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Information for all Counselor Education concentrations

Program Coordinators:

School Counseling
Dr. Gary E. Goodnough, ggoodno@plymouth.edu
Contact phone number: (603) 535-2821
Professor of Counselor Education
B.S., University of Delaware; M.Ed., Ph.D., University of Virginia

Mental Health and Human Relations Counseling
Dr. Gail Mears, gmears@plymouth.edu
Contact phone number: (603) 535-2485
Associate Professor of Counselor Education; Chair, Counselor Education and School Psychology
B.A., Plymouth State College; M.Ed., CAGS, University of New Hampshire; Psy.D., Antioch University

School Psychologist
Dr. Leo R. Sandy, lsandy@plymouth.edu
Contact phone number: (603) 535-2287
Professor of Counselor Education
B.A., University of Massachusetts; M.Ed., Ed.D., Boston University

Admissions Policy

Professional counseling organizations recommend that program admissions criteria include consideration of the applicant's openness to self-examination and personal and professional self-development. For this reason the admission into the Counselor Education M.Ed, CAGS and Professional Certification Programs and the School Psychology M.Ed., CAGS, and Professional Certification Programs involves a two part process. Prospective students apply to the College of Graduate Studies as described at: plymouth.edu/graduate/admissions. Additionally, they participate in the Counselor Education and School Psychology Admissions Interview. The Admissions Interview is a ½ day event held on the first Friday morning in August, November, February and May. This interview involves an informational session and group and individual interviews. Participation in the interview process is open to any prospective students and is not dependent on students having completed the application process to the College of Graduate Studies. An admissions decision will be made upon completion of both of the above outlined processes. Please send an email to Lori Van Houten at lavanhouten@mail.plymouth.edu or at (603) 535-2982 to register for this interview.

This process follows the guidelines endorsed by professional organizations regarding the necessity of faculty input into the admissions process. While students are allowed to take up to 12 credits before completing the application process, it is important that students understand that successful completion of coursework is not a guarantee of admission into the Counselor Education and School Psychology Programs. An admission decision is rendered only after the prospective student's application has been reviewed and the student has participated in a group interview as outlined above.

Monitoring and Dismissal Policy

The program faculty have the responsibility to monitor students' personal and professional characteristics that have the potential to interfere with their ability to perform in an ethical and professionally competent manner. Additionally, faculty monitor students' academic performance. Thus all Counselor Education students are continuously monitored while they are enrolled in Counselor Education courses. This review is done at regularly scheduled faculty meetings by the counselor education faculty in consultation with adjunct faculty.

Academic Review:
Students transcripts are reviewed during faculty meetings. As per the policy of the College of Graduate Studies, all students must maintain an overall grade point average of at least a 3.0. If the overall grade point average falls below 3.0, students will be required to meet with their advisors to develop a plan for increased academic success and will be placed on academic probation for one term. If at the end of the next term, the student's grade point average remains below a 3.0, the student will be subject to dismissal from the Counselor Education Program.

Students who receive an F in a course will need to meet with their advisor and at least one other faculty member to address the issue. Students will be barred from future coursework unless and until they initiate an appeal process by contacting their advisor. Students may not voluntarily retake courses and extraordinary permission may only be granted by petition to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies. Students should request a review of their status to determine (a) if they may retake the failed course and (b) if they will be allowed to continue with their program.

Personal and Professional Review:
As part of the regular review of students' personal and professional performance, faculty note personal and professional issues that significantly affect students' ability to function adequately as counselors, graduate students, and professionals. The counseling education faculty will delineate specific action steps for students as needed. The students' advisor (perhaps in conjunction with the program chair) will meet with the student to discuss remediation action steps. Depending upon the nature and severity of the concerns, appropriate actions steps will range from (a) collaborative strategies for personal and professional improvement to (b) a required leave of absence to (c) dismissal from the counselor education program. For those continuing in the program, a schedule of follow-up meetings will be occur as part of the process.

A review of all dismissal decisions can be requested from the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Internship

Students in the School Counseling concentration must successfully complete a 600-hour comprehensive public school internship in school counseling at the elementary, middle and secondary levels in order to demonstrate and further develop relevant competencies. In order to be recommended for certification as a school counselor, students must complete six credits of Seminar and Internship. The internship component of these experiences must be completed in school settings that have as their primary function the education of public school students. In addition, students must be supervised on site by a certified school counselor and must be able to attend on-campus seminars during the terms they are involved in their internship experiences. Internships must be completed during the academic year and must be approved in advance by the Counselor Education faculty.

Students in the Mental Health Counseling concentration must successfully complete a 900-hour mental health counseling internship in a mental health setting. Students can choose to remain in one setting or can split their time between two settings. Students must be in each field placement for a minimum of 400 hours. A mental health provider licensed under the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice must provide individual supervision at the internship site on a weekly basis. Students interning out of state need to be supervised by mental health providers licensed in the state in which they are practicing. In addition to their field experience, students are required to attend a weekly university-based internship seminar. Typically, the internship requirement is met over three academic terms and carries nine credits. Students must complete their internship experience within two calendar years.

Students in the Self Designed concentration must complete three credits (225 hours) of CO 5800 Internship in Counseling: Self Designed in their area of specialization. The Counselor Education faculty must approve internship sites and appropriate field supervision in advance.

In all concentrations, all required professional courses must be successfully completed before students can enroll in the internship experience. Students must contact their advisor during the term prior to their internship experience in order to make appropriate arrangements. The deadlines are October 15 for spring term and February 15 for fall term, unless these dates fall on weekends.