North Carolina State University Notification of Intent to Officially Recognize a Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (Online) Constituent Department: Curriculum and Instruction Discipline Division: College of Education, Counselor Education (Online) Academic Level: Graduate Exact Title of the Program: Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (Online) Exact Degree Abbreviation: GCCE Proposed to Implement: Fall 2009 Proposed Number of Students: 20 new students per year Additional Resources Required: Funds for management of the program will be sought through DELTA. All courses are currently being taught. Intent to Recognize Approved: Ellen Vasu, Head, Curriculum & Instruction Edwin Gerler, Director of Graduate Programs, Counselor Education Program Chair, College Graduate Studies Committee Dean, College of Education Dean, Graduate School for Academic Board of Graduate School 1
Proposal for Recognition of Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (Online) Introduction The Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (Online) program is new and the first graduate level online program in counseling offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and NC State. The principal proposer, Dr. S. Raymond Ting, received two DELTA seed grants for course development in 2006 and 2007. Two online counselor education courses were offered in fall, 2007 and summer, 2008. Goals The Unmet Needs In North Carolina, we witness the rising number and complexity of mental problems in our schools, families, and society. The 2007 School Mental Health Study of the NC Area Health Education Center found that there are more mental health issues in schools now and school personnel such as teachers, administrators, and support staff needs training in counseling. The report suggested different levels of counseling training for school teachers and other school personnel. The proposed GCCE targets teachers, administrators, and other support personnel for basic counseling training. Every year the Counselor Education program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction receives a very high number of applications and can admit only a small fraction owing to a comparatively small faculty. Depending on the focus of the degree program, the admission ratio has maintained from a range 1 to 5 to 1 to 8. For example, in 2004 a total of 136 students applied to the program, 107 were rejected, only 29 were admitted; in 2005, 176 students applied, 141 were rejected, only 35 were admitted; and in 2006, 175 students applied, and only 40 students were admitted. The proposed GCCE can match the needs of some of these students. The GCCE: Following a Successful National Model The online Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (GCCE), modeled after the success of the Career Development Facilitator (CDF) program which was endorsed by the National Career Development Association preparing first degree holders to work in career advising and services, provides basic counseling concepts and skills for educational and human service professionals to help their students/clients. The GCCE is designed for school teachers, administrators, support staff, advisors, and tutors in different educational institutions (schools and universities), human service workers in government or community agencies, and individuals interested in counseling work. Students can complete the program in a year. The graduates from this program can provide paraprofessional counseling to assist licensed counselors. They can also become advocates and offer support for their students/clients. Any Existing Similar Program? The proposed program is the first of its kind in the UNC system and North Carolina. No similar online program was found for basic training in counseling. Existing online programs in North Carolina focus on postmaster s or a specialty at the master s level. 1. Post-Master Advanced School Counseling Certificate at UNC-Greensboro: This is a specialty program for master s degree graduates in counseling. 2. UNC Online M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling: This program prepares master s level professionals in counseling with a specialty in rehabilitation counseling. 3. Graduate Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling at East Carolina University: This certificate provides special training in substance abuse counseling for master s level counselors. The purpose of the proposed program is to expand the land-grant mission by delivering a new program online to students in working schools and elsewhere, in remote counties in North Carolina as well as in the whole country. This program will advance counseling through technological innovation, which will be useful for research and development as well. The certificate itself does not lead to professional certificates or licenses. However, the course credits may be transferred to future graduate degree programs. Candidates for the certificate must have at least a bachelor s degree; the certificate cannot be awarded to those without degrees who take the coursework. Specifically, the program goals are: (1) To increase program students awareness and knowledge of current practice and research in counseling (2) To develop essential skills and intervention strategies in counseling 2
Objectives (3) To prepare the students to become advocates and to support the students/clients and their families across education settings in K-12, postsecondary, and community settings. Key instructional objectives for the certificate program include: develop essential knowledge of counseling theories. develop essential multicultural knowledge and skills of assessment in counseling. develop multicultural knowledge and skills to advocate and support students/clients. develop essential knowledge and skills in career counseling and development. discuss ethical issues in counseling practice. study key current issues of student and client problems in schools, universities, and community. practice basic counseling skills and intervention strategies. Academic Requirements Applicants must: Be a graduate of an undergraduate degree program from an accredited four-year college, and have a GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4-point scale in their major or last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study; or have a Master s degree. Provisional Admission Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirements may be admitted provisionally based on past work experiences as a professional in the field of K-12 education, higher education, human resource development, or training and development and, ultimately, by earning at least a B (3.0) average in the first three credit hours of work in the certificate program. Coursework The Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education requires a minimum of 13 credits of core courses, all of them are existing courses. These courses are restricted only to GCCE students, which includes the following: ECD 510 Introduction to Counseling (3 credits) An introduction to counseling