Counseling Psychology M.A.

Objectives

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program is designed for those who are seeking to develop or refine job-related psychological skills and knowledge. There are two tracks within the program. The first, the Adult Clinical Counseling Track , is a traditional counseling psychology track, preparing students for work in the mental health field with adult populations. The second, the Child and Adolescent Clinical Counseling Track, is designed to train students to provide counseling services to children, adolescents, and families in both public and private settings. Both tracks apply theory and research to practical problems of human adjustment and development. Goals for the program follow the recommendations of the American Counseling Association and meet the State of Illinois requirements so that students can sit for counseling licensing exams. The program’s goals are to:

• Provide a knowledge base in relevant areas of psychology and counseling, including personality, psychopathology, therapy, multicultural issues, and evaluation and assessment.
• Expand student skills in interviewing, assessment and techniques of therapy.
• Create student understanding of client uniqueness, multicultural sensitivity, and student attitudes of flexibility in their work with clients.
• Endorse student development of appropriate ethics and professional identification.

Admission Standards

Admission to the graduate program in psychology is based on academic and personal qualifications of the applicant. It is made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, irrelevant handicap, national or ethnic origin, or disability.

All students must present evidence of a baccalaureate degree awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education and a completed application which includes a personal statement of professional goals. Because this program is directed toward adults, it is expected that personal maturity and experience are prime indicators of success in the program. Although the Counseling Psychology program does not require a criminal background check, applicants should be aware that many internship sites and potential employers will. There are three enrollment categories for students in the program.

Full Admission

Students in this category have:

1. Completed at least 15 hours of psychology, including a course in statistics or research methods.
2. Submitted a completed application with an accompanying personal statement.
3. Submitted two letters of recommendation from professors, employers or supervisors.
4. Submitted an official transcript of all academic work previously attempted or completed. An applicant’s GPA hould equal a 3.0 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale.
5. The applicant’s personal statement will be used as a writing sample.
6. Certified their proficiency in reading and writing English by achieving a 550 on the TOEFL written exam; 213 on the computerized exam; 79 on the Internet-based exam or IELTS score of 6.0. ELS level 112 completed. Step Eiken (Japan) Pre-1 is also accepted. (Applicable only if student is from a non-English speaking ountry.)
7. Received acceptance by the Graduate Council of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Provisional Admission

In select cases, a student who does not meet the requirements for full admission may be granted provisional admission. Students may apply for full admission after resolving the admission deficiencies. If the student must satisfy the psychology course requirements explained above, those courses must be completed with a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA.) Students may be allowed to take up to nine graduate credit hours as a provisionally admitted student. The student must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in these courses.

Student-At-Large Status

A student-at-large is not a degree candidate. However, should a student decide to apply for full admission status at a later time, but within five years of course completion, only three courses (nine hours) will be accepted for credit toward the advanced degree. At-large students are allowed to take a maximum of 3 courses with permission from the Program Director.

Transfer Admission Procedures

Students may apply up to 12 semester hours of graduate-level work from other regionally accredited institutions to their program of psychology prior to their acceptance into Lewis Counseling Psychology program. A transfer student will follow the admission criteria described above and below. (full and provisional.) The following conditions apply to the acceptance of transfer credit:

1. Only courses with a grade of B or better will be accepted.
2. Coursework must have been completed at an accredited graduate school.
3. Appropriateness of coursework will be decided by the Graduate Program Director at the time of the student’s application to the program.
4. Courses from outside the United States will be considered if they are evaluated as graduate level by the Commission of Accreditation of the American Council on Education.

Transfer of Credit after Matriculation

Students who are already matriculated at Lewis University and wish to transfer in a course must seek written approval from the chairperson or Program Director before the course is attempted. Only courses with a grade of B or better will be accepted. Students may transfer in up to 2 courses.

Course of Study Overview

To obtain a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, students must specialize in one of two tracks. Track A, Adult Clinical Counseling, offers a traditional counseling psychology curriculum designed to prepare the student to work in a wide variety of mental health settings. Track B, the Child and Adolescent Clinical Counseling Track, offers a counseling psychology curriculum designed to prepare students to work with children, adolescents, and families in both public and private settings.

Course Formats and Credit

Courses are offered in the evening, and workshops are offered on weekends, each semester and summer. The normal load for a full-time graduate student is three courses, or nine semester hours. For those who are working full-time, the normal semester load is two courses, or six semester hours.

