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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog
School Counseling, MS
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 Return to: Graduate Degree Programs
Graduate Coordinator: Shirlene Coopwood Email: sdsmith@ncat.edu Phone: (336) 285-4397
Department Chair: Caroline Booth Email: csbooth@ncat.edu Phone: (336) 334-7916
The School Counseling program is designed for individuals seeking a professional career in elementary or secondary school counseling. The School Counseling program is a flexible and high-quality evening program which offers students the opportunity to create an individualized rate of matriculation in either part-time or full-time enrollment. The School Counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Curricular experiences encompasses each of CACREP’s eight core areas of professional counseling which include Professional Identity, Social and Cultural Diversity, Human Growth and Development, Career Development, Helping Relationships, Group Work, Assessment, and Research and Program Evaluation.
Certification and Licensure
Students are prepared to take the PRAXIS II Specialty test in Professional School Counseling and the National Counseling Examination (NCE) of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) which is administered twice annually at NC A&T. Students who pass the NCE prior to graduation are recognized as board eligible by NBCC. Students are eligible to apply for licensure as a licensed school counselor through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction upon completion of the program. As counseling licensure laws vary by state, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in their intended state of practice.
Completing this master’s degree and obtaining a teaching license are separate processes. Applicants and current students should visit the Department of Educator Preparation website to review admission and licensure information or visit the College of Education for guidance on specific requirements.
Additional Admission Requirements
- Statement of purpose: Describe career goals, including clinical/research interests, professional and volunteer experience relevant to intended program of study and future counseling career goals.
- Three professional letters of recommendation from persons who know the applicant in either an academic or supervisory capacity. Letters from family members, acquaintances, and friends are not acceptable.
- A current resume or curriculum vita
- Interview: After initial review of all applications, the applicants with greatest potential are also expected to participate in a pre-admission interview with the Counseling faculty.
Program Outcomes
- Critical Thinking: Students will develop skills and attitudes of effective thinking that employ the use of thoughtful reflection and logical inquiry to draw evidence-based conclusions as they relate to school counseling.
- Oral Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate proficiency in communicating in individual dyads and small and large group settings including culturally sensitive and inclusive language.
- Written Communication: Students will demonstrate proficiency in their original written work and all academic and scientific writing. This includes accurate implementation of APA formatting, consistent use of tenses, using the active voice and appropriate citation of sources.
- Cultural Self-Awareness and Sensitivity: Students will demonstrate awareness of self, including knowledge of macro, micro and meso ecological systems.
- Cultural Humility: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues and trends in a multicultural society.
- Counseling Practice: Students will demonstrate an understanding of counseling practice including relevant theories, techniques and evidence-based practices, including advocacy.
- Ethical Practice: Students will demonstrate understanding and application of relevant professional ethical standards.
- Professionalism: Students will demonstrate professional maturity, integrity and discipline consistent with professional standards of practice for school counseling.
- Research and Design: Students will demonstrate proficiency in designing quantitative, qualitative, single case designs, action, and outcome-based research, as well as program evaluation. Students will understand ethics surrounding Human Subjects Social and Behavioral Science research procedures and Responsible Conduct in Research.
- Research Evaluation: Students will demonstrate proficiency in evaluating empirical and non- empirical research including how to conduct reviews of the professional literature to inform both research and practice. Students will also apply research to field experiences and clinical practice and demonstrate the ability to conduct program evaluations.
- Statistics: Students will demonstrate proficiency in basic statistical methods including scales of measurement, measures of central tendency, indices of variability, shapes and type of distributions, correlations, reliability and validity. Students will apply supportive software packages (e.g., MS Excel, SPSS).
- Technological Competence: Students will demonstrate proficiency in implementing best technology practices relevant to school counseling.
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Electives:
Select 12 credit hours with approval of advisor
Comprehensive Exam - Pass
The CPCE examination is a standardized test developed by the Center for Credentialing in Education (CCE) of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and is the required test for all counseling master’s students. Upon completion of all required curriculum courses (not including electives), students will apply to take the Comprehensive Examination. Students must complete and submit the Application for Comprehensive Exam form and be cleared by their advisor in the semester in which they intend to take the exam.
