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2015-2016
University of Connecticut School Counseling Program Handbook
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction3
Important Websites3
Important Dates…………………………….…………………………...…………………6
Program Course of Study…………………………….……………………………………8
Certification…………..………………………………………………….………………12
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Introduction
Welcome to your University of Connecticut School Counseling Master of Arts (MA) Program. Faculty members are excited you’re here and look forward to being an integral part of your development from graduate student-to-Connecticut Certified Professional School Counselor. The purpose of this Handbook is to access information you need for navigating the particulars necessary for a timely and successful program of study. Additionally, it will serve as a reference point for communicating with your advisor about your program of study.
This handbook is structured around the three entities that set the requirements that your program of study is based upon. These entities are: The University of Connecticut, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and the State of Connecticut. Below is a brief account of how and where each of these entities plays a role in your program of study. A more detailed account of each will be provided later in the handbook.
First,the Graduate School facilitates The University of Connecticut’s requirements for master’s degree. The Graduate School has two requirements for graduation that are important to you as you begin and proceed through the School Counseling Program toward earning your Master of Arts degree:
- Master’s Plan of Study
- Report on the Final Examination for the Master’s Degree
APPLY FOR APPLICATION: In addition to the two forms mentioned above, if you plan to participate in the graduation ceremony, you’ll need to apply for graduation – THE SEMESTER PRIOR TO YOUR GRADUATION. Please find all the information needed to apply for graduation on the following link:
Second, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the national professional organization that accredits counseling and related educational program in colleges and universities through out the United States. Its primary purpose is to ensure the public that professionals from programs that it accredits have gone through a rigorous and up to date program of study. The courses that you’ll be taking are based on certain core content and student outcome standards set by CACREP. Additionally, the comprehensive examination that you’ll take toward the end of your course sequence is developed by CACREP.
Third, the State of Connecticut certifies all Connecticut state K-12 public school personnel including school counselors. By successfully completing the program of study in the UCONN School Counseling Program and then submitting application to the State of Connecticut, you’ll be awarded Connecticut State Certification in School Counseling.
Important Website:
Graduate School (homepage)
Current Students – this tab provides valuable information for getting started in your program of study as well information you’ll need along the way to your graduation. You can browse to become familiar with as many as you choose. For example, there are various guidelines around signing up for classes that are a must for a smooth transition now as well as each new enrolling semester.
Registration --
Electronic Notification And Enrollment
Change Of Passwords Or Forgotten Passwords
Times For Enrollment
Consequences Of Failure To Register
Financial Aid Connection
Auditing A Course
Continuous Registration
Masters Degree Program--
Under this tab you’ll see information pertaining to what was briefly discussed above regarding the two requirements from the Graduate School you’ll need to complete for graduation. You’ll notice a third requirement referred to as “Thesis Submission Checklist (for Plan A students only). Your program of study is Plan B – no thesis., therefore you only have to complete the two requirements; (1) Master’s Plan of Study and (2) Report on the Final Examination for the Master’s Degree.
Forms--
Forms For Enrolled Master’s Students
- Plan of Study for the Master’s Degree
- Students are responsible for obtaining and completing this form – in consultation with your advisor. Once the form is complete all members of your Advisory Committee must sign it. The Advisory Committee is made up of your major advisor and two other faculty members (of your choosing) of the School Counseling Program. Any questions about establishing your Advisory Committee please speak with your major advisor.
- Report on the Final Examination for the Master’s Degree
- The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) is the final examination for the UCONN School Counseling Program. Faculty will complete this form and submit it to the Graduate School.
Forms For All Enrolled Graduate Students
There are many forms under this tab and a few that students have regularly used are listed below. Please review all other forms so that you are aware of where and how to access them if needed.
- Request for Changes in Plan of Study
- Once you complete and submit your Plan of Study and you happen to take a course or two that is not on your plan of study, you can obtain this form and submit it to the Graduate School
- Notification of Change of Social Security Number
- Independent Study
- Schedule Revision Request (Add/Drop Card)
Important Dates:
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE)
The CPCE will be administered on the UCONN campus in the Neag School of Education Thursday April 14th 9:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. Dr. Colbert will be contacting students between the first fall semester and spring 2016 with more specific information on the upcoming CPCE.
