Master of Arts in Counseling Program

Mission Statement

The Master of Arts in Counseling program (MAC) is dedicated to educating, motivating and preparing highly qualified, ethically and culturally competent, professional counselors. The MAC program is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address client issues in a diverse and global society.

Characteristics

The Heidelberg University Master of Arts in Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through March 31, 2027. The clinical concentration is approved by the Ohio Counselor Social Worker and Marriage/Family Therapy Board (CSWMFT) through March 31, 2027. Additionally, the school concentration meets the Department of Higher Education Chancellor’s requirement and the State Board of Education’s standards leading to the school counselor license until the spring 2027 review cycle. This program is designed to meet the academic requirements for those students who are seeking licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), or a Licensed Professional School Counselor (LPSC) primarily in the state of Ohio. Requirements for licensure eligibility vary slightly from state to state. Please check with the appropriate licensing body in the state where you intend to practice to verify that the coursework and field placement requirements of the MAC program will meet the eligibility criteria for the state credentials you seek.

The Counseling program at Heidelberg University offers a Master of Arts in Counseling degree with two concentrations:

• School Counseling (50 hours)
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 hours)

Additionally, after a candidate selects a primary concentration, the Program offers coursework and field experiences for licensure endorsement in the alternate concentration. Example: primary concentration chosen as School Counseling, candidate may elect to also take additional coursework and field experiences for clinical mental health license endorsement – this is NOT a second degree but coursework endorsing a credentialed graduate to sit for a specific licensure examination.

Program Objectives

The MAC Program will:

1. Provide students with the knowledge and skills to successfully obtain licensure and employment as counselors.
2. Prepare students to use the highest ethical and legal standards in professional counseling practice.
3. Provide students with the curriculum to address the knowledge and skills identified in the CACREP eight core areas.
4. Emphasize diversity issues that will prepare students to be effective counselors in a global society.
5. Prepare students to develop in-depth knowledge of self-selected specialized areas of counseling, such as clinical mental health counseling, and/or school counseling.
6. Provide students with up to date and evolving curriculum to effectively address emerging and vital issues such as trauma, crisis, emergency preparedness, technology, etc.

MAC Student Handbook

The MAC Student Handbook should be used in conjunction with the current Graduate Catalog to inform, clarify, and explain all current policies and procedures of the MAC Program. Specific policies, procedures, and Student Learning Outcomes governing the operation of the counseling program are detailed in the MAC Student Handbook. Hard copies of this Handbook are made available to new students prior to registration of classes, during the annual New Student Orientation, and is available online for all students. The MAC Student Handbook is updated every year and the most recent version will be made available at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Program Concentrations

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration is designed to meet the academic and field experience requirements for those students who are seeking licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of Ohio. The major purpose of the Heidelberg University clinical mental health counselor concentration is to develop in students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide appropriate counseling services within a variety of helping settings. Skills in interpersonal helping, interaction, communication, and sensitivity acquired in the program are applicable to a variety of professionals including education, community social services, business and industry, government, and the ministry.

The clinical mental health counseling concentration is a 60 semester hour program inclusive of 100-hour Practicum and 600-hour Internship field experiences.

Students completing the 60 semester hours of coursework are eligible to sit for the state licensure exam during their last semester of coursework.

School Counseling Concentration

(New students will not be admitted into the School Counseling Concentration beginning in the Summer 2023.)

The School Counseling concentration is designed to meet the academic and field experience requirements for those students who are seeking licensure as a Licensed Professional School Counselor (LPSC) in the state of Ohio. The major purpose of the Heidelberg University school counselor concentration is to develop in students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide appropriate counseling services within the school setting. To qualify for licensure as a Licensed Professional School Counselor with the Ohio Department of Education, candidates must have completed at least 48 semester hours of coursework, including 100 hours of Practicum field experience and 600 hours of Internship field experience in a school setting and must successfully pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) School Counselor exam #040.

