Welcome. Very sincerely, Dr. Catherine B. Roland, LPC, NCC. President-Elect, American Counseling Association

Transcription

1 Welcome We are truly excited about the start of a new school year and the fact that you chose us to further your future academic endeavors! The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program (CMHC) is designed to equip you with the tools to become a professional counselor. The CMHC program is staffed by world renowned professional faculty who are leaders in their field. The CMHC program is a 60 credit master s program (M.A.) typically completed within years with the inclusion of summer enrollment. Graduates of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program on DC campus of TCSPP, go on to become licensed professional counselors, doctoral students, college student advisors, or a host of other professions this degree will afford! The 60-credit MA program is designed to allow a graduate to apply to any state for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in general, as well as a National Certified Counselor. And the beauty of it is that with a MA degree, our graduates, once licensed, work as fully vetted counseling professionals. This letter provides you with introductory information specific to the registration process for the CMHC M.A. Program and to help you begin academic preparation for the Fall Semester. On behalf of the entire counseling department faculty and staff, we welcome you to the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington DC campus - and most importantly to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program! Very sincerely, Dr. Catherine B. Roland, LPC, NCC President-Elect, American Counseling Association Professor and Chair, Department of Counselor Education and Director/PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision croland@thechicagoschool.edu

2 We will be hosting a New Student Orientation on August 24, The activities scheduled during New Student Orientation 2016 will introduce you to key faculty and staff, as well as informational resources, policies and expectations, both institutional and departmental. You will also have an opportunity to meet and socialize with your fellow students and program faculty. Additional information will be given to you when you arrive at Orientation. You will find very important information regarding Registration, and Foundations for Scholarship and Practice. Please read carefully so that your registration experience is as smooth as possible. I would encourage you to call or with any questions you may have. You are also welcome to come to campus to meet with me by scheduling an appointment. The Counseling Department always strives for excellence; therefore, during the course of your studies at The Chicago School, your feedback is welcome. I look forward to meeting you at orientation or before, and getting to know you during the year ahead. Best wishes for an enjoyable and productive fall semester. The faculty and I are delighted that you have joined us. This experience is one that will shape your professional life, and indeed impact all of your life. I have every confidence that you will have a productive, successful, and exciting experience here. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Important Registration Information 1. For Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students,, the program code prefix for your course numbers is CM You must always register for CM courses only. 2. The section number designates the campus. You must register for courses at the location to which you have been accepted. Washington DC course sections are designated via single letters (e.g., CM 605 A, CM 610B, etc.) WASHINGTON, DC CAMPUS

3 Fall 2016 Each of you will receive a faculty advisor to assist you in your journey and ensure that you meet your programmatic goals. The following is a list of first year courses that should be taken within the first three semesters of your program. Please note that all of your courses begin with the course letters CM You must always register for CM courses only. This is a 60-credit program. CM 528 Helping Relationships & Skill Development in Counseling CM 507 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy CM 500 Introduction to the Counseling Profession and Ethics CM 521 Lifespan Development CM 550 Diversity and Multiculturalism CM 543 Group theories and Processes of Counseling CM 598 Psychopathology CM 536 Couples and Family Counseling Full-Time Students: For financial aid purposes students must be registered for at least 5 credit hours to qualify for full-time financial aid. However, the program has a lock-step curriculum, which means that taking anything less than the full-time schedule can make timely program completion difficult. Should you ever consider taking less than the required full-time credit load you must seek academic advisement through your Faculty Advisor. Reduced-Load Students: Students must register for at least 3 credit hours in order to maintain eligibility for half-time enrollment status and subsequent financial aid. Should you ever consider taking less than the required credit load you must seek academic advisement through your Faculty Advisor. Enrolling in additional coursework: First year students are not permitted to enroll in additional courses unless they have been awarded transfer/waiver credit for required first year courses. Your curriculum has been carefully planned, keeping in mind such issues as course sequences and prerequisites, work load and time management, requirements for practicum training and financial aid. Transfer or Waiver of Class: Graduate classes that duplicate TCSPP classes are eligible for consideration for transfer or waiver. Please consult the Student Handbook/Academic Catalog for details on how to submit a packet for transfer/waiver consideration. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM MAY UNDERGO CHANGES AND REVISIONS DURING YOUR COURSE OF STUDY. Changes will be announced by your academic program and you will be informed of any new or different requirements for degree completion. How does registration work? Registration is a first-come, first-registered system. Students registration date will be assigned in eportal. After all students are registered, we have "Open Schedule

4 Modification," a period when anyone can drop or add a course with an open seat. Please note that waiting until the end of the registration day, or waiting until Open Schedule Modification to select your classes, will very likely mean that your course schedule will be inconvenient, and may mean a course section you would like is already full. There is no waitlist option for closed courses. Closed classes are closed, although there may be availability as other students add/drop. As registration patterns become clear, we will create additional or cancel under-enrolled course sections as necessary. Students will be notified via their school when we make such changes. Sometimes we have to rearrange faculty assignments as well to accommodate new courses and sections. Students typically are not notified of instructor changes unless the course is Professional Development Group. The simplest and best registration tip we can offer is this: After your registration is complete, log out of the registration system, log back in, and print a copy of your confirmed schedule. If you registered correctly, your classes will have a status of "Registered" instead of "Selected." By doing this you can confirm that your requested registration was approved. You should save this copy of your schedule. Writing Assessment Process: The Writing Assessment Process created by a team of English experts is intended to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your current writing proficiency. Once you formally enroll at The Chicago School, you will be asked to participate in an online writing assessment that will help gauge your current proficiencies. If our analysis of your essay shows you would benefit from skill-building in writing, you will automatically be registered for the next available offering of our online Academic Writing Course which was designed specifically for graduate students in psychology. Should you have questions about the writing assessment process, reach out to: academicsuccess@thechicagoschool.edu Academic Writing Course: Our one-of-a-kind Academic Writing Course gives you the very rare opportunity to focus specifically and consciously on your academic writing. This course will prepare you to become the most powerful writer you can be both in the classroom and in the world at large. CANVAS: Canvas is The Chicago School s online learning management system. Students will have access to courses in Canvas approximately one month before classes begin as long as registration is complete and once the professor has made the page available. Canvas can be used to post syllabi, host discussion boards, turn in assignments, and much more. To access Canvas, visit Please review the quick start guide, found at to become familiar with Canvas and how it may be used. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR S ON TRAINING ON HOW TO USE CANVAS. Chicago School Once you have submitted your deposit to attend classes at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, your Chicago School will be the primary form of communication used by the school and faculty. It is important to check frequently to ensure you do not miss important updates, information and communications.

5 Registration Preview: June 6, 2016 Registration Begins: June 13, 2016 Orientation: August 24, 2016 Classes Start: August 29, 2016 New Students: , Option 6 Financial Aid: FinAid@thechicagoshcool.edu , Option 1 Student Accounts: studentaccounts@thechicagoschool.edu , Option 2 IT Service Desk Department Chair: Dr. Catherine B. Roland, croland@thechicagoschool.edu Associate Department Chair: Dr. Verna Oliva, voliva@thechicagoschool.edu PLEASE do not hesitate to contact one of the above for registration advising.