Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2010 Graduate Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Counseling and Psychology in Education-Counseling (M.A., Ed.S., Ph.D.)


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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, School Counseling, and Substance Abuse 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 2001 standards for Community Counseling. The accreditation runs until March 31, 2016. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization reflects the combined CACREP 2009 standards for the Community Counseling and Mental Health Counseling standards. The counseling program intends to seek accreditation for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program when it comes up for reaccreditation, per CACREP guidelines.

Plan A (thesis): Total 52-64 credit hours


  • Core, counseling specialization, and supporting courses 48-60 credit hours
  • Thesis 4 credit hours

Plan B (non–thesis): Total 48-60 credit hours


  • Core, counseling specialization, and supporting courses 48-60 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).

Before advancing beyond 12 credit hours, all students must successfully complete the Retention Sequence. The Retention Sequence is defined as the first 12 hours of all 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, is required for retention in the program. Once this initial retention requirement is met, students are retained under the Guidelines of the Annual Student Evaluation Process.

Note

At the conclusion of the Retention Sequence, 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).

Counseling Core course work (M.A.):


Required clinical courses: 9 credit hours total (3 hours each)


Note


In addition to the above core requirements, there are specialty courses required in each of the three program specializations (school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and substance abuse counseling).

Required clinical courses must be completed with no less than a “B” in each course.

Counseling Specialty course work (M.A. School Counseling Specialization): 9 credit hours


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 (

   or   ). A written examination is required for graduation. 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 9 credit hours of trial course work selected with and approved by their advisor. These initial 9 hours must include

 , if not taken previously. Having completed this trial course work, the student completes a preliminary examination. After successfully passing the initial course work 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 121 credit hours


121 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree or 73 hours beyond a Master’s degree.

  • Master’s Degree 48 credit hours
  • Counseling Doctoral core 39 credit hours
  • Research/Stats core 10 credit hours
  • Dissertation 15 credit hours
  • Supporting courses for a cognate area 9 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 course work 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. COUN 895: Supervision I, COUN 858: Theoretical Approaches to Counseling and a quantitative statistical course must be taken during the first 12 hours in the counseling program. A rating of acceptable or higher on semester evaluations of student progress, including grades of B or higher in all course work, 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 course work, 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.

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.

Counseling Core course work (Ph.D.): 39 hours


Dissertation: 15 credit hours


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 9 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 9-hour cognate area of specialization.

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