A school counselor in the state of Ohio must have graduated from an approved program of preparation, passed a current BCI check, and have been recommended by the head of teacher education at Heidelberg University. This individual must have completed an examination (OAE #040) prescribed by the State Board of Education and evidenced the education and experience requirements which include:

• A Master’s degree in counseling and/or three years experience as a licensed school counselor in another state.

Application and Admission Requirements for Degree Seeking Students

Applications for admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling degree program should be sent to the Office of Admission. Applications are processed on a rolling basis.

Steps for Completing the Master of Arts in Counseling Degree

Step 1. Requirements to Enter MAC Program

All applicants enter the Program as Conditional Admits. The specific requirements needed for an applicant to take a graduate course are as follows:

1. The completed Graduate Studies Application for Admission.
2. Transcripts will be accepted from a college or university accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission or other regional accrediting commissions which have been recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Official (sealed) transcripts sent directly from all previously attended colleges or universities. Applicants must have:
   1. Earned a Bachelor’s degree.
   2. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
      * Applicants not meeting this criterion must take two credit hours of COU 502 - Introduction to Professional Counseling Identity , during the first two semesters and receive a grade of B- or better. During this semester, the Conditional Admit is not allowed to take more than 9 hours.
   3. International applicants must complete the above requirements in addition to the International applicant requirements explained in the Graduate Catalog.
3. Transcripts will be accepted from a college or university accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission or other regional accrediting commissions which have been recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Official (sealed) transcripts sent directly from all colleges or universities where Master’s level work has been in progress and/or completed. In order to ensure each transfer student’s academic success, the program director reserves the right to place students on probationary status upon admission. In addition, any transfer student who has been dismissed from another university’s graduate program and is admitted to one of Heidelberg’s graduate programs will be admitted on probationary status.
4. Heidelberg University offers students the opportunity to enroll in fall or summer semesters. All students are required to complete the New Student Orientation held prior to the fall and summer semester.
5. Completion of at least the equivalent of twelve semester hours in the behavioral sciences from an accredited institution. The hours completed in behavioral sciences should include a minimal understanding of research/quantitative methods and abnormal behavior.
   1. In cases where the applicant is judged to be deficient in the behavioral sciences, he/she may be required to successfully complete appropriate undergraduate courses without graduate credit before admission on a regular status is granted.
6. Upon receipt/completion of items 1 through 5 above, Conditional Admits may enroll in any of the Foundation courses (COU 502 , COU 503 , COU 505 , and/or COU 532 ), not to exceed 9 semester hours, while completing the admission process.

Step 2: Requirements for Admission into the MAC Program

In order to be considered for full admission, the following need to be received or completed:

1. Receipt of all materials from Step 1. - Requirements to Enter MAC Program.
2. Attendance at a New Student Orientation held once a year in the fall. Conditional Admits must register for COU 501 - Orientation Workshop . This course is a transcripted 0 credit hour requirement in which Conditional Admits are oriented to the stipulations of the graduate counseling program. Specific details of this Orientation are described on the next page.
3. Successful completion of no more than 9 hours of the Foundation courses.
4. Two letters of recommendation to be written on forms supplied by the MAC program. The letters must be from professional or academic persons knowledgeable of the Conditional Admits’ professional experiences, dispositions, and aware that the applicant is seeking a counseling degree.
5. Two-three page statement of professional goals with biographical information that includes reasons for wanting to enter the program and a statement of personal strengths and weaknesses.
6. Submission of an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification background check (BCI) and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check. Background check information is valid for one year, or 365 days, from the date that the background check was completed.
   1. In the event that the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offense (other than a minor traffic violation), the University will require a separate explanation of circumstances. The Program Director reserves the right to make the final decision with regard to acceptance in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program, and also reserves the right to depart from and/or supplement the admission criteria based upon the best interests of Heidelberg University.
7. Maintenance of Good Academic Standing as defined in the Graduate Catalog.
8. Interview with the MAC Graduate Admissions Committee who will make a recommendation for final admission to the Program Director. Following this interview, the Conditional Admit will receive a written decision regarding their admission status. Conditional Admits accepted into the MAC Program are reclassified as a Full Admit meaning they are a candidate to the MAC degree program. Candidates are then assigned an academic advisor. (Throughout this catalog, the terms “full admits” and “MAC candidate” are used interchangeably).
9. All MAC candidates will be held to the catalog requirements in effect at the time first enrolled in coursework in their graduate program. Revisions to course prerequisites apply to all candidates regardless of the catalog of admission.