The National Counselor Examination (NCE)
The NCE will be administered Saturday April 16, 2016. If you haven’t been contacted by Dr. Colbert, please do so asap so that your name can be added to the roster.
Transitional Statement --- Okay, now that you have an overview of the what makes your Program work regarding major requirements, important website to help you from semester to semester, we’ll now venture into a more detailed account of the Graduate School Requirements, the CACREP accreditation based curriculum, and Connecticut State School Counselor Certification.
The Graduate School Requirements:
The Graduate School facilitates The University of Connecticut’s requirements for master’s degree. The Graduate School has two requirements for graduation that are important to you as you begin and proceed through the School Counseling Program toward earning your Master of Arts degree:
- Master’s Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a list of all courses you intend to take in order to complete your MA degree. The form can be accessed on from the Graduate School website, and has been listed above under important websites and again here for your convenience.
The Counseling Program faculty members are assigned an advisee for the incoming year cohort at the time of acceptance into the program. Once you’ve have completed 6-12 credit hours you’re advised to meet again with your major advisor and write a formal Plan of Study. The Plan of Study does not have to be submitted to the Graduate School until the beginning of your last semester. However, you may submit your Plan of Study as soon as its completed and signed by your Advisory Committee (your major advisor and two other Counseling Program faculty members). Let’s say that you’ve completed and submitted your Plan of Study and then decide to take a course not listed on your Plan. This is not a problem, recall, the Plan of Study is a listing of the courses that you intend to take. If your actual course work varies from what you’ve listed on your Plan of Study, in consultation with your major advisor, you can complete and submit a Request for Changes in Plan of Study Form to the Graduate School.
The changes in Plan of Study cannot vary too far from the agreed upon Curriculum/Course of Study between UCONN/Graduate School and the School Counseling Program. As you’ll see below the Program Curriculum or Program of Study is very specific and based on criteria set by our accrediting body – CACREP. Changes in plan of study usually have to do with courses transferred from another university (limit of 6 credit hours) that meet the requirements for certain Program courses. Additionally, many of our Program students choose to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE), which is a necessary step in becoming a Nationally Certified Counselor as well as to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). To qualify for National Certification and the LPC students must complete 60 credit hours in their Masters degree program of study. Thus, courses beyond the minimum 51 credits needed to graduate in the School Counseling MA Program can be of your own choosing and sometimes are the subject of a request for changes in program of study.
- Report on the Final Examination for the Master’s Degree
The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) is the final examination for the UCONN School Counseling Program. Faculty will complete this form and submit it to the Graduate School.
Program Course of Study (Curriculum)
The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the national professional organization that accredits counseling and related educational program in colleges and universities through out the United States. Its primary purpose is to ensure the public that professionals from programs that it accredits have gone through a rigorous and up to date program of study. The courses that you’ll be taking are based on certain core content and student outcome standards set by CACREP.
The Counseling Program recently submitted its Self-Study for re-accreditation. The Annual Program Evaluation was also submitted with our accreditation self-study and can be accessed through the following for an indication of how your Program assesses efforts toward meeting the aforementioned CACREP standards.
The school counseling program's emphasis is comprised of a minimum of two (2) full academic years, defined as four (4) semesters of approved graduate-level study with a minimum of 51 semester hours credits required of all students.
