Graduate Catalog  |  School of Graduate Studies  |

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•  |  Graduate Programs
•  |  Graduate Course Descriptions
•  |  Admissions Information
•  |  Alphabetical Index

Additional CPSY Bulletin Information

Community Counseling Graduate Program (CPSY)

Offered through the Department of Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
in the School of Health and Human Services
B210 Education Building
Phone: 320.308.2160
Fax: 320.308.3216
Department E-mail: ccp@stcloudstate.edu
Department Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/ccp/

Department Chairperson: Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour
Department Secretary: Ms. Sandi Radzak

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Leeann Jorgensen
Graduate Faculty: Leeann Jorgensen, Ph.D., 1990 Union Institute– Cincinnati; Tina M. Livingston-Sacin, Ph.D., 2006 University of Central Florida; and Niloufer Merchant, Ed.D., 1991 University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Employers

Graduates find employment as mental health counselors and work for a variety of agencies. Crisis clinics, correctional settings, schools, public community mental health facilities, and private practices also hire mental health counselors.

Admission Deadline Specific to the Program

February 1 for a fall semester start. Students may begin the program only during fall semester.

Program Description

Community counseling views and treats individuals, couples, and families seeking counseling and/or psychotherapeutic assistance from a strength based perspective that is culturally responsive and competent in relation to the context of the larger community. The Master of Science program in Community Counseling provides academic and experiential training needed to prepare and develop students for the Licensed Professional Counseling licensure (LPC). To be admitted to the community counseling program the applicant must successfully complete a personal interview process with the faculty. Careful attention will be given to previous work experience, academic background, scholarship, interpersonal skills and commitment to the field of Mental Health Counseling. Note, the program is moving towards curriculum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling by 2014.

Mission

The community counseling (CC) program’s mission is to prepare culturally responsive, competent, and ethical counseling professionals who adhere to the highest standard of curricula and clinical practice. The community counseling program pays special attention to systemic factors that undermine people's mental health and well-being.

Goals

The primary goal of the community counseling program is to train competent counselors to do counseling with a wide range of mental health problems.  Counselors are trained to help with concerns about depression, school, health and wellness, career, mental illness, family, divorce, emotional and behavioral difficulties.

CACREP Accreditation

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the national program accrediting body for the professional counseling profession. Program accreditation brings national recognition and opportunities to a program, the faculty, and the students. A primary value to graduates of a CACREP accredited program is increased portability of education and experience across state lines in terms of practice opportunity and licensure.

NBCC

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) works closely with CACREP to promote quality counseling through certification.  Students in the community counseling program will be eligible to take the National Counseling Exam (NCE) exam, sponsored by NBCC, their final semester of coursework.  The successful completion of the NCE exam provides the student to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC). The NCC credentials allow graduates increased portability of education and experience across state lines in terms of practice opportunity and licensure.

The SCSU CC masters program has been accredited by CACREP. All graduates of the programs are considered graduates of an accredited program, and may receive all the rights and privileges of CACREP accreditation, e.g. portability of education for licensure in all states with LPC, LPCC, and LMHC.

Graduate Assistant Overview

• Generally graduate assistantship positions are available fall and spring semesters.
• Graduate assistants assist faculty members with research projects and/or teaching.
• Graduate assistantships require full-time student status.
• Graduate assistantship applications must be submitted to the department chairperson. All applications must be submitted by the April 1st deadline.

Criteria for Admission

Applicants who meet the following standards may be considered for admission to the M.S. Program in Community Counseling

1. A cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher, on a 4.00 scale in most recent degree program completed.
2. The GRE is required for individuals with an undergraduate degree.
3. The GRE is waived for individuals with a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in a country where English is the sole official language.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit the following for consideration for admission to the M.S. Program in Community Counseling:

1. The application materials required by the School of Graduate Studies.
2. Three completed recommendation forms.
3. A current resume listing educational background, professional experience and volunteer and community involvements.
4. A statement of intent addressing the following:
• A brief description of the applicant’s background, training and experience.
• A statement of short- and long-term professional goals.
• A statement of purpose regarding the interest in your degree program.
• Identify areas of strength and challenges in pursuing this degree.