Note: All new students must register for COU 501 , New Student Orientation, (course is 0 credit hours), and attend the session that is held yearly on the Saturday prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Orientation is designed to orient new and continuing students and faculty on such issues as:

• Policies of the MAC program and Heidelberg University
• Academic advising and program matriculation
• MAC faculty and staff, counseling training laboratory, curriculum, registration, financial aid, bookstore, library, and miscellaneous University-supported resources
• Receive a current copy of the Graduate Catalog, the MAC Handbook, and review the MAC website
• Current changes in Ohio laws and ethical codes

Step 3: Requirements for Admission to Practicum

Guidelines for all field placements are outlined in the Heidelberg University, Graduate Catalog under Standards of Practice as well as in the Graduate Studies in Counseling Field Experience Handbook both available in hardcopy and on the University’s website. In accordance with CACREP Standards and state licensing agencies, all MAC candidates are required to complete a 100 hour practicum (40 hours must be direct service with students). Candidates cannot register for Practicum until they have completed all of the Foundation and Core Courses, and have an overall satisfactory collection of ratings on their Personal Characteristics Review Forms. Non-degree seeking Post Master’s School Counselor Licensure Endorsement Program (PSCLE) candidates may be required to complete a practicum. All field experiences are coordinated by the MAC Field Experience Coordinator.

School Concentration Requirements: COU 594 - Practicum in School Counseling 
MAC candidates with a school concentration are required to complete a minimum of 100 contact hours in a K-12 educational setting. Additionally, MAC candidates are not eligible to begin school practicum until the following requirement has been met:

1. Successful completion of COU 519  and COU 522  

Clinical Concentration Requirements: COU 580 - Practicum in Clinical Counseling 
MAC candidates with a clinical concentration are required to complete a minimum of 100 contact hours in a mental health setting. Additionally, MAC candidates are not eligible to begin clinical practicum until the following requirement has been met:

1. Successful completion of COU 609  

Step 4: Requirements for Admission to Internship

Guidelines for all field placements are outlined in the Heidelberg University, Graduate Catalog under Standards of Practice as well as in the Graduate Studies in Counseling Field Experience Handbook both available in hardcopy and on the University’s website. The internship is designed as a capstone experience providing candidates an opportunity to receive on-the-job training and experience in an approved environment under the supervision of a certified or licensed professional. In accordance with CACREP Standards and licensing agencies, all MAC candidates and Non-degree-seeking Post-Master’s School Counselor Licensure Endorsement Program (PSCLE) candidates are required to complete a 600 hour internship. MAC licensure endorsement only candidates are required to complete 1200 hours in the internship courses (600 in school and 600 in clinical). The internship courses are:

COU 583 - Internship Experience for Clinical Counseling 
There are 600 total clock hours of internship required for state licensure. Every credit hour is equivalent to 100 clock hours. Students may repeat COU 583  up to six times and must complete a total of six credit hours for licensure.

COU 595 - Internship Experience for School Counseling 
There are 600 total clock hours of internship required for state licensure. Every credit hour is equivalent to 100 clock hours. Students may repeat COU 595  up to six times and must complete a total of six credit hours for licensure.

All information pertaining to field experiences are coordinated by the MAC Field Experience Coordinator.

