M-1 SCHOOL COUNSELING MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING & FAMILY THERAPY CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Telephone 860-832-2154 Grow with us.
Dear Applicant: Thank you for your interest in the graduate programs offered by the Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy. The counseling programs at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) prepare students for professional careers in Marriage and Family Therapy, School Counseling, Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling, and Student Development in Higher Education. The Professional Counseling program includes tracks in Mental Health, Rehabilitation, and Addiction Recovery Counseling. In addition to its Master degree programs, the department also offers advanced graduate training through a post-master s program and a certificate program in advanced counseling. All of these programs are briefly described in this booklet. The graduate courses in counseling and family therapy are designed to develop student competence in the application of theory-based counseling and therapy models, to understand the concerns of diverse client populations, to enhance students personal and professional development, and to promote the dignity and welfare of all individuals and families. The practicum and clinical internship provide students with valuable opportunities to apply their skills in a field-based setting under close supervision. Programs are accessible to full and part time students, offering flexible advising hours and classes in the late afternoons and evenings. Once accepted into the Graduate School each student will develop a planned program of study with the assistance of her or his academic advisor. The advisor serves as a guide while the student is in the program. Please note that the admission requirements and application due dates differ for each program. You may find additional information about our programs on the department website at: Sincerely, http://www.ccsu.edu/counselingtherapy/ Connie Tait, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Counselor Education & Family Therapy Henry Barnard Hall, Room 2210000 Revised: January 2014 2
Master of Science Degree Programs School Counseling A 48-51 credit program that prepares students for professional careers as counselors in elementary, middle, and senior high schools. The program meets the certification requirements of the Connecticut State Department of Education, and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). A strong emphasis is placed on a developmental model of school counseling that is reflected in the National Standards for School Counseling of the American School Counseling Association and Connecticut Best Practices in School Counseling. Students must be prepared to commit to both a 100 hour practicum and a 900 hour internship. Coordinator: Connie Tait, Ph.D. 860-832-2401 Marriage and Family Therapy A 51 credit specialization designed to provide students with a solid theoretical background as a foundation for intensive clinical training in systemic approaches to human problems. The program is nationally accredited by AAMFT s Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. The curriculum is designed to meet the academic requirements for Connecticut Licensure for Marital and Family Therapists and AAMFT Clinical Membership. Coordinator: Ralph Cohen, Ph.D., LMFT 860-832-2122 Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling A 60 credit program designed for students interested in the practice of counseling in Rehabilitation Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, or Addiction Recovery Counseling. The program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Counselors assist individuals with emotional, mental, social, and physical challenges in attaining their life goals. This program provides the necessary academic background for students interested in pursuing licensing and a variety of advanced certifications in counseling. Coordinator: Judith Rosenberg, Ph.D., CRC, LPC 860-832-2120 Student Development in Higher Education A 42-45 credit program designed to prepare students to work in a counseling capacity in a variety of higher education settings including student advisement, career counseling, residence life, and student affairs office. Coordinator: Jane Fried, Ph.D., NCC, LPC 860-832-2119 3
Advanced Graduate Study Programs Post-Master s Study Candidates who complete a master s degree in counseling may be able to continue their education at CCSU by applying for admissions to a post-master s program. Once accepted the student and advisor will develop a planned program of study that must consist of a minimum of 30 credits that are completed within a six year period. Post-master s applicants must go through the same admissions process as master s degree applicants. Applicants are accepted in the spring semester. Official Certificate Program in Advanced Counseling The Official Certificate Program in Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling is designed for graduates of Central Connecticut State University Department of Counseling & Family Therapy who already hold a master s degree in counseling of 42 credits or more and are preparing for state licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) through the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. A certificate in advanced graduate work is issued upon completion of a combination of any 12 credits of selected graduate level courses, with a grade of B or better, designated for the program. Applications are accepted in the spring semester. For Admission into the Graduate School Admission Process Submit a graduate school application directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. Arrange to have official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate courses (except CCSU) sent directly by your college or university to the Graduate Admissions Office. Provide additional materials to the Department of Counselor Education & Family Therapy (essay, three letters of recommendations and for those applying to the School Counseling Program a copy of the Praxis I PPST scores). For Admission into the Department of Counseling & Family Therapy Admission requirements differ for the various programs within the Department of Counseling & Family Therapy. The following information describes the different program requirements. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY PROGRAM CCSU Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy Admission Requirements (Effective for Spring Admission, 2012) Admissions to the Master s program in Marriage and Family Therapy are made on a competitive basis two times per year (Fall and Spring). All applications must be received and contain all required materials by May 1 for Fall admission of the following academic year and by December 4