Careful attention will be given to previous work experience, academic background, scholarship, interpersonal skill, and commitment to the field of mental health counseling.

Wait list Information

• Competition for limited places in the Community Counseling program requires the necessity of a wait list. Click here for details.
  
  

Length of M.S. Program — Measured by Semesters

Full-time student: A minimum of five semesters taking an average of 12 credits per semester (including summers)
Part-time students can be accommodated and must complete the program within the seven year time frame.

Master of Science in Community Counseling

Plan A, 58 credits; Plan B, 52 credits

Thesis versus non-thesis option
(Plan A versus Plan B)

Before completing “Proposed Program of Graduate Study” blue forms for candidacy (see next section), students need to decide whether to follow Plan A or Plan B, thesis or non-thesis option, respectively. For those planning to pursue a doctorate degree at some time, conducting research and/or publishing a work should strongly be considered. Research can be done with either Plan A or Plan B. Students who are planning to write a thesis should carefully read the Graduate Bulletin, “Field Studies, Thesis, Creative Works, and Starred Papers”. Note that the book “A Manual for the Preparation of Field Studies, Theses, Creative Works, or Starred Paper(s)” should be purchased from the Husky Bookstore or downloaded from the School of Graduate Studies Web site.

I. Research: Min., Plan A, 12 Cr., or Plan B, 6 Cr.

Plan A:

• CPSY 675 Research Methods, 3 Cr.( Pre-requisites: CEEP 678)
• CEEP 678 Introduction to Graduate Statistics, 3 Cr.
• CPSY 699 Thesis, 6 Cr.

Plan B:

• CEEP 678 Introduction to Graduate Statistics, 3 Cr.
• CPSY 675 Research Methods, 3 Cr. (Pre-requisites: CEEP 678)
• CPSY electives (approved by advisor), 6 Cr.

Core courses
Major: Plan A or B, 40 credits

• CPSY 619. Professional Orientation and Ethics, 3 credits
• CPSY 651. Counseling Theories, 3 credits
• CPSY 658. Multicultural Counseling, 3 credits
• CPSY 664. Counseling Across the Lifespan, 3 credits
• CPSY 665. Measurement Techniques, 3 credits
• CPSY 666. Group Process and Dynamics, 3 credits
• CPSY 667. Career Development, 3 credits (Pre-requisite CPSY 669)
• CPSY 668. Counseling Procedures, 3 credits
• CPSY 669. Counseling Practicum, 4 credits (Pre-requisite CPSY 619, 651, 666, 668)
• CPSY 671. Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy, 3 credits
• CPSY 696. Supervised Internship in Counseling, Minimum 6 credits (600 Hrs.)(Pre-requisite CPSY 619, 651, 658, 666, 668, 669, 671)
• CPSY 698. Practice in Small Group Process, 3 credits

Other courses or changes may be substituted with consent of advisor.

Post degree requirements

Full-licensure: An additional 2000 post- masters degree supervised clinical contact hours in a clinical setting is required to complete the requirements for Professional Counseling licensure in the state of Minnesota.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Eligibility

The Professional Counseling regulatory requirements in Minnesota are among the most stringent in the US. Upon graduation from the SCSU accredited graduate academic program in Community Counseling, the counselor must pass the National Certified Counselor licensure examination (NCE). This exam may be taking during the final semester of program (see under NBCC above). Subsequent to two years of post-degree clinical experience under state approved supervision. Application requirements are online.

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Eligibility

To qualify as a LPCC, an applicant must have completed 4,000 hours of post-masters degree supervised professional practice in the delivery of clinical services in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses and disorders in both children and adults. There are additional graduate course requirements needed to apply for the LPCC licensure.  Application and course requirements are online. The current Community Counseling program meets the requirements for the LPC licensure and is in transition to meet the second tier LPCC licensure requirements by 2014.

Program inquiries

For program information, contact:

Dr. Leeann Jorgensen
Graduate Coordinator, Community Counseling
St. Cloud State University,
720 Fourth Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
Phone: 320-308-4915
E-mail: lsjorgensen@stcloudstate.edu