Step 5: Requirements for Graduation

In order to be recommended for graduation, candidates must:

1. Maintain good academic standing defined in the Graduate Catalog and as evidenced by a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
2. Complete applicable semester hours of coursework (inclusive of foundation, core, elective, and field experiences) within the published time limit
   1. Candidates have six calendar years from the date of the first course taken toward their graduate degree to complete the MAC program.
3. Register for COU 690 - Comprehensive Examination 
   1. The comprehensive examination is intended to be one of the culminating experiences of the graduate program. The exam is offered in February for May graduates, in September for December graduates, and in June for August graduates.
      MAC Candidates must register for COU 690 - Comprehensive Examination  in the term prior to their expected graduation. Students who fail to register for COU 690  by the Last Day to Add listed on the Graduate Studies Calendar for each semester will be ineligible to take the exam and unable to graduate by their expected date.
   2. The Comprehensive Examination is a multiple-choice exam designed to evaluate their accrued knowledge across the eight CACREP core areas. The exam consists of eight subtests based on the CACREP core areas and subtest(s) for the specialization area(s). Students have a total of four hours to complete the entire exam. Candidates will not be considered for graduation until they have passed the comprehensive examination with a minimum score of 70% in each subtest.
   3. Candidates who fail any section of the examination will have 30 days to prepare for a second attempt at which time they will retake only those sections failed. If a candidate fails the exam a second time, he/she may not retake it until the next offering. If a candidate fails the exam a third time, he/she may be dropped from the MAC program or required to retake courses at the discretion of the Program Director.
   4. Candidates, who entered the program prior to Fall 2003, are exempt from the comprehensive examination.

Step 6: Requirements for State Licensure

Candidates who complete the Program’s curriculum requirements for the Master of Arts in counseling - school concentration (50 semester hours) are eligible to sit for the licensure exam in the state of Ohio. Candidates that complete the Program’s curriculum requirements for the Master of Arts in clinical mental health concentration (60 semester hours) are eligible to sit for the licensure exam in the state of Ohio.

School Counseling Licensure:

Once candidates have completed the appropriate coursework, including a 100 hour practicum, a 600 hour internship, and passed the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) School Counselor Test #040 (students must take a total of at least 45 semester hours in order to qualify to sit for the exam), they submit an online application for school licensure to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).

Clinical Counseling Licensure:

The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapy Board (CSWMFT) use the National Counselor Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Candidates who wish to graduate from MAC with license in hand are eligible to apply for licensure and sit for the NCE during their last semester of coursework (60 semester hours). Candidates apply for licensure on-line through the CSWMFT website. Then, they request a letter from the MAC Program Director to the CSWMFT certifying their expected graduation date and confirming that they are in their last term of their degree program.

Candidates must provide verification of current BCI and FBI background checks to the CSWMFT in order to be eligible for licensure. In order to become licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must have completed all the necessary coursework and provided all the necessary documentation to the CSWMFT. This includes all of the following:

• a 100 hour practicum
• 600 hours of internship in no less than two terms
• a total of no less than 60 semester hours of courses
• Successful completion of the NCE
• Official final transcripts with degree conferred.

Admission as a “Coursework Only” Student

Applicants who do not wish to be admitted to the graduate counseling program, but wish to take courses for credit, will be permitted to do so provided they hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and complete the non-degree graduate application form, complete all requirements for admission and meet all of the requirements to enter the Masters of Counseling program.

Coursework only students are only allowed to take up to 12 semester hours, after which time the student will withdraw or complete a formal application into the degree program. If the Program Director wishes to accept coursework taken as a “coursework only” student, under no circumstance shall a student apply more than 12 semester hours of credit toward the Master’s degree.

Accepted applicants who enter with a Master’s Degree in Counseling may take courses toward licensure.

Maximum Course Load

The maximum course load for a Graduate Counseling student is twelve semester hours in a spring or fall semester, or six semester hours in an eight-week or summer session. A student may petition the Program Director to take additional hours during the regular academic year.

be based on a combination of factors such as advice from the student’s advisor, past grade history and past record of academic performance.

Time Limitations

The Master of Counseling degree and all coursework must be completed within 6 calendar years. Coursework and/or transfer credit outside of the 6 year time limitation must be repeated.

Leave of Absence

A student that is not enrolled for one calendar year will have his or her student account categorized as inactive. To register for courses, the student must reactivate his or her student account by contacting Graduation Admissions.

