THE EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (Ed

THE EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST (Ed.S.) DEGREE IN

COUNSELOR EDUCATION

Revised May, 2013

Counselor Education Program Department of Educational Studies College of Education

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina 29208

(803)-777-3053

Web page: http://www.ed.sc.edu/edst/ce/openpage.asp

USC Motto: “Learning humanizes character and does not permit it to be cruel”.

THE EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST DEGREE (Ed.S.) IN COUNSELOR EDUCATION

College Mission Statement

The University of South Carolina College of Education is a dynamic, nurturing, learning community that supports the growth of aspiring and practicing educators. The College, through purposeful interaction among faculty and students, emphasizes the active construction and application of knowledge, skills, and dispositions to promote educational excellence, equity, and opportunity in the 21st century. We honor our responsibility to contribute to the high achievement of all learners and the development of an educated populace. Pursuant to this responsibility, we are committed to developing and sharing our expertise and leadership as well as offering a forum for educational dialogue and advancement.

The Educational Specialist degree Program in Counselor Education epitomizes the four core values of the College of Education at the University of South Carolina: stewardship, intellectual spirit, integrity, and justice. The program’s foundation is constructed upon dispositions necessary to be a principled and thoughtful counselor, knowledge and content as defined by professional standards, and both objectives as manifested through supervised practice. For elaboration of these concepts and their function in guiding the vision of the College of Education, students are referred to http://www.ed.sc.edu.

This commitment entails:

· Bridging the gap between theory, research and practice to promote excellence in teaching and learning within and across educational contexts;

· Conducting principled, free inquiry from diverse perspectives that promotes quantitative and qualitative scholarship to advance knowledge and educational practice;

· Active partnering with government agencies; K-12 educators, schools and districts, families, professional organizations, and other institutions of higher education and,

· Preparing educators with a sincere understanding and appreciation of diversity as we challenge ourselves and others to work for social justice.

Counselor Education Mission Statement

The students and faculty of the Counselor Education Programs in the Department of Educational Studies in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina are a diverse community of learners collaboratively engaged in scholarship, leadership, service, and advocacy for systemic change.The mission of the Counselor Education Programs is to prepare multiculturally competent counselor educators, marriage and family counselors, and K-12 school counselors.Graduates will demonstrate leadership, skill, knowledge, and character that are reflective of the standards set forth by the counseling profession and their areas of specialization.Students and faculty of the Counselor Education Programs are expected to exemplify the highest ethical and professional standards while engaged in accomplishing this mission.

State of Philosophy

The Counselor Education program is dedicated to the highest standards of professional preparation for entry-level practitioners. Blending the most recent advances in counseling curriculum with supervised clinical experiences, the program’s graduates are seen as highly skilled clinicians and as potential state, regional and national leaders in their areas of specialization.

The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Counselor Education offers specialization programs in K-12 School Counseling (K-12) or Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy (MCFC). The Ed.S. programs acknowledge their dual responsibilities: a) to the students who pursue professional preparation and b) to the public to be served by graduates of this program. We believe that adhering to the highest standards of academic and clinical preparation and of the counseling profession will result in attainment of the programs’ stated goals. To that end, these programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The faculty in the Counselor Education Program is committed to diversity. This diversity is represented in the faculty, students, and the orientation of the curriculum. It is important that the Counselor Education Program retain its excellent representation with ethnic minority communities. In addition to recruitment through direct mail, we encourage ethnic minority applicants by conducting annual visits to historically Black Colleges and Universities in South Carolina. When available, ethnic minority students accompany the faculty on these visits. Prospective students are provided information about the program and our commitment to diversity; the infusion of ethnic minorities issues in our courses; and the availability of ethnically diverse practicum and internship sites. Students are also provided with information about financial aid and the ethnic minority student experience at the University of South Carolina.

The Specialization Programs

School Counseling

The College of Education of the University of South Carolina offers a program of graduate study in Counselor Education with a specialization in School Counseling leading to the Ed.S. Degree

in Counselor Education which is awarded by the Graduate School of the University. Completion of this academic degree program fulfills the certification requirements for endorsement as a K-8 and 7-12 school counselor in South Carolina. Students are advised to speak to the appropriate staff in the Office of Student Affairs (Wardlaw 113) for information about the certification requirements of other states. Be advised that completion of this specialization program does not prepare the graduate for licensure as a MCFC.

Students who are seeking licensure as a professional counselor should realize that completion of this program may satisfy the academic requirements of the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors. Students are advised to contact the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Board for application materials to discuss these requirements with their advisors.

Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy (MCFC)

The College of Education of the University of South Carolina offers a program of graduate study in counselor education with a specialization in MCFC leading to the Ed.S. Degree in Counselor Education, which is awarded by the Graduate School of the University. Completion of this

degree program may fulfill the academic licensure requirements of states, which specify the completion of a graduate degree for licensure. Be advised that completion of this specialization program does not prepare the graduate for endorsement as a school counselor.

Program Objectives

The Ed.S. programs in Counselor Education are designed to prepare practitioners in generic counseling competencies, and especially the knowledge and skills needed for proficiency in school counseling or MCFC. The programs adhere to the standards of professional preparation as outlined by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, 2001). Specifically, student development through the program integrates knowledge and skill in eight areas: a) Human Growth and Development, b) Social and Cultural Foundations, c) Helping Relationships, d) Group Work, e) Lifestyle and Career Development, f) Appraisal, g) Research, and h) Professional Orientation. This academic work is supported by two clinical experiences: the 150-hour counseling practicum and the 600-hour counseling internship. Ongoing program revision will ensure compliance with the newly published CACREP standards.