Incomplete Grades

Because practicum and internship courses are rarely completed in an academic calendar, incomplete grades in 26-585 and 26-590 will not turn into the grade of “IF” after the first six weeks of the following semester. Incomplete grades in all other coursework follows the policy explained in the General Information section of this catalog.

SPECIALIZATION: Adult Clinical Counseling ­- Track A

Degree Offered: Master of Arts

Total Credit Hours Required: 48

Students in TRACK A must complete 45 core course credit hours. In addition, students choose three elective credit hours.

I. Core Courses (45)

26-505	Research in Counseling	3
26-511	Individual Appraisal	3
26-512	Interviewing Skills	3
26-520	Advanced Developmental Psychology	3
26-522	Career Development Theory	3
26-541	Psychopathology	3
26-565	Group Dynamics and Counseling	3
26-567	Treatment of Substance Abuse	3
26-573	Counseling Theories: I	3
26-577	Counseling Theories: II	3
26-575	Family Dynamics and Counseling	3
26-578	Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling	3
26-579	Multicultural Issues in Counseling	3
26-585	Practicum in Counseling	3
26-590	Internship in Counseling	3

II. Elective (3)

Three credit hours may be chosen from graduate psychology, education, criminal/ social justice, business, nursing, or leadership courses. Three one-credit workshops may take the place of this elective course.

SPECIALIZATION: Child and Adolescent Clinical Counseling – Track B

Degree Offered: Master of Arts

Total Credit Hours Required: 48

Students in TRACK B must complete 45 hours of required core coursework, and three hours of elective coursework.

I. Core Courses (45)

26-505	Research in Counseling	3
26-512	Interviewing Skills	3
26-513	Individual Appraisal: Child Emphasis	3
26-520	Advanced Developmental Psychology	3
26-522	Career Development Theory	3
26-543	Psychopathology: Child Emphasis	3
26-565	Group Dynamics and Counseling	3
26-567	Treatment of Substance Abuse	3
26-573	Counseling Theories: I	3
-	or
26-577	Counseling Theories: II	3
26-574	Counseling Theories: Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy	3
26-575	Family Dynamics and Counseling	3
26-578	Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling	3
26-579	Multicultural Issues in Counseling	3
26-585	Practicum in Counseling	3
26-590	Internship in Counseling	3

II. Elective (3)

Three credit hours may be chosen from psychology, education, criminal/social justice, business, nursing, or leadership graduate courses. Three one-credit workshops may take the place of this elective course.

Grade Point Requirement

Any student admitted to the graduate Counseling Psychology program whose GPA falls below 3.0 will automatically be placed on academic probation. If the condition of the probation extends beyond two courses, the student will be dropped from the degree program. Students may continue to take courses under special circumstances at the discretion of the Program Director.

Only grades attained in Lewis University graduate courses will be used in determining the GPA. No more than two courses in which a grade of a C is earned will count toward degree requirements. A grade of a D will not count toward degree or certification requirements. A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation.

Time Limitations and Resident Requirement

Students must complete all requirements within seven years from the time of completion of the first graduate course at Lewis University. Students may apply to transfer in up to 12 hours of graduate credit as delineated at the beginning of this section.

Enrollment of Undergraduates in Graduate Courses

Registration by undergraduates in graduate courses shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) courses. The student must be within 16 credits of completing the bachelor’s degree requirements, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and have the approval of the graduate director.

Credit earned in a graduate course may be considered as graduate credit, or as undergraduate credit to be counted in the number of credits required for the baccalaureate degree. Credit earned in a graduate course may not be counted toward more than one degree.

Registration for graduate courses will be included in the student’s undergraduate registration form. It should be understood that credit earned in graduate courses completed while an undergraduate will not necessarily be applicable to a graduate degree at Lewis University.

Graduation Requirements

The students will be awarded the Master of Arts degree when they have:

1. Completed at least 48 hours of graduate study as stipulated previously.
2. Successfully passed the comprehensive examination. (The comprehensive examination is normally attempted fter 36 hours are completed; the comprehensive exam should be attempted in the student’s penultimate emester.)
3. Assembled materials for a portfolio review consisting of, at a minimum, a supervisor’s clinical assessment, the omprehensive examination and one case study from practicum or internship.
4. A GPA of 3.0 or above.