Master of Arts in School Counseling - 48 Credits

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Contact Information

Recruitment Counselor: Christine Vandenberg
Contact Phone: +1 (877) 236-4723 ext. 2071
Contact Email: graduateadmissions@centenarycollege.edu
Program Advisor: Dr. Harriet Gaddy ext. 2119

About Our Program

This program trains individuals to perform school counseling services such as the study and assessment of individual pupils with respect to their status, abilities, interest and needs. It trains students to counsel with administrators, teachers, students and parents regarding personal, social, educational, and vocational plans and programs. This degree also trains students to develop cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and families. This program certifies, by the NJ State Department of Education, for an individual to be a New Jersey School Counselor.

Graduates of this program will demonstrate

A thorough understanding of and competence in the practice of individual and group counseling
Acquire an appreciation for the role of the counselor in society and an understanding of the ethical
and legal responsibilities associated with that role
Acquire a comprehensive understanding of human growth and development
Develop competency in understanding of psychological testing and evaluation
Acquire professional skills and practical experience in the provision of counseling services in a school setting

Admission Requirements

Completed application
Bachelors Degree in Psychology
Original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Personal Statement
Minimum GPA 2.75
No GRE required

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in another discipline will be required to complete the following undergraduate psychology courses.
- Introduction to Psychology
- Personality Theory and Assessment
- The Psychology of Abnormal Behavior
- Quantitative Measurement in Psychology and Education
Original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Personal Statement
Minimum GPA 2.75
No GRE required

Master of Arts in School Counseling - Program Requirements

Comply with the academic policies and procedures of Centenary College.
Complete the prescribed graduate program 48 credit hours
Maintain a cumulative grade point average of "B" (3.0) or better for courses completed for the degree.
Complete a residency requirement consisting of minimally 39 credit hours at Centenary College
Comple the program within 6 years from the date of initial enrollment
After completing a total of 24 credits and as a prerequisite for engagin further graduate study, successfully pass the comprehhensive assessment consisting of a review and evaluation of student academic performance, clinical competencies, and demonstrated professionalism.
Demonstrate throughout the program course study of behavior consistent with the American Psychological Association Code of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, and the National Board for Certified Counselors Code of Ethics.
Complete a supervised counseling practicum in a school setting.

Guidance and Counseling		(18 credits)
GPY 501	Counseling: The Profession	3 credits
GPY 505	Counseling Theory & Practice I	3 credits
GPY 506	Counseling Theory & Practice II	3 credits
GPY 510	Clinical Interviewing	3 credits
GPY 520	Group Dynamics I	3 credits
GPY 586	Career Counseling	3 credits

Testing and Evaluation		(18 credits)
GPY 546	Diagnostic Assessment	3 credits

Psycology		(6 credits)
GPY 561	Human Growth & Development	3 credits
GED 601	Nature & Needs of Individuals with Disabilities	3 credits

Sociological Foundations		(6 credits)
GED 608	Family, Society and Children with Special Needs	3 credits
GED 603	Diversity: A Societal Perspective	3 credits
GPY 588	Counseling Diverse Populations	3 credits
GPY 562	Social & Cultural Foundation of Behavior	3 credits

Statistical and Research Methods		(6 credits)
GPY 541	Statisctical Analysis	3 credits
GPY 544	Research Methods	3 credits

Field Experience		(6 credits)
These courses require students to participate in a supervised counseling program in a school setting.
GPY 603	School Counseling Practicum	3 credits
GPY 604	School Counseling Practicum	3 credits

Elective		(3 credits)
The remaining three credits may be chosen from any Graduate level counseling course not listed above.