- Students may take the Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) no more than twice and must pass the Comprehensive Examination in order to graduate. Should a student not receive a passing score on the first attempt, the student must take the examination in a subsequent semester.
A recommendation for academic dismissal will be sent to the Graduate College for any student who fails the CPCE twice.
Practicum and Internships
Internships COUN 785 and COUN 786 involve supervised professional experiences in settings appropriate to the student’s vocational objectives. The internships will provide practical work in the student’s area of specialization. Internships include 600 hours of field experience. Students must complete a minimum of 240 hours of direct services with clients. Each week, students receive one hour of individual supervision from their site supervisors and an average of one and one-half hours group supervision from their university supervisors during seminar. Students in all field experience placements are required to create program-appropriate audio/video recordings and/or participate in live supervision of their interactions with clients for review by their University Supervisor during seminar. Students must purchase professional liability insurance for the duration of all field experiences.
Double Major (School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling - Clinical)
Regulations on pursuing double majors are presented elsewhere in the catalog and must be followed. The student will be required to complete requirements of both programs. The programs require the following unique (minimum 18 credit hour requirements):
Mental Health Counseling - Clinical:
Double Major (School Counseling and Mental Health - Rehabilitation)
Mental Health Counseling - Rehabilitation:
Licensure
The student who has completed all requirements for graduation will also be eligible to apply for state certification/licensure in School Counseling by taking the PRAXIS II Specialty test in School Guidance and Counseling. Students are also eligible to become Nationally Certified Counselors by taking the National Counselor Examination offered by the National Board of Certified Counselors prior to graduation. In addition, the North Carolina Board for Licensed Professional Counselors recognizes this exam as their licensure exam. Student pursuing a licensure in School Counseling must take the PRAXIS II Specialty test in School Guidance and Counseling. Scores needed to pass: Specialty Area Exam (School Guidance and Counseling) 570. For further information consult the PRAXIS Booklet or the School of Education Dean’s Office, 380 Proctor Hall, (336) 334-7757 or visit the PRAXIS II website.
Program Specific Academic Policies
Endorsement
The Department stipulates endorsement for employment or credentialing only in the program area in which a student received training.
Program Academic Eligibility
A student will be required to maintain a cumulative semester GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of every semester irrespective of total attempted hours otherwise the student will be placed on probation for one semester. If the cumulative GPA at the end of the probationary semester remains less than 3.0, the student will be dismissed.
Program Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Practice
As pre-professional counselors, graduate students abide by the code of ethics and standards of practice as described in the Ethical Standards of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), The American Psychological Association, the Student Handbook, the Graduate Catalog, and Department of Human Development and Services Ethical Conduct Policy.
Consequences of violation of the codes of conduct or ethical standards of practice include but are not limited to one or more of the following:
- Dismissal from the program
- Removal from the course or the field placement and a grade of “F” or “U”
- Referral to authorized campus authorities for further discipline.
Program Academic Progression and Retention Standards
The academic progression and retention standards for counselor education programs are in keeping with Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards, along with the standards set forth by the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the Student Handbook, the Graduate Catalog, and Department of Counseling Ethical Conduct Policy.
The Benchmarking Review Process
Once each academic semester a benchmarking review of all enrolled students is conducted. Benchmarking is intended to identify needs for remediation at the student level. All full-time tenured and tenure-track counseling faculty participate in the review process. Part-time faculty members are also invited to attend.
Reviews are conducted using the Department of Counseling Benchmarking Plan and Rubric which focuses on professional disposition and scholarly competence. Each student will subsequently be notified in writing by the Department Chairperson regarding the outcome of the benchmarking review and a copy will be placed in the student’s file. Students who have demonstrated a concern or deficit in one of these areas will be placed on a remediation plan and given one semester to satisfy the requirements of the remediation to improve their deficit area(s). An unsatisfactory resolution at the conclusion of the remediation period will result in dismissal from the program.
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