How To Become A Counselor

Transcription

1 Master of Arts in Counseling: Counseling Department of Counseling, College of Education Vision Statement The purpose of the Counseling Department is to prepare a diverse student population at the master s degree level for professional service as school counselors, clinical mental health counselors, student affairs professionals, and/or for advanced study. Graduates of the program are prepared to function professionally within their area(s) of concentration. As dedicated practitioners, reflective scholars, and responsible citizens, our graduates are prepared to fill the need for highly trained professionals. Graduates are trained to support the broad range of counseling needs of the metropolitan community including individual, couples, and family and group counseling. Program Contact Information: Dr. Paul Barnes, Graduate Program Chair (GPC) Roskens Hall pbarnes@unomaha.edu Program Website Application Deadlines: Fall: March 1 Spring: October 1 Summer: March 1 Application Requirements: Online Application One official copy of transcripts for ALL institutions previously attended Application Fee If English is not the language of nurture, official test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exam are required o 500 on the written TOEFL o 173 on the computer-based TOEFL o 61 on the internet-based TOEFL o 5.5 on the IELTS o 44 on the PTE Minimum GPA of at least 3.0 in undergraduate courses related to proposed major Program-Specific Requirements: Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogy Test(MAT) o May be waived if an advanced degree has been completed Three (3)Letters of Recommendation o From persons who can speak for the candidate s professional competence and academic ability

2 Applicants must have completed a minimum of 15 undergraduate or graduate hours in behavioral science, not including counseling courses. Completion of a personality inventory Group interview results Writing sample, if not completed as part of the GRE Master of Arts in Counseling [MA-COUN Degree Requirements] MA-COUN Concentrations: Students must select an area of concentration. Community Counseling Concentration (48 hours) (must have been admitted Fall 2012 or before) Community Counseling Concentration Required Courses (39 hours): COUN 8020 Introduction to Counseling (1) COUN 8110 Human Development, Psychosocial Intervention (3) COUN 8040 Professional & Ethical Issues for Counselors (3) COUN 8226 Career Development & Lifestyle (3) COUN 8230 Appraisal Techniques (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Counseling (1) COUN 8370 Group Theory and Practice (2) COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8406 Counseling Techniques III (1) COUN 8520 Counseling Multi-Cultural & Diverse Populations (3) COUN 8500 Counseling and Consulting for Special Concerns (2) COUN 8610 Marriage and Family Counseling (3) COUN 8920 Diagnostic and Clinical Treatment Planning (3) Note: COUN 8280 Crisis Intervention Strategies (3) can be taken in lieu of COUN 8306, Community Counseling Clinical Experience Courses (9 hours): COUN 8220 Counseling Practicum (3) COUN 8250 Internship I Community Counseling (3) COUN 8260 Internship II Community Counseling (3) Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration (60 hours) (effective Spring 2013**) Required Courses (60 hours): COUN 8020 Introduction to Counseling (1) COUN 8110 Human Development, Psychosocial Intervention (3) COUN 8040 Professional & Ethical Issues for Counselors (3)

3 COUN 8226 Career Development & Lifestyle (3) COUN 8230 Appraisal Techniques (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Counseling (1) COUN 8370 Group Theory and Practice (2) COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8406 Counseling Techniques III (1) COUN 8520 Counseling Multi-Cultural & Diverse Populations (3) COUN 8500 Counseling and Consulting for Special Concerns (2) COUN 8610 Marriage and Family Counseling (3) COUN 8920 Diagnostic and Clinical Treatment Planning (3) COUN 8280 Crisis Intervention (3) COUN/SOWK 8516 Treatment Issues in Chemical Dependency (3) COUN/SOWK 8686 Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Alcohol/Drug Use and Addiction (3) COUN/SOWK 8696 Assessment and Case Management in Substance Abuse (3) COUN 8220 Counseling Practicum (3) COUN 8250 Internship I Community Counseling (3) COUN 8260 Internship II - Community Counseling (3) **The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is currently accredited under the CACREP 2001 standards as a Community Counseling program through March 31, The CACREP 2009 standards combine the Community Counseling and Mental Health Counseling standards into standards for Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs. The UNO Counseling Department will apply to continue accreditation for this program as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program when it comes up for re-accreditation in 2016, per CACREP guidelines. K-12 Counseling Concentration (48 hours) Required K-12 Counseling Concentration (48 hours): COUN 8040 Professional and Ethical Issues (3) COUN 8050 Introduction to Professional School Counseling (1) COUN 8110 Human Development and Psycho-Social Intervention Strategies (3) COUN 8210 Organization and Administration of Guidance Services (3) COUN 8226 Career Development and Lifestyle (3) COUN 8230 Appraisal Techniques (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Guidance (1) COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8330 Practicum for School Counselors (3) COUN 8406 Counseling Techniques III (1) COUN 8430 Internship in School Counseling (3) COUN 8460 Advanced Internship in School Counseling (3) COUN 8520 Counseling with Multicultural and Diverse Populations (3) COUN 8620 Survey Issues in Secondary School Counseling (2) COUN 8650 Issues in Elementary/Middle School Counseling (3)