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Master of Arts in School Counseling - Course Descriptions

GED 601	Nature and Needs of Individuals with Disabilities	3 credits
	This course will take an in depth look at current state and federal legislation that impacts special education. The characteristics and etiology of specific disabilities and placement options for diverse learners will be addressed.
GED 603	Diversity: A Societal Perspective	3 credits
	Students will study how issues of race, ethnicity, gender, ability/potential, and socioeconomic status affect human behavior. Issues of tolerance and building supportive learning communities are included.
GED 608	Family, Society, and Children with Special Needs	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GED 601 This course will address the individual with disabilities within the context of the family and society. We will explore lifespan issues; including transition, work, adulthood, and medical concerns.
GPY 501	Counseling: The Profession	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to counseling as a profession. Students will acquire an understanding of the historical development of the counseling profession, the role of the counselor and human services in society, and the legal, ethical and psychological implications associated with the practice of the profession.
GPY 505	Counseling: Theory and Practice I	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of the individual counseling process. Students will gain an appreciation for counseling as a process and acquire the skills necessary for planning, implementing, and evaluating this process. A focus on the person-centered theory of counseling as a model for the helping relationship is emphasized through an integration of theory with practice.
GPY 506	Counseling: Theory and Practice II	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY501 and GPY505 This course introduces the student to the cognitive behavioral theory of individual counseling. Students will acquire an understanding of this counseling model and develop practical skills in its implementation. An integration of theory with practice is promoted through a 30 hour supervised Practicum experience.
GPY 510	Clinical Interviewing	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY505 This course introduces students to the practice of clinical interviewing as an assessment process for initial client contact. Students will develop skills in fostering client cooperation, addressing negative reactions, taking a life history, making behavioral observations, setting interview parameters, and summarizing findings.
GPY 520	Group Dynamics I	3 credits
	The student will be introduced to the historical development, fundamental concepts, and theories of small group counseling. The development of basic group counseling skills is emphasized and acquired within a supervised practicum experience.
GPY 541	Statistical Analysis	3 credits
	Prerequisite: One Undergraduate Course in Statistics for Permission of the instructor. This course provides the student with a conceptual and practical understanding of the application of statistics to the description and analysis of counseling-related research. Topics include the use of descriptive statistics and such inferential statistics as t test, correlation, analysis of variance and multiple regression.
GPY 544	Research Methods in Counseling	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY541 This course provides the student with an understanding of the application of basic research methodologies in counseling research. Practical experience in the design, conduct and evaluation of research is emphasized.
GPY 546	Diagnostic Assessment	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY566 This course combines a focus on psychological measurement with a thorough examination of the use of tests and measurement in counseling. The student will gain an understanding of psychometric theory within the context of a survey of a variety of objective and projective methods for the assessment of personality and clinical disorders.
GPY 561	Human Growth and Development	3 credits
	This course is designed to introduce the student to the principal theories of human development from the prenatal to late adulthood stage. The relevance of developmental change in cognition, affect, and behavior are explored with respect to their relevance to an understanding of client behavior.
GPY 562	Social and Cultural Foundations of Behavior	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the fundamental concepts and theories of the effect of culture, socialization, and context on the nature of human behavior. A focus on specific issues concerning race, ethnicity and gender is maintained.
GPY 586	Career Counseling	3 credits
	This course is designed to acquaint the student with the theories of counseling related to career development and occupational choice. Topics include theories of career and vocational development, use of tests and interest inventories in career counseling, and the use of educational and occupational information in career development and selection.
GPY 588	Counseling Diverse Populations	3 credits
	This course sensitized the student to the unique influence of group membership in the issues clients bring to counseling. Topics include a central emphasis on multicultural counseling with additional attention on the influence of client gender, disability, age and sexual orientation on the practice of counseling special needs.
GPY 603	School Counseling Practicum I	3 credits
	Prerequisite: Completion of All Required Courses or Permission of Instructor This course provides students with the opportunity to participate, under supervision, in the actual practice of counseling in an appropriate school setting. The field experience component of this course will consist of a minimum of 300 hours during a maximum period of 15 weeks. an integration of theory with experience will be emphasized in the academic component of this course. All students will be required to obtain Student Liability Insurance.
GPY 604	School Counseling Practicum II	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY603 This course is designed to provide students with an additional opportunity to participate, under supervision, in the practice of counseling in an appropriate school setting that may be similar of different from that utilized in GPY603. The field experience component of this course will consist of a minimum of 300 hours during a maximum period of 15 weeks. An integration of theory with experience will be emphasized in the academic component of this course. All students will be required to obtain Student Liability Insurance.