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2015-2016 UCONN School CounselingProgram Course of Study
Two Year Program
Fall 1
EPSY 5307 Professional Orientation for School Counselors
EPSY 5308 Counseling Theory and Practice
EPSY 5316 Cross-Cultural Counseling
EPSY 5318 Human Development Over the Lifespan
EPSY 5317 Fieldwork in School Counseling (Practicum)
Spring 1
EPSY 5304 School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation
EPSY 5301 Group Counseling Process
EPSY 5315 Counseling: Advanced Practice
EPSY 5306 Principles of Career Development
EPSY 5317 Fieldwork in School Counseling (Practicum)
Summer 1
EPSY 5314 Appraisal Procedures in Counseling
Fall 2
EPSY 5601 Principles and Methods In Educational Research
EPSY 5320 Critical Issues in Counseling
EPSY 5319 School Counseling Internship
EPSY 5195 Post-Secondary Admissions and Readiness
Spring 2
EPSY 5108 Instruction for Students with Special Needs in the Mainstream
EPSY 5319 School Counseling Internship
EPSY 5406 Consultation Theories and Practices
Two and a Half Year Program
Fall 1
EPSY 5307 Professional Orientation for School Counselors
EPSY 5308 Counseling Theory and Practice
EPSY 5316 Cross-Cultural Counseling
EPSY 5318 Human Development Over the Lifespan
EPSY 5092 Practicum
Spring 1
EPSY 5304 School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation
EPSY 5301 Group Counseling Process
EPSY 5315 Counseling: Advanced Practice
EPSY 5306 Principles of Career Development
EPSY 5317 Fieldwork in School Counseling (Practicum)
Summer 1
EPSY 5314 Appraisal Procedures in Counseling
Fall 2
EPSY 5601 Principles and Methods In Educational Research
EPSY 5320 Critical Issues in Counseling
EPSY 5319 School Counseling Internship
EPSY 5195 Post-Secondary Admissions and Readiness
Spring 2
EPSY 5108 Instruction for Students with Special Needs in the Mainstream
EPSY 5319 School Counseling Internship
EPSY 5406 Consultation Theories and Practices
Summer 2
EPSY 5314 Appraisal Procedures in Counseling (If not taken in Summer 1)
Fall 2
EPSY 5319 School Counseling Internship
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Three Year Program (Part-Time Students)
Fall 1
EPSY 5307 Professional Orientation for School Counselors
EPSY 5308 Counseling Theory and Practice
EPSY 5316 Cross-Cultural Counseling
EPSY 5318 Human Development Over the Lifespan
EPSY 5092 Practicum
Spring 1
EPSY 5304 School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation
EPSY 5301 Group Processes in Counseling
EPSY 5315 Counseling: Advanced Practice
EPSY 5306 Principles of Career Development in Counseling
Fall 2
EPSY 5601 Principles and Methods in Educational Research
EPSY 5406 Consultation Theories and Practices
EPSY 5320 Critical Issues in Counseling
Spring 2
EPSY 5304 School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation(if not taken in Spring 1)
EPSY 5108 Instruction for Students with Special Needs in the Mainstream
EPSY 5314 Appraisal Procedures in Counseling
EPSY 5317 Fieldwork in School Counseling (Practicum)
Fall 3
EPSY 5319 School Counseling Internship
EPSY 5195 Post-Secondary Admissions and Readiness
Spring 3
EPSY 5319 Internship in School Counseling
Certification in the State of Connecticut
The State of Connecticut certifies all Connecticut state K-12 public school personnel including school counselors. By successfully completing the program of study in the UCONN School Counseling Program and then submitting application to the State of Connecticut, you’ll be awarded Connecticut State Certification in School Counseling. Below are specific guidelines for certification.
Connecticut Statutes Section 10-145d-556 specifies that“to receive the initial educator certificate to serve as a school counselor one must complete a full-time supervised school internship of 10 school months in a school (Pre K through 12) setting unless the individual holds or is eligible to hold an initial educator certificate and has had 30 school months of successful teaching experience”.As such, unless you can fulfill this latter requirement you must complete the 10-month full-time supervised internship in which a typical workweek is between 30 to 32.5 hours. Under Connecticut Statute, those that meet this teaching experience requirement are able to waive the 10-month requirement. However, because our program is CACREP-accredited, even those able to waive Connecticut’s internship requirements must still complete a CACREP required 600-hour internship in a school setting. With rare exceptions such as for those identified above, all students in our program must complete both semesters of the internship to be considered as having graduated from our state approved program.