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2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]
Counseling and Psychology in Education-Counseling (M.A., Ed.S., Ph.D.)
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 Return to: Graduate Degree and Program Requirements
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Degree Requirements for Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychology in Education - Counseling Specializations
The master’s degree programs of study (Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling) all offer Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis).
The Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling specializations are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) under the 2009 standards. The accreditation runs until March 31, 2024. However, the current Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specializations meet the CACREP 2016 standards as required by CACREP.
Plan A (thesis): Total 64 credit hours
- Counseling specialization and supporting courses 60 credit hours
- Thesis 4 credit hours
Plan B (non-thesis): Total 60 credit hours
- Counseling specialization and supporting courses 60 credit hours
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive examination is taken near the end of a student’s program of study and before internship.
Performance Requirements
Retention decisions at all levels require demonstration of consistently high academic and clinical performance. These requirements are in accordance with the Annual Evaluation of Student Progress policies and procedures (see the Counseling Student Handbook), as well as those set forth in the Graduate Catalog. A student’s character, personal, and professional behavior is evaluated during the course of the program. Students must demonstrate qualities of good character consistent with the program’s mission and policies, the ethical guidelines of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP).
Student performance is evaluated bi-annually by Counselor Education faculty. A rating of acceptable or higher on semester evaluations of student progress, including grades of B or higher in all coursework, is required for retention in the program. If retention requirements are met, students are retained under the Guidelines of the Annual Student Evaluation Process.
Note
The program faculty reviews each student’s performance using the minimum grade expectation (3.0 overall grade point average; 3.0 in each of the clinical courses) and other criteria (knowledge, skills, ethical behaviors, and dispositions). These criteria must be met each semester.
Required clinical courses must be completed with no less than a “B” in each course. Counseling course work (M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization): 60 credit hours
Counseling Specialty course work (M.A. School Counseling Specialization): 60 credit hours
Student Learning Outcomes (M.A.)
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the eight core common areas designated by the program’s accreditation body (CACREP).
- Students will demonstrate competent skills as an entry-level professional counselor in a supervised internship (i.e., either a clinical mental health or school) setting.
- Students will demonstrate professional attitudes becoming of a professional counselor.
Degree Requirements for Specialist in Counseling and Psychology in Education - Counseling Specializations
This degree emphasizes counseling practitioner specialization beyond the master’s. The program of study is tailored to the student’s professional needs and career goals. Students work closely with their advisor to design an individualized counseling-related program of study. The faculty grants final approval. For this reason, there is not a specific required course sequence.
Students are required to complete 60 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 32 credit hours taken beyond the counseling master’s core during the Specialist program enrollment at USD. Students are required to take at least one practicum during the program [COUN 895 or COUN 795 ]. In addition, the student may choose to complete a Thesis, Applied Clinical Project, or Portfolio. Based upon the student’s choice and advisor recommendation, the Counseling faculty chooses the appropriate final defense.
All students who are admitted to the program must successfully complete nine credit hours of trial coursework selected with and approved by their advisor. These initial nine hours must include EDER 761 , if not taken previously. Having completed this trial course work, the student completes a preliminary examination. After successfully passing the initial coursework with a “B” average and passing the preliminary examination, the student becomes a degree candidate and is permitted to file a program of study approved by his/her advisor.
Degree Requirements for Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychology in Education- Counselor Education Specialization
Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling: Total 108 credit hours
108 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree or 60 hours beyond a master’s degree.
- Master’s Degree 48 credit hours or higher
- Counseling Doctoral core 33 credit hours
- Research/Stats core 9 credit hours
- Dissertation 15 credit hours
- Supporting courses for a cognate area 3 credit hours
Performance Requirements for all Doctoral Counseling Students
Retention decisions at all levels require demonstration of consistently high academic and clinical performance. These requirements are in accordance with the Annual Evaluation of Student Progress policies and procedures (see the Counseling Student Handbook), as well as those set forth in the Graduate Catalog. A student’s character, personal, and professional behavior is evaluated during the course of the program. Students must demonstrate qualities of good character consistent with the program’s mission and policies, the ethical guidelines of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP).
All students in the doctoral program must successfully complete a trial term of coursework and the preliminary written examination followed by an oral interview with members of the program faculty to continue or gain full admission (see doctoral program retention policy). The retention sequence is defined as the first 12 hours of all non-cognate coursework within a counseling program of study. A rating of acceptable or higher on semester evaluations of student progress, including grades of B or higher in all course work, (overall GPA must maintain 3.5 or higher throughout the program of study) is required for retention in the program. Once this retention requirement is met, students are retained under the Guidelines of the Annual Student Evaluation Process.
Note
Doctoral students in consultation with their advisor, design a Professional Prospectus prior to Oral Preliminary Exams. The Professional Prospectus reflects each student’s intentional plan to engage in professional development opportunities throughout the doctoral program.
Ph.D. students must complete two academic years in-residence or full-time registration. Residency includes a period of continuous full time engagement on campus. In addition to course work, students actively participate with the faculty in teaching and research. Through the prospectus, students, along with their advisor, construct a plan for meeting residency requirements and related activities, as well as the program of study. The faculty approves the prospectus as part of the preliminary examination. The prospectus is included in the student’s portfolio which is assessed as a part of the comprehensive examination process.
Successful passage of the trial-term coursework, the preliminary examination process, and the maintenance of a grade point average of 3.5 or above allow students to continue full admission.
Students may then select an advisory committee, file a program of study, and begin working on the proposal for dissertation research with their advisor.
Each doctoral student is required to take a comprehensive written examination before admission to final candidacy for the doctoral degree. Students must achieve final candidacy prior to defending the dissertation proposal.
If students have not completed the dissertation during the semesters in which they have registered for the required 15 hours, they must continue to register for additional dissertation credit hours if they are actively working on their research and seeking advisement.
Passing a final oral examination on the dissertation marks successful completion of the dissertation. The examination committee consists of the advisory committee previously selected by the student and includes one member from outside the School of Education, while at minimum 2 members must be Counselor Education program faculty with the chair of the dissertation being Counselor Education program faculty.
Counseling Core course work (Ph.D.): 33 hours
One of the following courses:
Dissertation: 15 credit hours
Research and statistics course work: 9 credit hours required
Note
The student must complete all courses in the core with a grade of “B” or better.
Students are also required to take an additional three credits of COUN or non-COUN courses to form a cognate area.
The student may retake two courses and must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. In addition to this core curriculum, the student is required to complete a nine credit hour cognate area of specialization.
Student Learning Outcomes (Ed.S. and Ph.D.)
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the eight core common areas designated by the program’s accreditation body (CACREP), as well as the knowledge areas specific to doctoral specialization.
- Students will demonstrate competent skills as an entry-level professional counselor in the supervised internship (i.e., either a clinical mental health or school) setting.
- Students will demonstrate professional attitudes becoming of a professional counselor.
Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification
The University of South Dakota as of July 1, 2020, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE at 605.658.6152 or by email at cde@usd.edu. USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.
If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage below.
Information about State Authorization & Professional Licensure
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