4 COUN 8750 Group Counseling in the Schools (2) Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education-Professional Practices Concentration (48 hours) (must have been admitted Fall 2012 or earlier) Required Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education-Professional Practices (48 hours): COUN 8020 Introduction to Counseling (1) COUN 8040 Professional and Ethical Issues (3) COUN 8100 Research Project (2) COUN 8110 Human Development (3) COUN 8150 The Student and Personnel Work in Higher Education (3) COUN 8226 Career Development & Lifestyle (3) COUN 8230 Appraisal Techniques (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Guidance (1) COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8370 Group Counseling: Theory & Practice (2) COUN 8406 Counseling Techniques III (1) COUN 8450 College Student Personnel Internship (6) COUN 8520 Counseling with Multicultural and Diverse Population (3) Selected Cognate Courses (6): o These courses are selected in consultation with the student's particular background and interests; i.e., admissions and registration, career counseling, placement and financial aid, student services (counseling, testing, students with special needs, etc.), housing and student union activities. Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education-College Counseling Concentration (51 hours) (must have been admitted fall 2012 or earlier) Required Courses (51 hours): COUN 8020 Introduction to Counseling (1) COUN 8040 Professional and Ethical Issues (3) COUN 8100 Research Project (2) COUN 8110 Human Development (3) COUN 8150 The Student and Personnel Work in Higher Education (3) COUN 8220 Counseling Practicum (3) COUN 8226 Career Development & Lifestyle (3) COUN 8230 Appraisal Techniques (3) COUN 8250 Internship I - Community Counseling (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Guidance (1)

5 COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8370 Group Counseling: Theory & Practice (2) COUN 8406 Counseling Techniques III (1) COUN 8450 College Student Personnel Internship (3) COUN 8520 Counseling with Multicultural and Diverse Populations (3) Selected Cognate Courses (6) o This concentration requires students to take COUN 8920 and COUN 8610 to meet prerequisite requirements for Beginning Practicum- COUN Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education Concentration (36 hours) (effective Spring 2013) Required Courses (36 hours): COUN 8020 Introduction to Counseling (1) COUN 8040 Professional & Ethical Issues for Counselors (3) COUN 8110 Human Development, Psychosocial Intervention (3) COUN 8150 Student and Personnel Work In Higher Education (3) COUN 8226 Career Development & Lifestyle (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Counseling (1) COUN 8370 Group Counseling: Theory and Practice (2) COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8450 College Student Personnel Internship (6) COUN 8520 Counseling Multi-Cultural & Diverse Populations (3) Gerontology Concentration (52-58 hours)*completing this area of concentration does not lead you to the completion of the graduate certificate in Gerontology. If you wish to complete the graduate certificate in Gerontology you will need to complete an on-line graduate application and submit the required documents necessary for the program. Required Courses (28 hours): COUN 8020 Introduction to Counseling (1) COUN 8040 Professional and Ethical Issues (3) COUN 8226 Career Development and Lifestyle (3) COUN 8230 Appraisal Techniques (3) COUN 8270 Group Techniques in Guidance (1) COUN 8306 Counseling Techniques I (1) COUN 8370 Group Theory and Practice (2) COUN 8406 Counseling Techniques III (1)

6 COUN 8520 Counseling Multicultural and Diverse Populations (3) Gerontology (9-15 hours): 9-15 graduate hours in gerontology are required except in some instances where a candidate has had undergraduate hours in gerontology. These courses are selected with the major adviser's assistance and in collaboration with the gerontology program. Practicum and Internship (9 hours): Practicum and Internship are arranged in cooperation with the gerontology program to meet both the counseling department and the gerontology program requirements for practica and field experience. MA-COUN Exit Requirements: COUN 8990 Thesis (6) o All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the Supervisory Committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval Forms and final approval and submission of a thesis. PSYC 8446 Abnormal Psychology (3) o Note: All graduate students must take an abnormal psychology course (3 hours), either at the graduate or the undergraduate level, prior to graduation. Check with the state where you are anticipating practice to note if the course needs to be graduate-level or if undergraduate is acceptable for credential/licensure requirements. This course does NOT count as part of the 48-hour degree program requirement. MA-COUN Total: Community Counseling Concentration: 54 hours Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration: 66 hours K-12 Counseling Concentration: 54 hours Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education-Professional Practices Concentration: 54 hours Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education-College Counseling Concentration: 57 hours Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education Concentration: 42 hours Gerontology Concentration: hours MA-COUN-Other Program-Related Information: Note: Earning a graduate degree in counseling does not satisfy all requirements placed on individuals who wish to practice counseling. Although the University may issue a degree in counseling, the graduate must satisfy requirements of the appropriate credentialing body. For example, the Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) or School Counselor endorsement are issued after meeting the requirements of Nebraska s Department of Health and Human Services or the Nebraska Department of Education respectively. In Nebraska, the School Counseling endorsement requires a valid teaching certificate and a minimum of two years full-time successful teaching experience. Successful completion of an internship and the comprehensive exam are requirements for graduation. Graduates are recommended only for positions consistent with the concentration they completed.

7 Candidates are admitted and permitted to continue programs in counseling on the basis of their potential for successful training and professional practice. Candidates are evaluated with respect to their suitability for continuation in the program prior to taking the Counseling Practicum or Internship courses. Specific course and grade requirements to take Practicum courses are available in the Counseling Department office. The K-12 School and Community concentrations are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the national accrediting agency for Counselor Education programs. Ethical Conduct: It should be understood that academic performance is not the only criterion for continuation in the program or for graduation. Candidates are expected to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct pertaining to academic course work, professional practice and research activity. Any breach in ethical conduct shall be subject to disciplinary action, regardless of the candidate's prior or current academic performance. See the "American Counseling Association Code of Ethics" for specific guidelines.