Admission to the Counselor Education Program

The Counselor Education Program recommends students for admission once a year. All materials must be received by December 1.

1. Apply to the Graduate School (www.gradschool.sc.edu)

2. Provide evidence of the admissions criteria listed below:

a. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university b. Official transcripts of all completed college level work

c. Two letters of recommendation as follows:

1. one from a former university instructor, when possible

2. one from a former or present employer

d. Examination scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Verbal and Quantitative sections or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

e. Letter of Intent stating the student’s desire to enter the degree program

and outlining his/her long-term professional goals and estimated length of time to complete a program of study

f. Current resume

3. Upon completion of the admissions criteria, the file is reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and the student may be invited for an admission interview with the Counselor Education faculty. This interview is a required component of the application process and serves to assess personal characteristics deemed necessary for successful performance in the field of counseling. Given the limited number of possible admissions, an unsatisfactory student performance on the interview is cause for denial of admission regardless of other criteria. The admission interview may be granted, once all criteria in

1 and 2 above are met.

4. Upon acceptance, a student will meet with an assigned advisor to develop a program of study which must be signed and submitted to the Graduate School.

Note: Exceptions for admission may be made in special cases if sufficient evidence is presented to warrant consideration. In such cases, the applicant must submit a letter of petition, accompanied by supporting evidence to the Petitions Committee of Counselor Education who will review the petition and make the necessary decision. The Committee may require an interview, additional testing, remedial work and/or specific course work prior to an admission recommendation. A committee report for each case will be

included in the applicant’s application folder and will document the reasons for denial or

for exceptions made.

5. If denied admission, a student may meet with a member of the appropriate counseling faculty to explore the options available.

6. Following admission to the program, the student must complete all requirements for the degree within a six-year period. After the individual’s admission to the program, courses completed more than six years prior to the awarding of the degree must be revalidated by examination or repetition of the course. Comprehensive evaluations must be completed no earlier than 2 years prior to the semester of graduation.

Orientation Meeting

During the semester of admission to the Ed.S. degree, newly admitted students will be required to attend an orientation meeting. Program requirements will be presented, as well as an introduction to faculty and the Counselor Education programs. After the meeting, students can meet with their faculty advisor to discuss individual programs of study and have any questions regarding the program answered.

Advising

Each student admitted to the Ed.S. Program in Counselor Education will be assigned an academic advisor. That professor will help plan the content and schedule of the program of study, and should be consulted on all other program-related matters. Plan to meet with your advisor within your first semester of study. Advisors must sign your Program of Study, changes to that program, your application for practicum, and your application for comprehensive examinations.

Student Retention

In addition to meeting the academic standards set forth in the Counseling Program, students are expected conduct themselves in an ethical, responsible and professional manner. They must be knowledgeable of and at all times adhere to the general standards of professional ethics and practice set forth by the American Counseling Association (ACA) as well as the additional standards set forth for counseling practice in specific settings (e.g., the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, American School Counselors Association, etc.). The general and specific ACA standards for ethical practice are listed on the ACA web site at http://www.counseling.org. At the onset of their academic program, students are directed to review these standards and seek any clarification needed from their respective advisors.

As future professional counselors, the faculty expects students to be concerned about other people, to be stable and psychologically well adjusted (personally and professionally), to be capable of effective interpersonal relationships, to be able to receive feedback willingly, and to give feedback constructively. Further, students are expected to behave generally in a manner that demonstrates fitness for a role in the counseling profession. Finally, we expect students to be committed to continued personal growth and professional development and to demonstrate that commitment through self-reflection and responsiveness to supervision in all activities related to their degree program. The faculty believes that it is ethically imperative that counselors be willing to do in their own lives what they ask their clients to do in theirs.

For all the reasons cited above, the faculty will regularly monitor not only students' academic progress but also selected personal characteristics that will affect their performance in the field. The purpose of this monitoring process is to ensure that all graduates of the University of South Carolina Counselor Education Program possess those characteristics sufficiently that they do not impede their professionalism or helping capacity. The complete retention and remediation document is found on the Counselor Education’s website at http://www.ed.sc.edu/edst/ce/pdf/Student%20Professional%20Review%20Process.pdf.

The Professional Performance Standards:

Students' fulfillment of ten Professional Performance Standards is reviewed by individual faculty during each class and at the conclusion of the fall semester by the combined Counseling faculty. The Standards include:

1. Openness to new ideas

2. Flexibility

3. Cooperativeness with others

4. Willingness to accept and use feedback

5. Awareness of own impact on others

6. Ability to deal with conflict

7. Ability to accept personal responsibility

8. Ability to express feelings effectively and appropriately

9. Attention to ethical and legal considerations

10. Initiative and motivation

Academic Suspension Policy

Graduate students whose cumulative grade point average drops below 3.00 (B) will be placed on academic probation and allowed one calendar year in which to raise the grade point average to at least 3.00. Students who do not reach a cumulative 3.00 grade point average during the grace period will not be permitted to enroll for further graduate course work in that degree program. This academic suspension policy applies to all students, including non-degree seeking students.

Colleges and departments may impose more stringent requirements than The Graduate School’s academic suspension policy. Students should consult their advisors to ensure familiarity with departmental regulations.

Appeals for Reinstatement

Appeals for reinstatement from students who have been suspended should be reviewed first by the department and/or college and then forwarded to the dean of The Graduate School for review by the Graduate Council.