with a focus on three settings-schools, college, and community agencies. Designed to explore issues of theory, practice and research with regard to children, adolescents, college students and adults. Personal and professional exploration is encouraged through the use of psychological tests. ECD 525 Cross-cultural Counseling (3 credits) Theory and practice of counseling culturally different clients. Client populations include African-Americans, Asian-Americans, American Indians and Hispanics. Topics include cultural assumptions, cultural values, counselor credibility, prejudice and racism in the context of counseling. ECD 524 Career Counseling and Development (3 credits) Designed to help professionals acquire the knowledge and skills needed to (a) provide professional career counseling to individuals and (b) to design, implement and evaluation career development programs for particular groups. Areas of study include: theories of career development and decision making; career guidance programs in educational agency, and industrial settings; career information sources and delivery systems; and assessment in career counseling. ECD 530 Theories and Techniques of Counseling (4 credits) A combination of study of theory, philosophy and techniques in counseling. Topics include behavioral approaches, psychoanalytic approaches, client-centered counseling, existential counseling, and relationship models, and their relation to counseling. Techniques related to each theory are presented. Basic counseling skills taught in laboratory setting, including attending, listening, and challenging. 3
Applying Courses to an NC State Degree Program Courses within this certification will be applicable to NC State degree programs only as determined by the degree program in question. All the promotional literature of the GCCE program will include a statement to the effect that "Academic success might have a strong bearing on admission to a degree program BUT completion of a certificate program in no way guarantees entry into a graduate degree program, which is done through a separate application process." Academic Performance Award of the GCCE requires a minimum overall GPA of B (3.0) in certificate program courses. None of the courses may be taken for credit only. No transfer credits from other institutions are allowed for the Certificate. All students must be registered through NC State University. All GCCE requirements must be completed within the first four (4) calendar years beginning when the student begins the course work for the certificate. All Certificate students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment every semester (excluding summer sessions) until all course work is completed. Under unusual circumstances, a one-semester leave of absence will be granted if the student is unable to enroll in a course. Written approval from the certificate coordinator must be obtained before the beginning of the semester. Applying for the Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education Students submit a Certificate Contract Application (see Appendix A), a resume identifying educational preparation and work experiences, and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work (if any). The contract includes a statement of career goals, a rationale for completing the certificate program, and a timeline for certificate completion. When completed, students sign the Contract Application and submit two copies of all materials to the Certificate Coordinator. Students can always elect to review their application with the certificate coordinator prior to contract preparation. If the program is approved, a copy of the contract is returned to the student with signatures. Each semester, the student contacts the Office of Adult Credit Programs to determine registration procedures, course availability, and registration dates. When all certificate coursework is completed, students submit an official NC State transcript documenting completion of contracted course work to the program coordinator. Upon receipt of the first-degree transcript and verification of certificate completion, the NC State Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education is awarded. Administration The certificate program will reside in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Existing resources and other funds from DELTA will support the administration of this program. The certificate coordinator will be responsible for: o Approving all student admissions to the certificate program based on admission requirements o Maintain correspondence with certificate applicants and participants o Certify that candidates for certificates meet GPA requirements o Liaison with academic departments and graduate school o Develop and maintain web and brochure descriptions of the certificate o Convene faculty as needed to consider policy changes and review exception to current policies Resources Tuition and fees: No fees will be charged over and above normal costs of registering for NC STATE distance education resident and non-resident tuition guidelines. Faculty: GCCE required courses will be taught by graduate faculty members of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction or adjuncts with specialized knowledge and approved by the department. No additional resources are required from the Department. 4
Program or Policy Changes for the Certificate Changes in the Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education curriculum and related policies will be determined by the faculty and channeled through and approved/forwarded, as appropriate, to the College of Education Graduate Studies Committee. Changes will be reported to the Graduate School. Program Coordinator An individual from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction will be appointed to coordinate the Certificate Program. The coordinator reports to the department head. Appendix A Certificate Contract Application Certificate Contract Application Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education Program Submitted Name Address City State Zip Home Telephone Cell Phone Employer Job Title Academic Degrees (most recent first) Institution Address City State Zip Degree Awarded Institution Address City State Zip Degree Awarded 5
Describe current job duties and career goals related to counseling: Certificate Course Listing Course Number Title Credit Hours CORE COURSES ECD 510 Introduction to Counseling 3 Planned Semester ECD 530 Theories and Techniques of Counseling 4 ECD 525 Cross Cultural Counseling 3 ECD 524 Career Counseling and Development 3 Signatures Student Certificate Coordinator Graduate Administrator Approved In addition to this form, please submit your resume identifying educational preparation and work experiences, and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Submit all documents to: Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education Department of Curriculum and Instruction 520 Poe Hall, Box 7801 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695-7801 Telephone: 919-515-2244 Fax: 919-515-6891 6