MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (M.A.)

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Degree Conferred: Mental Health Counseling (M.A.)
The Master of Art (M.A.) program in Mental Health Counseling is a 45-credit course of study in which students are required to take a fixed sequence of courses in counseling theory and practice, group dynamics, psychopathology, appraisal and assessment, foundations of mental health counseling, social and cultural foundations, career counseling, and clinical instruction. These are complemented by courses in developmental psychology, research and evaluation, and professional ethics. Students must successfully complete a one-year, 9-credit supervised internship and pass a comprehensive examination in order to be awarded the M.A. degree. The comprehensive examination will assess students' abilities to integrate and synthesize theoretical and practical knowledge into an effective, professional method of and approach to counseling.

The Program is designed to fulfill the goals of: providing students with a thorough grounding in advanced principles of mental health counseling at a graduate level, and providing students with an understanding of the tools of counseling that is suitable for building careers in private and public mental health agencies.

The objectives of the Program include: providing students with advanced research-based knowledge in the area of group and individual counseling, counseling techniques, and testing and diagnosis; providing students with a full understanding of the professional and ethical issues relevant to mental health counseling and consultation; and provide students with detailed knowledge of multicultural and career issues in counseling.

Program of Study:
The Mental Health Counseling program provides advanced, research-based preparation in the foundations and applications of mental health counseling. The structure of the program makes use of a cohort model that is delivered in a format that makes the program accessible to a broad array of students, and that also allows for both direct instruction and independent study in appropriate amounts.

The program offers one course in clinical instruction, in which students are guided to develop counseling skills through discussion, demonstration, modeling, observation, and role-play. The program also offers a full year internship, in which counseling skills are implemented in actual agency settrings. Students will be exposed to the role of the counselor "in vivo" and have an initial opporrtunity to practice counseling skills under professional supervision with actual clients.

Admissions and Financial Aid Requirements
Medaille College has a rolling admissions policy and students may be admitted for the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Applicants are encouraged to apply in accordance with the following schedule:

Fall Semester Deadline August 15
Spring Semester Deadline January 1
Summer Semester Deadline June 1

Successful admissions candidates will generally have met the following selection criteria:
  • An undergraduate GPA of at least 2.7: The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews the undergraduate record, noting the total GPA, the area of concentration, and the trend of grades. A minimum 2.7 GPA is recommended, although all applications will be reviewed. Students under 2.7 will require convincing evidence of intellectual ability, communications skills, and initiative.
  • A degree from a regionally accredited educational institution.
  • Two applicant reference forms: The committee reviews references of applicants as they contribute to an understanding of the applicant's academic ability, leadership skills, and aptitude for graduate study. All applicants are required to have two forms submitted for review.
  • Satisfactory GRE score: A good balance of scores in verbal and quantitative areas is needed. No minimum total GRE is required, but the average entering student is above the 50th percentile. Students may be accepted provisionally pending receipt of exam scores or successful completion of the first 12 credits of course work.
Provisional Admission
Students may be admitted provisionally to the M.A. program pending receipt of credentials such as original transcripts or scores. Students admitted as provisional students may take no more than 12 semester hours of credit (four courses) prior to formal admission.

Tuition
The tuition for the M.A. program for the 2003-2004 academic year is $517 per credit hour. Modest changes may be expected for the following academic year; this information will be available at the appropriate time.

Financial Aid
Applicants interested in obtaining financial assistance are encouraged to contact the Medaille College Office of Financial Aid, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, New York 14214. Financial aid programs include:

New York Tuition Assistance Program
Federal College Work Study Program
Stafford Loans

Additional Information

Academic Performance Requirements
Good academic standing means that a student is making acceptable progress towards a graduate degree. Minimum academic requirements for good academic standing established by the program are as follows. The average of the grades for all courses taken in fulfillment of degree requirements at Medaille must be at least a B (3.0). It is the student's responsibility to monitor his or her cumulative grade point average, ensuring that any grades falling below a B are offset by corresponding grades above a B. A student whose grade point average falls below a 3.0 is automatically placed on academic probation.

A student earning less than B- in any course is required to repeat the course.

Time Limit
All graduate students must be registered for a minimum of six credit hours during each fall, spring and summer semester. Graduate students in good academic standing who cannot maintain continuous registration should apply for a leave of absence by the beginning of the semester in which the leave is to begin.

Academic Review/Probation/Dismissal
Any graduate student who receives a grade of F in any course required for completion of the M.A. degree or who indicates a lack of ability as determined by the program faculty, will receive an immediate academic review by the graduate program faculty. Upon completion of the academic review, the graduate program faculty may place the student on academic probation. Such notice will be made in writing by the department chairperson or designee prior to the end of the drop/add period of the next semester and will indicate the terms of the probation and its removal. Any student placed on academic probation is limited to three (3) credits per semester while on probation and is required to sign and adhere to a prescribed probationary contract. Any graduate student not meeting the written terms of their academic probation may be academically dismissed from the College.

Transfer Credit
Credit for study deemed equivalent to graduate courses or for graduate work completed at other regionally accredited institutions may be offered in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Medaille M.A. when the work is of acceptable quality, recent and appropriate to the program. The Program Director will determine if courses can be transferred into Program.