Extended Leave of Absence

A student may for whatever reason choose not to enroll in classes for up to two full calendar years and remain on the catalog with which he or she entered the program. Any student not enrolled in classes for a time period longer than two full calendar years must apply for readmission to the MAC program. If readmitted, degree requirements that must be fulfilled will be those of the new catalog that is in force at the time of readmission. Completed eligible courses will be held to the 6-year time limitation.

Transfer Credit

Heidelberg University will accept up to 12 hours of graduate transfer credit towards the Master of Arts in Counseling degree. For students who already possess a Master’s Degree and wish to complete the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration, a maximum of 30 hours of counseling related coursework, or the School Counseling Licensure concentrations, a maximum of 24 hours of counseling related coursework may be transferred. One half of all coursework must be completed at Heidelberg’s main campus. Transfer coursework affects how much time students have to complete their graduate degree. Several factors should be noted concerning transfer credit/ Heidelberg university coursework:

1. Coursework must be comparable with the Heidelberg University MAC program coursework. Students must submit course syllabi and catalog course descriptions along with official transcripts with any request for graduate transfer of credits.
2. All transfer credit must have been completed within 6 calendar years of the first Heidelberg class taken. Once accepted, these classes will be counted toward graduation. Prior Heidelberg University coursework being applied to the graduate degree is also included in the 6 calendar year rule.
3. The grade(s) in the courses(s) to be transferred must be a “B” or better.
4. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the academic advisor and approved by the Program Director.
5. Transfer credit does not affect the cumulative grade point average established with Heidelberg University.

Evaluation of Graduate Students’ Non-Academic Performance in the Graduate Counseling Program

The unique nature of programs in counselor preparation requires the teaching faculty to consider both the student’s academic (e.g., course grades) as well as non-academic (e.g., interpersonal skills, ethical behavior) performance when evaluating the professional competence of students. As faculty, we take seriously our professional obligations to mentor all students admitted into our program and to provide assistance and support as required to facilitate their professional development and ultimate graduation from the program.

We also have an obligation to maintain professional standards, which require regular and ongoing evaluation of all students in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Through ongoing evaluation and appraisal, graduate faculty are aware of the academic and personal limitations of students/supervisees that might impede performance.

Students enrolled in Heidelberg’s MAC program are responsible for meeting all academic requirements outlined in other sections of this document.

Specifically:

1. Students must adhere to the ethical and professional standards of the American Counseling Association as outlined in the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and the American School Counselor Association’s Code of Ethics.
2. Students must demonstrate functional competence in fulfilling professional tasks and duties of the profession.

All faculty members will review the progress of all students each semester. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress, evidence signs of impairment, or engage in inappropriate behavior will face action based on the guidance from program faculty.

Students in the MAC Program are preparing to enter the field of professional counseling and, as such, they are expected to strive toward wellness and to adopt and adhere to the ACA Code of Ethics, especially with regard to professional responsibility and behavior.

Field Experience: Practicum and Internship

The purpose of the field experience is to allow counseling students to apply basic knowledge, skills, and professional values to actual practice settings specific to the emphasis of their program of study. Practicum and internship students ground their work in theory and discuss their work accordingly. The on-site field experience provides an opportunity to integrate theory and practice. The field experience is a reciprocal arrangement: counseling students exchange their work in return for on-the-job training and experience in the field. The end result ultimately is the promotion of professional development, integration of skills, theoretical knowledge, and the reinforcement of competence. The program is designed to reinforce in the counseling student a sense of professional identity. The field placement setting; the interaction of staff, clients, and students; the realities and responsibilities of the helping process; and the conscious application of ethical principles combine to promote the personal knowledge and commitment to enter the field of counseling. Students should consult the Field Experience Handbook in conjunction with the catalog for all details and expectations.

All students in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program are required to complete a 100 hour Practicum (3 Sem. hrs.) In addition, all students complete an internship for a total of 600 hours.

