Psychology: Clinical Counseling, M.A.

843-953-5320 http://www.citadel.edu/root/psychology

Dr. Genelle Sawyer: genelle.sawyer@citadel.edu

Mission Statement

The mission of the Clinical Counseling MA program is to prepare students to become ethical, multiculturally-competent, evidence-informed practitioners of psychological counseling in a variety of mental health settings. The Program’s training model emphasizes the application of theories of human development, psychopathology, multiculturalism and cognitive behavior change to psychosocial problems and advocates a scholarly perspective that integrates evidence-based and professional competencies with a compassionate, culturally sensitive and ethical orientation to clinical work. Through a blend of didactic and practice-based experiences, students will acquire an empirical and culturally competent approach to assessment, conceptualization, intervention, and evaluation of psychological services. The objectives of the program are designed to enable the student to:

Understand principles of psychology and their application to real world clinical situations and settings.
Recognize and appreciate the importance of a multicultural perspective.
Demonstrate understanding of professional and ethical principles as they apply to competent professional practice.
Understand evidence-based practice and function as scholarly practitioners when approaching assessment, conceptualization and intervention.
Acquire assessment and intervention skills to be used with a diverse range of clients and problems.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Clinical Counseling Program is based on a competitive review of all application materials.

Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee
Submission of an official transcript of the baccalaureate degree directly from each accredited college or university and transcripts from all postgraduate institutions attended. Applicants are expected to have a grade point average of 3.0 (or graduate grade point average of 3.0) and 9 credit hours in psychology (with a minimum of a C grade). A score of 600 on the GRE Subject Examination in Psychology is acceptable in lieu of the credit hour requirement.
Submission of a completed Admissions Questionnaire, including two essay questions
Submission of two letters of recommendation
Submission of a resume or curriculum vita

Application Deadlines

The Admissions Committee will consider complete applications for the program on the following dates:

Admission Term:	Materials Due:
Summer/Fall	February 15
Spring	October 1

Program Requirements

The Master of Arts in Psychology: Clinical Counseling curriculum provides instruction in the theory and practice of counseling from a psychological perspective. The curriculum consists of a total of 60 credit hours, including 30 credit hours of core courses, a three credit hour course in addictions, a three credit hour course in career counseling, 10 hours of advanced courses, five hours of electives, and nine hours of fieldwork. Fieldwork is completed in agencies throughout the tri-county area and involves a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship. Students who successfully complete this program meet the educational requirements for professional licensure as a Professional Counselor in South Carolina and may meet the requirements for a Licensed Addictions Counselor in South Carolina. While some graduates have sought and gained admission to doctoral programs, the program is designed as a terminal master’s degree program. The program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Students must abide by the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association throughout their enrollment.

The MA degree will be conferred on students who have successfully completed the requirements of the program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. All students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination after completing their ten core courses (see below) and must complete a written and oral presentation of a case study for a panel of faculty members as part of the internship requirement in order to complete the program. Students must complete all course requirements within a 5-year period from the date of initial enrollment. No more than 8 hours of graduate credit taken as a non-degree seeking student will be applied toward program requirements.

Additional policies and procedures are outlined in the Clinical Counseling Program Student Handbook.

Graduate Requirement (Non-Credit Bearing)

LDRS 500 - Principled Leadership Seminar

Required Program for Clinical Counseling Students

Core Courses (30 Hours)

PSYC 500 - Human Growth & Development Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 501 - Prin of Cognitive&Behav Change Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 507 - Gen Psychopath:Assess&Dif Diag Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 508 - Counsel & Personalty Theories Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 514 - Ethics &Prof Issues Counseling Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 523 - Applied Stats & Psychometrics Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 526 - Clinical Counseling: Basic Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 528 - EBP Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 545 - Graduate Research Design & Eva Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 561 - Cultural Issues in Psyc Pract Credit Hours: 3

Other Requirements (6 Hours)

PSYC 540 - Theories &Biology of Addiction Credit Hours: 3
EDUC 550 - Career Counseling Credit Hours: 3

Advanced Courses (19 Hours)

Students completing the Clinical Counseling curriculum must successfully complete a comprehensive examination to be permitted to take the following Advanced Courses:

PSYC 611 - Clin & Prof Issues in Counsel Credit Hours: 1
PSYC 629 - Practicum Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 643 - Adv Clinical Coun: Assessment Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 644 - Adv Clinical Coun Intervention Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 645 - Adv Clinical Counseling: Group Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 651 - Internship I Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 652 - Internship II Credit Hours: 3

Electives (5 Hours)

PSYC 516 - Psych Resiliency for Tac Ath Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 527 - Child Psychopathology & Tx Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 553 - Intro to Family Dynamics Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 555 - ST: Blue Spaces Credit Hours: 1 to 3
PSYC 557 - Couns & Psychother for Couples Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 570 - Soc & Cognitive Foundations Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 602 - Soc&Bio Basis of Child/Ado Beh Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 609 - Ev Based Tx of Addictions Credit Hours: 3

Total Credit Hours: 60

Field Placement Requirements

Clinical Counseling students complete one 100-hour practicum and one 600-hour internship providing clinical services in a community agency. Field placement opportunities are available in many agencies within the tri-county area. Field placement sites may require a background check prior to beginning training.

