Critical Issues for MA in Counseling Services Students
- It is suggested in the Department of Graduate Educatio and Human Services that students who are employed full-time will be limited to six (6) semester hours of graduate work in a given semester.
- Registration for the Spring semester is in November and for the Summer term and Fall semester in April.
- Registration is not a guarantee for class placement.
- A student who has completed 15 graduate semester hours in the Counseling program must matriculate before registering for additional courses toward the Counseling degree. Any exception to this policy must be approved by the Chairperson for Graduate Education and Human Services. To apply for matriculation, the student my have completed 9 semester hours of graduate-level courses attaining a cumulative grade point average of B (3.0) or above at Rider University. For full-time students, applications may be made during the semester in which the first 9 semester hours are being completed.
- All electives are to be completed, or taken concurrently, prior to registering for COUN 590 and COUN 591.
- COUN 591 is to be taken in the last semester of the program. Special cases require written approval of the Graduate Counseling Services faculty.
- The field experience is to be for a minimum of 2 consecutive semesters. The field experience should be obtained at least 6 months prior to the semester when planning to take the practicum. The typical time for an internship is September to May, February to August, or June to December. Exceptions only with written permission by a Program Advisor.
- The practicum course (COUN 580, 581, 585, or 586) is to precede the intership courses. Each practicum student will be supervised individually one hour each week by the practicum instructor and will also receive one-and-one-half hourse of group supervision each week.
- It is stronly encouraged that all students taking Counseling Services field courses obtain a professional insurance policy.
- Students planning to start their field experience in September are to have an accepted agreement with both site and faculty supervisor by May 15. For those starting in February, the accepted agreement is to be completed by December 15. For those starting in June, plan are to be completed by May 15. Exceptions must be approved by the Program Advisor.
- Comprehensive Examinations are to be taken in the last semester of the program. Students completing the program in the Summer semester may petition the Counseling Services faculty to take the Comprehensive Examination in the Spring. The must be done in writing with permission granted prior to registration for the Spring semester.
