediation. A passing score must be achieved within the 6-year limit for degree completion or the degree will not be awarded. The passing score is 80 + Standard Error of Measurement S for the test administration. All students will be required to enroll in EDC 502  and EDC 515  during their first semester in the program unless otherwise specified by a faculty advisor. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in EDC 541  in order to enroll in the internship. Students must also earn a minimum grade of B in the internship to successfully complete and graduate from the program.

Curriculum Outline (60 credit hours required)