1 with a priority date of November 1 for admission the following Spring semester. Approximately twenty (20) students are accepted per academic semester (Fall and Spring). Successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance in writing by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The admission standard for this program requires a minimum of 2.70 combined undergraduate and previous graduate GPA (of at least a 3.00 for graduate work) based on a 4.00 point scale where A is 4.00. Students with grade point averages between 2.40 and 2.69 may appeal their denials for admission. Conditional admission may be considered on a space-available basis. The decision to admit a student to the MFT program for pre-candidacy status* is based on the candidate's cumulative grade point average (GPA), three recommendations by persons able to judge the candidate s aptitude for success in the profession, and a personal statement as to the candidate s personal background and motivation for entering the MFT field (see below). Each applicant s file will be rank-ordered according to the program s selection criteria. Once candidates have been selected for admission, other qualified applicants (approximately five) will be placed on a waiting list and may be offered admission in the event that a slot opens during the decision period. Application Process Submission to the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Office: 1. Application form and Application fee of $50 submitted on line or to the Office, Barnard 102. 2. Official Transcripts for each course you have taken requested from each attended college and university to be sent directly to Graduate Recruitment and Admissions. (Note: The office does not accept hand-delivered transcripts.) Submission to the Counselor Education & Family Therapy Department (Barnard Hall, Room 221) 1. Three (3) departmental recommendation forms filled out by professional or academic references who are able to attest to the applicant's suitability as a prospective Marriage and Family Therapist. 2. A personal essay regarding the applicant s motivation and readiness to pursue a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions (three to five pages maximum, double-spaced): a. Your personal and professional experiences and reasons that influenced you to pursue the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. b. Your personal characteristics that will contribute to your success as a Marriage and Family Therapist. c. Your attitudes and beliefs regarding the importance of engaging in a therapy experience as part of becoming a marriage and family therapist. *MFT Pre-Candidacy and Degree Candidacy All students who are accepted into the department are initially granted pre-candidacy status and are assigned an academic advisor. The advisor will orient the student regarding prerequisites, course scheduling, potential course transfers and substitutions, and the planned program of study. 5
Pre-candidacy status allows the student to begin taking classes and gives both the program and the student the opportunity to determine if the program is a good fit prior to making a full 3- year commitment. To qualify for Degree Candidacy, students must complete the prerequisite courses (CNSL 500, CNSL 501, and PSY 512) and MFT 541, achieving a grade of B or better in each course and receive favorable ratings on the "Attitudes and Attributes" scale by instructors for CNSL 501 and MFT 541. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN SCHOOL COUNSELING, PROFESSIONAL AND REHABILITATION COUNSELING, AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM Admissions to the School Counseling, Professional Counseling, and Student Development in Higher Education programs are made on a competitive basis only one time per year for fall admission. The department will begin reviewing applications after April 1 st and will schedule personal interviews in April. The deadline for receiving all admissions materials, as stipulated below, is April 1 st. Applications that are missing materials after April 1 st will be returned to the Admissions Department as incomplete. Admissions decisions will be made on the basis of the following factors: a) Grade point average for all undergraduate courses. Minimum requirement is a 2.70 grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.00 point scale where A is 4.00. Official transcripts must be mailed to CCSU by the college or university the applicant attended and must be received by April 1 st. b) Three recommendations from individuals able to testify to the student s suitability as a prospective counselor (copies of the recommendation forms are available in the back of this packet). c) A 2-3 page typewritten (double spaced) essay describing the following: (1). Reasons for entering the counseling profession. (2). Personal and professional experiences that influenced you to pursue the counseling profession. (3). Personal characteristics you believe will contribute to your success as a counselor. d) A personal interview by the program s faculty admissions committee. The committee will assess the student s personal attributes, maturity, and life experiences that might contribute to the student s potential for success as a professional counselor. Additional Admissions Requirements for School Counseling Documentation that the applicant has successfully passed all three parts of the Praxis I PPST Test or qualifies for a waiver. More information about the PRAXIS I PPST tests may be obtained by calling (609) 771-7395 or by accessing the PRAXIS web site: www.ets.org/praxis. 6
