Mental Health Counseling
Program Format
One Weekend per Month
Our unique delivery system will have you taking classes one weekend per month, Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday for a little over two and a half years. Although classes are only held on weekends, you can still qualify for financial aid as a full-time student.
The MHC program is cohorted, which means that you will move through the program with the same small group of classmates. This innovative method of instruction provides a strong bond between students, and creates a built-in support system.
The Program
Our program is designed to provide students with advanced, research-based knowledge in the areas of group and individual counseling, counseling techniques and assessment and diagnosis. You will come away with a full understanding of the professional and ethical issues relevant to mental health counseling and consultation as well as have a comprehensive understanding of multicultural and career issues in counseling.
Program Format
The program is offered as a fixed sequence of 17 eight-week courses taken one course at a time, plus a 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, plus 3 credit hours each semester in the student’s second year.
Each of the 17 courses will proceed as follows:
Week 1: Students will receive all learning materials (i.e. course outline, texts, all assignments).
Week 2 and 3: Students will work independently without in-class supervision.
Weekend 4: Students will spend 19 hours in-class (4 hours Friday night, 8 hours Saturday and 7 hours Sunday, excluding break times).
Weeks 5-7: Students will work independently without in-class supervision.
Weekend 8: Students will spend 19 hours in-class (4 hours Friday night, 8 hours Saturday and 7 hours Sunday, excluding break times), at the end of which the cohort will receive all learning materials for the class in the sequence.
This delivery method requires students to take two classes per semester, and 6 classes per calendar year.
Other Policies
Academic Review/Probation/Dismissal
Any graduate student who receives a grade of a C+ or lower 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.
Time Limits
All requirements for the degree of Master of Arts must be completed within five years of the date of admission to the Department of Psychology Graduate Program. 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.
Transfer of Coursework Taken at Other Institutions or as an Advanced Special Student
A maximum of six (6) credit hours of graduate level coursework earned from regionally accredited institutions prior to or after matriculation at Medaille College Graduate School may be applied towards a masters degree in Mental Health. All transfer credits must meet the following criteria:
a) Courses must have been offered at the graduate level.
b) Courses may not have been used to meet degree requirements for previously earned graduate degrees.
c) Courses must have been completed within the last five years of matriculation in the Department.
d) Courses must receive approval from the student's advisor, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate School.
e) A grade of "B" or above must have been earned in the requested transfer courses.
* The student may be subject to final examination in all coursework transferred into the Master's degree in Mental Health.
** No credit is granted for correspondence courses or for "credit-by-examination" courses.
Waiver of a Course Requirement
In certain circumstances, a waiver of a course requirement may be requested based on coursework taken at Medaille College or at another institution. To petition for a course waiver, the student must submit a formal written letter requesting a Waiver of a Course Requirement. This letter must be approved by the student’s advisor, the department chair, and the dean of the graduate school.
Procedure for Change of Advisor
Requests for change of advisor must be made in writing and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
Concerns or Questions about a Course or Program Requirement
In the event that a student has a concern or question about a course, the instructor of the course should be consulted before bringing concerns to the Department. If the situation is not resolved in consultation with the instructor, concerns and/or questions should be brought to the attention of the advisor and the Department Chair.
Grade Point Average Requirements
The Graduate School at Medaille College requires that all graduate students maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or above. A student whose grade point average falls below 3.0 after completion of 9 credits will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. A student whose grade point average falls below 3.0 for a second and successive semester may be allowed (with the recommendation of the Department and the consent of the Graduate School) a third semester in which to raise his or her grade point average to 3.0 or above. A student whose grade point average falls below 3.0 after three successive semesters will be required to withdraw from the College. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will not be recommended for graduation.
Likewise, 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.
* A student earning less than B- in any course is required to repeat the course. A student may repeat any course in an effort to earn a higher grade. The later grade will be used in computing the grade point average.
Academic Integrity
Medaille’s faculty and administration expect all students to complete their academic assignments with honesty and integrity. Students who engage in any form of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on a test, forging a signature or an entire college document) will be dealt with severely, with penalties ranging from an F on a given assignment to failing a course or even academic suspension or dismissal from the program. It is important to note that the Graduate School at Medaille College interprets the submission of the same paper, or substantially the same paper, to more than one instructor to be a violation of this code. Students found guilty of such offenses risk expulsion from the College. Students should consult their Student Handbook for full details on the college’s policy and procedures for handling formal charges of academic dishonesty.
Professionalism
The Psychology and Mental Health Counseling Programs expect students to maintain their integrity and professionalism as students and prospective counselors.Students are expected to be psychologically sound, interpersonally effective, and able to engage with peers, faculty, colleagues, consumers, and professionals in a healthy and responsible manner.Students are expected to give and receive feedback as a part of their training and growth.
Students are not only expected to achieve academically at the graduate level, but also to manage themselves throughout the program as ethical professionals-in-training.Issues of Ethical Misconduct, Behavioral Misconduct, Impairment, and Incompetence will be dealt with swiftly and fairly as they might arise. Students are required to abide by the American Counseling Association’s Ethical Code of Conduct and will sign an agreement upon admission. Students who behave in a way that is unethical will be dismissed from the program immediately. A “zero tolerance’ policy is in effect to protect the welfare of clients as well as the integrity of the profession.
Students With Disabilities
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Medaille College does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
Medaille College endeavors to assist students on an individual basis with any expressed concerns they have. The Office of Disability Services was created to assist students with disabilities in all aspects of college life. College personnel do as much as is reasonable to ensure that individuals with disabilities achieve independence and fully participate in the mainstream of the educational process in a comprehensively accessible environment.
Students requesting services and/or accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services directly at (716) 880-2280.
