School Counseling P-12 (Eclectic or Adlerian), MEd

Graduate Program Coordinator:
Dr. Cynthia Taylor

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program in School Counseling is a 48 credit hour program (or an optional program with 60 credit hours focusing on various specializations). This 48-hour program is designed to prepare counselors to work with children and youth across all levels in schools from kindergarten to high school (P-12). Candidates may plan programs of study from either an Eclectic theoretical approach to counseling or a specialized approach emphasizing the individual psychology school of thought of Alfred Adler. The program places heavy emphasis on interpersonal and helping relationships, which require considerable commitment on the part of the candidate. Candidates complete ten (10) hours of Professional Development Activity (PDA) in the community for each 3 credit hour course. In addition, candidates participate in field experiences throughout the program, complete a school practicum field placement (100 clock hrs) and a field internship experience (600 hrs), pass a written comprehensive/qualifying examination, and write a seminar paper.

Admission to the Program

Individuals interested in pursuing the graduate program in School Counseling must qualify for admission to the Graduate School. The following material must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

Completion of a B.A. or B.S. degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 and at least 12 credits in counseling, psychology or a related area.
Completed Graduate Application Form with the non-refundable application fee.
Submission of three letters of recommendation. Two letters must be from an academic instructor and one letter from an employer/supervisor. Recommendation forms may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Submission of a personal statement. The personal statement must be a typewritten statement not to exceed three single spaced pages in which the following points are addressed:
1. Background information: Family, education and work.
2. Goals: What do you expect to be doing in five (5) years? In ten (10) years?
3. Strengths: What strengths do you have that would contribute to your being a good counselor?
4. Change: What do you believe to be the facets of your personality, behavior, and/or outlook that, if modified or changed, would make you a better person/counselor? What plans, if any, do you have for making any such change(s)?
5. Why Bowie State University? Why did you decide to apply to the counseling program at B.S.U.?
6. Your comments: What additional information, thoughts, feelings, concerns and/or questions do you have?

Program Requirements

Common Courses for Eclectic and Adlerian Options

Sequencing

Upon admission to the graduate program, each candidate is assigned an advisor to review the program options and to develop a plan of study. The majority of candidates in the School Counseling program are part-time candidates who follow the sequence of courses listed below; however, minor variations in sequencing of courses are made to facilitate full-time candidates enrolled in the degree program. The program requires prerequisites for more advanced courses. To guide candidates in the sequencing of courses, five levels of course sequencing have been identified. Candidates must get the approval of their advisor before enrolling in any courses.

Level One

Level Two

Level Three

RLIT 706 - Literacy Research I
COUN 731 - Group Counseling (Prerequisite: PSYC 534 or PSYC 530 and PSYC 502)

Level Four

Level Five

COUN 836 - Practicum in School Counseling (100 hrs)*
COUN 837 - Internship in School Counseling (600 hrs)*

Note:

*Candidates must have completed Levels I, II, and III and have passed the Comprehensive Examination before registering for these classes.

All candidates must complete a total of 700 hours of field experience. The Practicum and Internship experiences for candidates will be designed based upon the experiences they have in teaching or counseling on the P-12 level. If a candidate has not completed the experience, he/she must enroll in a one (1) credit hour independent study course (COUN 601) to complete the requirement.

Specific Requirements

The initial course taken by all candidates is PSYC 502: Principles and Philosophy of Counseling. There are three other courses which candidates may choose to take concurrently with this introductory course: COUN 633: Multicultural Counseling, EDUC 507: Adv. Human Growth and Development, and PSYC 603: Mental Hygiene.
At Level II, candidates may enroll in SPED 511: Special Education Perspective, COUN 608: Career Counseling and Development, PSYC 734: Counseling Theory and Practice, PSYC 780: Legal and Ethical Issues and COUN 610: Appraisal, Assessment and Evaluation and COUN 702: Intro. to School Counseling
After completing twelve (12) credit hours in the program, candidates are required to make application for Advancement to Candidacy. The Counseling Faculty at this point reviews each application. If candidates have a 3.25 grade point average and are recommended by at least two members of the full-time faculty, they are advanced to candidacy in the degree program.
At Level IIIl, candidates may enroll in one or both of the following courses: COUN 731: Group Counseling, and EDUC 706: Introduction to Research. After completing thirty (30) credit hours (Levels I, II, and III) in the program, each candidate is eligible to take the three-hour written Comprehensive Examination. The Examination is designed to assess candidates’ mastery of the program objectives.
At Level IV, candidates may enroll in one or both of the following courses: COUN 840: Counseling Children and Adolescents or COUN 861: Seminar in School Counseling. You must pass the Comprehensive Exam to take seminar at Level IV.
At Level V, candidates may enroll in COUN 836: Practicum in School Counseling (100 hrs) and COUN 861: Seminar in School Counseling concurrently. However, candidates must pass the Comprehensive Examination to be able to enroll in COUN 836, and complete the 100 hours of COUN 836: Practicum in School Counseling before enrolling in COUN 837: Internship in School Counseling.

Prospective Practicum [100 hours] students are required to attend an orientation session one semester prior to enrollment in the practicum course in order to make arrangements for a practicum placement.

(Note: Candidates may not enroll in Level V courses until they have completed courses in Levels I, II, III, and IV and passed the Comprehensive Examination.)