Conditional Admissions All students whose grade point average is below 2.70 will automatically be denied admission to the graduate school. However, students with a grade point average between 2.40 and 2.69 will be notified of their right to appeal their denial for admission and request a conditional admission. The conditional admission program allows students to demonstrate the ability to perform successfully in a graduate degree program. It is afforded on a space available basis to students who are able to demonstrate their potential through additional coursework, relevant life experiences, and/or recommendations from individuals qualified to testify to the student s suitability to be a prospective counselor. Students applying for the Professional Counseling, School Counseling and Student Development in Higher Education program must still meet all of the Counselor Education and Family Therapy Department s admission requirements before being considered for the conditional admission. Individuals applying for the School Counseling program must also receive a GPA waiver before they would be allowed to interview for the School Counseling program. Effective July 1, 2010, Connecticut law requires all students in teacher/educator certification programs to undergo state and national criminal history background checks before participating in school-based field experiences. The procedures for obtaining the background checks and the length of time they are valid will be established by the State Department of Education and cannot be changed. You will be responsible for the cost of the background check and will be provided with the necessary consent forms and other documents needed to conduct it. As part of the background check, you will need to be fingerprinted. If you fail to pass the background check, you may be unable to complete your chosen degree program at Central Connecticut State University. The University will not be responsible for your inability to complete your chosen degree program. For additional information call the Department of Counselor Education & Family Therapy at (860) 832-2154 7
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050 RECOMMENDATION FORM APPLICANT: Please fill in the personal data information below with your name and address. NAME: TELEPHONE: ADDRESS: PROGRAM APPLYING FOR: PROFESSIONAL & REHABILITATION COUNSELING MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY SCHOOL COUNSELING STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER ED ADVANCED OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE POST-MASTER S STUDY PROGRAM IN PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING Waiver: I hereby waive my right to inspect this letter of recommendation. Yes No Applicant s Signature: Date: EVALUATOR The above named applicant is applying for admission to graduate studies in Counseling and has given your name as a reference. We ask you to use this form for your recommendation. We will appreciate your appraisal of the applicant s personal qualities including motivation, academic skill level, ability to express him/herself orally and in writing, overall reliability, and commitment to the helping professions. Careful and candid discrimination between strong and limited characteristics is more helpful than routine praise. Please take as much space as you require using additional sheets of paper if you desire. Thank you for your help. As required by the Family Education Rights Act of 1974, a registered student may reserve the privilege of viewing this recommendation form. Thus, you should consider this evaluation to be non-confidential. Please make a narrative statement here: Continued on back page 8
RECOMMENDATION FORM (continued) INSTRUCTIONS: Please rate the applicant on the qualities listed below by placing a check mark to the right of those you feel qualified to judge. Use as your standard of comparison other graduate students or professionals in this field. CHARACTERISTIC: Academic Potential Written Expression of Ideas Oral Expression of Ideas Dependability Understanding of Human Behavior Self-Motivation Personal Enthusiasm Patience Ability to Work Cooperatively Ability to Express Feelings Appropriately Ability to Deal With Conflict Aware of Impact of Self on Others Willingness to articulate/demonstrate personal convictions Interest in Further Personal Growth Uses Feedback From Others Constructively Able to Accept Personal Responsibility Demonstrates Ethical Behavior Demonstrates sensitivity to and respect for the needs and feelings of others Respects and Appreciates Individual Differences Professional Success Thus Far Lower 50% 50% 25% 10% 5% No Basis for Judgment REFERENCE NAME PRESENT POSITION ADDRESS TELEPHONE RELATION TO APPLICANT HOW WELL AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THE CANDIDATE? Please indicate the strength of your overall impression of the applicant s academic promise and capacity to become an effective counselor. Outstanding Above average Satisfactory Marginal SIGNATURE DATE Thank you for your assistance. Please place this completed form in an envelope, seal it, sign the envelope across the seal, and return it to the applicant, or mail it directly to CCSU, Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050. 9