Convenient Weekend Format
Medaille's M.A. is offered as a fixed sequence of 12 8-week courses, taken one course at a time, plus one Supervised Internship. Each 8-week course will include 38 in-class hours (split between the fourth and eighth weekends of the course) and appropriate amounts of independent study. Students will proceed thorough the Program as a cohort. This delivery method requires students to take two classes per semester, and six classes per calendar year. Students will be part-time and will not qualify for TAP.

Curriculum

Mental Health Counseling Credit Hours
MHC 600 Counseling Theory and Practice
3
MHC 605 Group Dynamics
3
MHC 620 Psychopathologies
3
MHC 622 Assessment and Appraisal
3
MHC 625 Personality Psychology
3
MHC 630 Professional and Ethical Issues
3
MHC 631 Developmental Psychology
3
MHC 640 Social and Cultural Foundations
3
MHC 650 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling and Consultation
3
MHC 652 Research and Evaluation
3
MHC 660 Career Counseling
3
MHC 670 Clinical Instruction
3
MHC 677 Supervised Internship
9
     
Total Credits
45

Course Descriptions

MHC 600 COUNSELING THEORY AND PRACTICE This course covers the basic theory, principles and techniques of counseling and its application to professional counseling settings. It also considers various theories of counseling and issues in the practice of professional counseling. Three credit hours.

MHC 605 GROUP DYNAMICS This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of group development, process and dynamics. Students will learn theoretical and practical concepts related to the practice of group psychotherapy. Three credit hours.

MHC 620 PSYCHOPATHOLOGIES Humans have been trying to understand the bases of psychopathologies for thousands of years. This course provides students with the most current information regarding the etiologies, and subsequent treatments, of hte most prevalent mental illnesses in our society. Three credit hours.

MHC 622 ASSESSMENT AND APPRAISAL This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the major principles of assessment, assessment instruments and assesssment skills relevant for mental health counselors. Emphasis will be placed on the statistical properties, use and interpretation of assessment and appraisal techniques commonly used in the field. Three credit hours.

MHC 625 PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY This course surveys the descriptive and casual aspects of individual differences in personality. Students will examine theories and explanations of the development of normal and abnormal personalities. Major models of personality theory include biological, cognitive social, behaviorial, and psychodynamic models. Three credit hours.

MHC 630 PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES This course will focus on the ethical principles and professional standards of counseling practice, and survey the ethical and legal issues facing the professional counselor in our society. Students will review professional goals, objectives, roles and functions. This course also examines ethical and legal standards, risk management, professional credentialing and standards for professional counselors. Three credit hours.

MHC 631 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY This course introduces students to the major theories that have shaped psychologists' understanding of human growth and development from conception, childhood and adolescence, to early, middle and late adulthood. Aspects of development discussed include biosocial, cognitive and psychosocial changes. Emphasis is placed on developmental problems and diagnosis of abnormal development. Three credit hours.

MHC 640 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS This course is designed to provide students with a general framework for understanding issues related to mental health services with people from diverse populations, different cultures and lifestyles. The influence of socio-identies (e.g. race, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation) on individuals' functioning, concerns, and the counseling process will be explored. Three credit hours.

MHC 650 FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION This course offers students an overview of the field of mental health counseling. Students will begin to develop skills requisite counselors, including listening, empathy training and basic interviewing. Issues regarding the development of the therapeutic relationship, cultural diversity and mental status assessment will also be covered. Three credit hours.

MHC 652 RESEARCH AND EVALUATION This course surveys the major methodologies for conducting psychological research, and focuses on research report development, publication of psychological data, and ethical considerations in conducting research. Students will also be introduced to the statistics necessary for describing and analyzing psychological data. Three credit hours.

MHC 660 CAREER COUNSELING This course is designed to provide students with the theoretical frameworks and basic counseling skills necessary for the career counseling process and for planning programs for educational and career counseling. The course includes a review of theories of career development, individual and programmed techniques for diagnosis, assessment, decision-making and career search/advancement. Attention is given to assessment of how people make career choices, which are suitable to the individual and are viable in society. Emphasis is on developing a broad view of career as life style and on practical application of theory and information in a professional counseling context. Three credit hours.

MHC 670 CLINICAL INSTRUCTION This course focuses on the practical and personal side of counseling. The course provides students with the opportunity to learn about themselves personally and professionally, and accomplish the basic attitudes and techniques of counseling. The course includes class discussion, observation, practice of counseling skills and attitudes, role-plays of counseling, group practice of counseling skills and attitudes, role-plays of counseling, group and individual supervision, observation of a counseling case with supervision, and critical reflection on your experience in these learning and practice exercises. Three credit hours. Prerequisite: Complete 18 hours of program course work.

MHC 677 SUPERVISED INTERNSHIP A one year supervised internship in a mental health/psychiatric agency provides the experiences for the student-intern to increase professional competence. Through the internship experience, the student is challenged to apply and integrate the knowledge, theories and concepts of counseling practice, and to build on previous life and work experience, as well as to develop new areas of professional competence. This process allows the student to bring together and to integrate for professional use cognitive learning, professional competence, values and ethics, life experiences, and activities which will enhance skill and critical analysis of counseling practice. Three credit hours. Prerequisites: Complete 18 hours of program course work; GPA of 3.0 or better.

2004 Mental Health Counseling Advisory Board Members

*Alumna
 

Office of Academic Affairs; page updated 10/5/04 (lak)
Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, New York 14214 USA
Phone: (716) 884-3281; Fax: (716) 884-0291
email: Academic Affairs Office