Standards of Practice:

Practicum and Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

In both Practicum and Internship experiences in clinical counseling, students complete field experiences that are designed to help them integrate the knowledge and skills which they have learned in their core and foundation classes. Students will begin to crystallize their professional identity, polish their counseling skills, obtain invaluable information related to the varied roles of a professional counselor, and provide highly skilled service to the agency where they will work. In these experiences, students are expected to act in an ethical and professional manner, complete all assignments expected for the course, attend supervision classes on the main campus, and work to learn and grow as much as possible. Both of these supervised experiences have been developed to prepare professional counselors to work within an agency setting, and they are designed to meet or exceed educational and licensure requirements in the state of Ohio and CACREP.

For both the Practicum and Internship, students are required to obtain professional liability insurance and verify updated BCI status prior to participating in their field experiences. This liability insurance can be obtained through membership in a variety of professional organizations including the American Counseling Association (ACA) and American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA).

The Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling for the Master of Arts Program at Heidelberg University has been developed to prepare professional counselors and has been designed to meet or exceed educational and licensure requirements and standards in the state of Ohio.

COU 580  - Practicum and COU 583  - Internship Eligibility: To be eligible for Practicum or Internships, students must complete all requirements as indicated in the Graduate Catalog. Specific and detailed information is provided in the Guide to the MAC Field Experience handbook located on the MAC website. Additionally, hard copies are also available in the Graduate Office. In short, the following procedures must be followed to be eligible for practicum or internship:

1. Students must have their practicum and internship sites/plans pre-approved by the Field Experience Coordinator one semester prior to registration. Students should locate a practicum and internship site that reflects their career goals, and they should interview as well as be interviewed by agency personnel to make sure that the site and the site supervisor can provide the type of experience determined by CACREP and Heidelberg University’s Graduate Studies in Counseling Program. Samples of interview questions are provided on our website. While you are asked to make an initial contact with a possible on-site supervisor to discuss the suitability of the site, all potential sites are subject to approval by the Heidelberg Graduate Counseling department. Students should approach a prospective site as though it were a prospective employer and conduct themselves as if seeking employment and being interviewed for a job. Agency personnel have the ultimate authority to approve or disapprove of your placement with their organization.
2. The Petition for Practicum/Internship Form must be completed by the student, signed by the proposed site supervisor, and submitted with supporting documentation to the Graduate Administrative Assistant by the posted deadlines of the semester prior to enrollment. Petition forms are available in the Field Experience Handbook, the MAC office, or via the website. Students must submit a new petition for each term of the practicum/internship sequence. Additionally, for students with more than one site, a separate Petition form must be submitted for each site.
3. Students must provide proof of current liability insurance and documentation of an active supervisor’s Ohio license/certification must also be included in the Petition packet. Upon approval of the petition, students are notified and provided instructions on how to proceed and register for their course. Students cannot register for COU 580  or COU 583  without prior authorization.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum and Internship Content

The clinical counseling Practicum and Internship are courses that focus on the application of knowledge and skills applicable to community counseling. Practicum experiences, as defined by CACREP, are supervised community experiences in which the student develops basic counseling skills and integrates professional knowledge. The Internship experience, as defined by CACREP, is a post-practicum, supervised capstone clinical experience in which the student refines and enhances basic counseling knowledge and skills, and integrates and authenticates professional knowledge and skills appropriate to the student’s program.

Supervision

Weekly class meetings are required in both Practicum and Internship. These meetings include: case conceptualization, discussion of site related issues, lectures, dissemination of professional information (professional organizations, licensure tests, etc.), and role playing in the Counseling Laboratory. In addition, the Practicum and Internship experiences include:

