Requirements
Program Overview
The Master of Science in counselor education offers two concentrations: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. The programs are designed to prepare individuals for careers in clinical mental health settings and school counseling programs in K-12 settings.
Goals for the Programs
The curriculum of the Master of Science in counselor education is designed to build a strong foundation for graduates entering the counseling professions. The clinical mental health counseling concentration provides coursework that is necessary to apply for licensure in the State of Mississippi as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and coursework that is necessary to apply to become a nationally certified counselor (NCC). The school counseling concentration provides coursework that is necessary to apply for a Mississippi AA educator license in school counseling and coursework necessary to apply to become a nationally certified school counselor (NCSC). All applicants for licensure must pass the corresponding licensure examination, experience requirements, and corresponding licensing agency requirements before becoming licensed.
The goals for the Master of Science in counselor education at William Carey University, Tradition Campus are:
- to provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society;
- to provide excellent instruction and expertise in the skills of counseling that will prepare students for employment;
- to provide experiences that develop a strong professional counselor identity among students and faculty;
- to provide quality programs that challenge students to excel in scholarship, leadership, and service in a diverse global society.
Master of Science in Counselor Education Degree
The School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences at William Carey University, Tradition Campus, offers the Master of Science degree in counselor education with concentrations in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. These two programs are designed to prepare professional counselors to practice in community mental health centers, mental health institutions and agencies, primary care settings, private practice, and K-12 school counseling settings. Admission to these programs is in the summer or fall trimesters only. All Common Core and required COU coursework for the Master of Science in counselor education concentrations must be taken on the Tradition Campus. Students in both the clinical mental health counseling and school counseling programs may take EDU and PSY prefix courses as long as these are not COU Common Core or required courses.
The school psychometrics program and the endorsement program in school psychometrics are also offered on the Tradition campus.
Academic Requirements for Admission
Admission to the Master of Science in counselor education occurs in the summer trimester and fall trimester. To fulfill requirements for admission to the Master of Science in counselor education degree programs, students must:
- hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;
- have an overall cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on the last 30 hours of coursework;
- submit a current resume and statement of professional counseling career goals;
- complete the graduate school application that includes official transcripts, GRE scores (less than five years old with verbal and quantitative sub-scores) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores (less than five years old), and complete the counselor education informed consent checklist;
- have completed coursework that reflects adequate preparation for pursuing an advanced degree in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling (general psychology or educational psychology, counseling theory, statistics); and
- have made up any deficiencies in undergraduate course preparation prior to the completion of the first 18 semester hours of graduate coursework.
Mail application and accompanying documents to the graduate office at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS.
Students who apply to the school counseling or psychometrics program and pursuing an AA educator license must satisfy MDE requirements.
Academic Advisement
The faculty will schedule a mandatory orientation session for entering students by the end of the first week of the initial summer or fall trimester. The orientation meeting will provide students with the opportunity to receive a student handbook, an academic advisor assignment, and opportunities to ask questions concerning the program.
Regular Admission Status
Regular admission is granted in the summer or fall trimesters to any student who has met all academic requirements for admission.
Undeclared Admission
A student who meets minimum admission requirements may be allowed one trimester of undeclared admission. By the end of the first trimester, a student must declare an area of concentration and complete a degree plan.
Nondegree Admission
A student who holds a master’s degree from an institution with comparable admission requirements may be accepted as a nondegree or continuing education student in order to take specific courses for licensure and/or certification. Should such an individual seek to become a degree seeking student, all requirements for regular admission as a degree student must be met. Students who hold a master’s degree and seek a second degree or additional credentials will have an individual program designed to ensure an appropriate theoretical and practical background. A minimum of 18 semester hours must be earned at William Carey University in order to obtain institutional recommendation.
Change of Concentration
Students who desire to change emphasis areas must submit a new application form, meet requirements in this catalog for the program, receive approval of the advisor, and be admitted to the new concentration by the admissions committee.
Probationary or Incomplete Admission
Incomplete admission status may be granted for one trimester for a student who appears to be eligible for admission but is unable to supply specified required records prior to registration.
Practicum and Internship
Students must submit a signed practicum/internship application, signed practicum/ internship agreement, academic supervisor agreement, and a copy of his/her current liability insurance by the end of the second week of the trimester preceding registration for the practicum/internship. Lack of any of these documents at that time will prevent practicum/internship registration. Note: the initial sign-up is not registering for the practicum or internship. The initial sign-up signifies your intent for the upcoming trimester. Students must complete this sign-up before registration for the next trimester.
Program Policies/ Requirements
- All application materials (application fee, official transcripts, official test score reports, resume, statement of professional counseling career goals, counselor education informed consent checklist) should be submitted to the William Carey University office of graduate admissions no later than three weeks prior to the beginning of classes.
- All work for the degree must be completed within a period not to exceed six years.
- Transfer Credit: No more than nine semester hour of credit may be transferred from another institution of program. Transferred credits will be applicable only if they contribute to the overall plan of study designed for the student. No graduate work with a grade of less than “B” will be accepted. All transfer credits must meet the six-year limit on the completion of the degree. Independent study credit earned at another institution or program will not be accepted.
- Class Attendance: Graduate students are expected to attend all class meetings. However, an absence may be granted in case of an emergency. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor regarding the absence, and the student is responsible for all work missed. Students who miss more than two classes will automatically fail the course.
- Credentialing: Completion of a degree program does not guarantee credentialing. Individuals who are seeking licensure or certification must satisfy all requirements of the various credentialing boards. Such students should make contact with the appropriate board to obtain requirements prior to enrolling in a program at William Carey University. It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy these requirements.
- Financial Information: Mississippi student may finance their program of study in a variety of methods. The program of study requires an important investment of time and finances. Scholarships, veterans’ administration benefits, and loans are sources of funding. Additional information regarding need-based loans may be obtained by contacting the university’s financial aid office in Biloxi at (228) 702-1809 and in Hattiesburg at (601) 318-6153. Tuition may be changed without prior notice.
- Advisements: While advisors are assigned to each student, it is the student’s responsibility to comply with all requirements of his/her degree program.
- Dual enrollment: Students may not be enrolled simultaneously in the M.S. in counselor education and any other graduate degree program.
- Professional Conduct: The graduate program in counselor education is designed to prepare professional counselors to practice in community mental health centers, mental health institutions and agencies, primary care settings, private practice, and K-12 school counseling settings. The most recent edition of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics binds all counselors. Violations of this code may result in revocation of credentials or dismissal from a job. As part of the training provided by William Carey University, all students are required to be familiar with and adhere to local, state, and federal laws, and rules and regulations of the university. Violations of any of these may result in disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to dismissal from the graduate program.
Other Requirements for the Master of Science
Students must have successfully completed the plan of study approved by the faculty with a minimum GPA of 3.0 within a six-year time frame. Extensions and course substitutions are considered on an individual basis.
Participation in the graduation ceremony is required. Degrees are not conferred in absentia, except by permission of the registrar for which students must submit an online request. Students who are candidates for May degrees are required to file applications for their degrees in the registrar’s office by October 15. Candidates for August graduation must file by March 31. Late applications will be accepted up to 30 days after the respective deadlines. There is a $100.00 late fee for late application. Graduate students are responsible for course planning and selection. Advisors will assist students with the process, but final responsibility for satisfying requirements for a degree rests with the student.
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