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050 RECOMMENDATION FORM APPLICANT: Please fill in the personal data information below with your name and address. NAME: TELEPHONE: ADDRESS: PROGRAM APPLYING FOR: PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY SCHOOL COUNSELING STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER ED ADVANCED OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE POST-MASTER S STUDY PROGRAM IN PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING Waiver: I hereby waive my right to inspect this letter of recommendation. Yes No Applicant s Signature: Date: EVALUATOR The above named applicant is applying for admission to graduate studies in Counseling and has given your name as a reference. We ask you to use this form for your recommendation. We will appreciate your appraisal of the applicant s personal qualities including motivation, academic skill level, ability to express him/herself orally and in writing, overall reliability, and commitment to the helping professions. Careful and candid discrimination between strong and limited characteristics is more helpful than routine praise. Please take as much space as you require using additional sheets of paper if you desire. Thank you for your help. As required by the Family Education Rights Act of 1974, a registered student may reserve the privilege of viewing this recommendation form. Thus, you should consider this evaluation to be non-confidential. Please make a narrative statement here: Continued on back page 10
RECOMMENDATION FORM (continued) INSTRUCTIONS: Please rate the applicant on the qualities listed below by placing a check mark to the right of those you feel qualified to judge. Use as your standard of comparison other graduate students or professionals in this field. CHARACTERISTIC: Academic Potential Written Expression of Ideas Oral Expression of Ideas Dependability Understanding of Human Behavior Self-Motivation Personal Enthusiasm Patience Ability to Work Cooperatively Ability to Express Feelings Appropriately Ability to Deal With Conflict Aware of Impact of Self on Others Willingness to articulate/demonstrate personal convictions Interest in Further Personal Growth Uses Feedback From Others Constructively Able to Accept Personal Responsibility Demonstrates Ethical Behavior Demonstrates sensitivity to and respect for the needs and feelings of others Respects and Appreciates Individual Differences Professional Success Thus Far Lower 50% 50% 25% 10% 5% No Basis for Judgment REFERENCE NAME PRESENT POSITION ADDRESS TELEPHONE RELATION TO APPLICANT HOW WELL AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THE CANDIDATE? Please indicate the strength of your overall impression of the applicant s academic promise and capacity to become an effective counselor. Outstanding Above average Satisfactory Marginal SIGNATURE DATE Thank you for your assistance. Please place this completed form in an envelope, seal it, sign the envelope across the seal, and return it to the applicant, or mail it directly to CCSU, Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050. 11
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050 RECOMMENDATION FORM APPLICANT: Please fill in the personal data information below with your name and address. NAME: TELEPHONE: ADDRESS: PROGRAM APPLYING FOR: PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY SCHOOL COUNSELING STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER ED ADVANCED OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE POST-MASTER S STUDY PROGRAM IN PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING Waiver: I hereby waive my right to inspect this letter of recommendation. Yes No Applicant s Signature: Date: EVALUATOR The above named applicant is applying for admission to graduate studies in Counseling and has given your name as a reference. We ask you to use this form for your recommendation. We will appreciate your appraisal of the applicant s personal qualities including motivation, academic skill level, ability to express him/herself orally and in writing, overall reliability, and commitment to the helping professions. Careful and candid discrimination between strong and limited characteristics is more helpful than routine praise. Please take as much space as you require using additional sheets of paper if you desire. Thank you for your help. As required by the Family Education Rights Act of 1974, a registered student may reserve the privilege of viewing this recommendation form. Thus, you should consider this evaluation to be non-confidential. Please make a narrative statement here: Continued on back page 12
RECOMMENDATION FORM (continued) INSTRUCTIONS: Please rate the applicant on the qualities listed below by placing a check mark to the right of those you feel qualified to judge. Use as your standard of comparison other graduate students or professionals in this field. CHARACTERISTIC: Academic Potential Written Expression of Ideas Oral Expression of Ideas Dependability Understanding of Human Behavior Self-Motivation Personal Enthusiasm Patience Ability to Work Cooperatively Ability to Express Feelings Appropriately Ability to Deal With Conflict Aware of Impact of Self on Others Willingness to articulate/demonstrate personal convictions Interest in Further Personal Growth Uses Feedback From Others Constructively Able to Accept Personal Responsibility Demonstrates Ethical Behavior Demonstrates sensitivity to and respect for the needs and feelings of others Respects and Appreciates Individual Differences Professional Success Thus Far Lower 50% 50% 25% 10% 5% No Basis for Judgment REFERENCE NAME PRESENT POSITION ADDRESS TELEPHONE RELATION TO APPLICANT HOW WELL AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THE CANDIDATE? Please indicate the strength of your overall impression of the applicant s academic promise and capacity to become an effective counselor. Outstanding Above average Satisfactory Marginal SIGNATURE DATE Thank you for your assistance. Please place this completed form in an envelope, seal it, sign the envelope across the seal, and return it to the applicant, or mail it directly to CCSU, Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050. 13