1. For Practicum, 100 contact hours are required. A minimum of 40 of these clock hours must be direct face-to-face counseling service with clients conducting individual, couples, family, or group counseling. Direct service is defined as time spent working with clients. Direct hours are hours completed within an agency setting under the direct supervision of an approved site supervisor.
2. For Internship, 600 total contact hours are required to occur in a clinical counseling setting. A minimum of 240 of these clock hours need to be direct counseling service with clients conducting individual, couples, family, or group counseling. Direct service is defined as time spent working with clients. Direct hours are hours completed within an agency setting under the direct supervision of an approved site supervisor.
3. A minimum of one hour per week of individual supervision with the on-site supervisor.
4. A minimum of one and one-half hours per week of group supervision on campus in a classroom setting that may be applied towards indirect hours of Practicum and/or Internship hours.
5. Opportunities for students to become more familiar with myriad roles and activities for which professional counselors are responsible; present formal case studies, discuss case conceptualization issues, understand mental health agency culture, and various agency-based meetings. Students will have the opportunity to interact with other agency professionals and fully understand the ethical implications of professional counseling.
6. Formal evaluations of student’s performance during the Practicum and Internship will be performed by the site supervisor and the program faculty member throughout the field experiences; students will be apprised of these evaluations.

Site Supervision: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum/Internship

A site supervisor must meet the following criteria:

1. A minimum of a Master’s degree in counseling or a related profession with equivalent qualifications, including current license in the state of Ohio as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervision Endorsement (LPCC-S),
2. A minimum of two years of clinical counseling experience, and
3. Knowledge of the Program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures.

Site Selection: Ethical and Legal Implications

1. Students who wish to select their place of employment as a possible Practicum or Internship site are required to set up an appointment with the Field Experience Coordinator to discuss plans to avoid dual relationship issues.
2. Students who are employed by the agency they will use as a field placement site may not use their employment hours to fulfill requirements for Practicum and Internship. After a discussion with the Field Experience Coordinator, a supplemental contract will be established, to be signed by the site supervisor, to clearly designate when and what hours may be applied to their Practicum or Internship hours.
3. Any other special circumstances should be discussed with the Graduate Counseling Field Experience Coordinator.

Standards of Practice:

Practicum and Internship in School Counseling

In both Practicum and Internship experiences in school counseling, students complete field experiences that are designed to help them integrate the knowledge and skills which they have learned in their core and foundation classes. Students will begin to crystallize their professional identity, polish their counseling skills, obtain invaluable information related to the varied roles of a professional school counselor, and provide highly skilled service to the school(s) where they will work. In these experiences, students are expected to act in an ethical manner, complete all assignments expected for the course, attend supervision classes on the main campus, and work to learn and grow as much as possible. Both of these supervised experiences have been developed to prepare professional school counselors to work within a school setting, and they are designed to meet or exceed educational and licensure requirements in the state of Ohio and CACREP.

For both the Practicum and Internship, students are required to obtain professional liability insurance and verify updated BCI status prior to participating in their field experiences. This liability insurance can be obtained through membership in a variety of professional organizations including the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American School of Counselor Association (ASCA).

COU 594  - Practicum and COU 595  - Internship Eligibility: To be eligible for Practicum or Internships in the school counseling concentration, students must complete all requirements as indicated in the Graduate Catalog. Specific and detailed information is provided in the Policies and Procedures Manual for Practicum and Internships located on the MAC website. Additionally, hard copies are also available in the Graduate Office. In short, the following procedures must be followed to be eligible for practicum or internship:

1. Students must have their practicum and internship sites/plans pre-approved by the Field Experience Coordinator one semester prior to registration. Students should locate a practicum and internship site that reflects their career goals and they should interview as well as be interviewed by school personnel to make sure that the site and the site supervisor can provide the type of experience determined by CACREP and Heidelberg University’s Graduate Studies in Counseling Program. **Note: As students are applying for K-12 licensure as professional school counselors, they will be required to gain field experience across educational levels. See the Field Experience Handbook for details. Samples of interview questions are provided on our website. While you are asked to make an initial contact with a possible on-site supervisor to discuss the suitability of the site, all potential sites are subject to approval by the Heidelberg Graduate Counseling department. Students should approach a prospective site as though it were a prospective employer conducting themselves as if seeking employment and being interviewed for a job. School personnel have the ultimate authority to approve or disapprove of your placement with their organization.
2. The Petition for Practicum/Internship Form must be completed by the student, signed by the proposed site supervisor, and submitted by the posted deadlines of the semester prior to enrollment. Petition forms are available in the Field Handbook, the MAC office, or via the website. Students must submit a new petition for each term of the practicum/internship sequence. Additionally, for students with more than one site, a separate Petition form must be submitted for each site. Students are discouraged from taking field experience at a site where they are currently employed, particularly as a teacher or support personnel. Students should consult with their academic advisor before applying to such sites.
3. Students provide proof of current liability insurance and documentation of an active supervisor’s Ohio license/certification must also be included in the Petition packet. Upon approval of the petition, students are notified and provided instructions on how to proceed and register for their course. Students cannot register for COU 594  or COU 595  without prior authorization.