Students who have completed graduate work elsewhere but who desire admission to one of the Clinical Counseling practicum/internships for licensure or professional development reasons must receive formal approval by the Clinical Counseling Committee. Additionally, such students will be required to take the following four courses at The Citadel prior to admission to practicum:

The Citadel has adopted this policy because of its ethical responsibilities to practicum agencies, the clients of the agencies, and to the students. Without this background of experience with students, The Citadel is not in a viable position to attest to the student’s readiness for the practicum/internship placement.

PSYC 507 - Gen Psychopath:Assess&Dif Diag Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 643 - Adv Clinical Coun: Assessment Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 644 - Adv Clinical Coun Intervention Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 645 - Adv Clinical Counseling: Group Credit Hours: 3

Student Performance Procedure

These procedural guidelines may be enacted in the event that a student’s performance interferes with their ability to function competently in an academic and/or professional capacity. They are implemented cautiously and judiciously, for the student’s benefit, after careful consideration by all Clinical-Counseling faculty. Importantly, these guidelines are in addition to all other policies of The Citadel, which address disciplinary procedures or students’ ability to safely participate in Citadel programs.

In those instances where the student’s performance has been evaluated as substandard due to reasons of academic or professional suitability (including, but not limited to an inability to perform at the skill level required or an inability to meet the training rigor of the program), the Program will initiate steps to assess the presence and degree of impairment and to effect remediation when necessary. The student will be informed of any claims of such substandard performance and be given the opportunity to address them. Concerns regarding performance may be presented by members of the faculty/staff of The Citadel, field placement supervisors, or students. These concerns should be presented to the student’s advisor and Program Director, and then reviewed by all Clinical-Counseling faculty.

When the student’s behavior problems are potentially serious enough to jeopardize client/patient welfare at a field placement site, to damage the reputation of The Citadel, and/or to warrant serious disciplinary action (such as limitation of clinical activity, suspension, or termination), the claim will be reported immediately to both the Program director and Department Head. If, at any time, the student’s supervisor or Program Director believes that the behavior interferes with the student’s ability to complete assigned duties in a professional manner, they may immediately suspend the student from his/her duties and classroom activities and immediately notify the Program Director and Department Head.

When the student’s behavior problems are significant but not to the degree described above, an attempt will be made to resolve the situation without disruption of the student’s progress through the program. Should problems persist, escalate, or create a risk for the student, classmates, clients, or faculty member, a more formal remediation agreement will be developed to address remediation.

The formal remediation agreement will be created in conjunction with the student and will include a specific timeline for completion of the remediation activities. The plan will be signed by the faculty member(s) and student and placed in the student’s file. Remediation activities may include, but are not limited to:

Recommendation for psychosocial counseling/therapy to be conducted by a professional who does not teach at The Citadel.
- If counseling or psychotherapy is recommended as a requirement for remaining in the program, the student’s advisor (or, if requested by the student, another Clinical Counseling Program faculty member) must be permitted to establish communication with the student’s counselor/psychotherapist to ensure that specific concerns and/or areas are addressed and appropriately resolved such that future professional development is likely. Such communication would be then shared with the Clinical Counseling program faculty only to the extent necessary to provide information regarding the student’s progress toward appropriate remediation and to plan, if necessary, specific educational and training aspects to enhance the student’s professional development in light of noted concerns.
Recommendation of additional coursework, practicum/internship experience, or more intensive supervision
Recommendation of written assignments and/or reflective work
Recommendation of a leave of absence
Recommendation of a career shift
Termination from the program

When the student has resolved the concern(s) they will present a written request for completion of the remediation process to Program Faculty. Following a favorable review, the student will resume normal standing and progression through the program. If the student is unable to complete the remediation agreement within the agreed upon timeline, the student will be terminated from the program. If a student “resolves” a concern through remediation but that same concern arises again at a later date in the program, this reemergence of the issue will either result in initiation of another remediation plan or termination from the program.

A student who wishes to appeal this procedure should contact the Department Head who will review the matter. If this does not result in satisfaction, the student should contact the Dean of the Citadel Graduate College. If this still does not result in satisfaction, the student should contact the Provost. The decision of the Provost is final.