School Counseling Practicum and Internship Content

The school counseling Practicum and Internship are courses that focus on the application of knowledge and skills applicable to school counseling. Practicum experiences, as defined by CACREP, are supervised clinical experiences in which the student develops basic counseling skills and integrates professional knowledge. The Internship experience, as defined by CACREP, is a post-practicum, supervised capstone clinical experience in which the student refines and enhances basic counseling or student development knowledge, skills, and integrates and authenticates professional knowledge and skills appropriate to the student’s program.

Supervision

Weekly class meetings are required in both Practicum and Internship. These meetings include: case conceptualization, discussion of site related issues, lectures, dissemination of professional information (professional organizations, licensure tests, etc.), and role playing in the Counseling Laboratory. In addition, the Practicum and Internship experiences include:

1. For Practicum, 100 contact hours are required. A minimum of 40 of these clock hours need to be direct face-to-face counseling service with students, parents, or consultation with teachers relative to a student concern. Direct service is defined as time spent working with students. Direct hours are hours completed within a school setting under the direct supervision of an approved site supervisor.
2. For Internship, 600 total contact hours are required to occur in a school counseling setting. A minimum of 240 of these clock hours need to be direct counseling service with students, parents, or consultation with teachers relative to a student concern. Direct service is defined as face-to-face time spent working with clients. Direct hours are hours completed within a school setting under the direct supervision of an approved site supervisor.
3. A minimum of one hour per week of individual supervision with the on-site supervisor.
4. A minimum of one and one-half hours per week of group supervision on campus in a classroom setting that may be applied towards indirect hours of Practicum and/or Internship hours.
5. Opportunities for students to become more familiar with myriad roles and activities for which school counselors are responsible; present formal case studies, discuss case conceptualization issues, understand school culture, and various school-based meetings. Students will have the opportunity to interact with other school professionals, understand the organization and development of a school guidance program in their specific area of interest, and fully understand the ethical implications of professional school counseling.
6. Formal evaluations of student’s performance during the Practicum and Internship will be performed by the site supervisor and the program faculty member throughout the field experiences; students will be apprised of these evaluations.

Site Supervision: School Practicum/Internship

A site supervisor must meet the following criteria:

1. A minimum of a Master’s degree in counseling or a related profession with equivalent qualifications, including current license/certification in the state of Ohio,
2. A minimum of two years of school counseling experience, and
3. Knowledge of the Program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures.

Site Selection: Ethical and Legal Implications

1. Teachers who wish to select their home school as a possible Practicum or Internship site are required to set up an appointment with the Field Experience Coordinator to avoid dual relationship issues.
2. Students who are employed by outside agencies and assigned to schools may not use their employment hours to fulfill requirements for Practicum and Internship. After a discussion with the Field Experience Coordinator, a supplemental contract will be established, to be signed by the site supervisor, to clearly designate when and what hours may be applied to their Practicum or Internship hours.
3. Any other special circumstances should be discussed with the Graduate Counseling Field Experience Coordinator.

Honor Society

Chi Sigma Iota. The Heidelberg Sigma Phi Beta Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society for counselors in training, counselor educators, and professional counselors. The society was established in 1985 through the efforts of leaders in the counseling profession whose desire was to provide recognition for outstanding achievement and service within the counseling profession. The Chi Sigma Iota mission is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership, and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling.