Master of Arts in Counseling

The Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling in three specialty areas: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; and School Counseling. All three specialty programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The accreditation for all three programs runs through October 31, 2022, when the programs will be reviewed for re-accreditation.

Please note: We will add an online option for our Master’s and doctoral programs beginning in the Fall of 2020. The program has applied for CACREP recognition of the online options for our Master’s and doctoral degree programs, but the online options are not currently accredited by CACREP.

Within the concentration of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the department offers optional special emphasis areas in addiction counseling, pastoral counseling, and play therapy.

Scope and Purpose

In keeping with the stated philosophy of University of Holy Cross, the Graduate Programs in Counseling seek to provide opportunities for intellectual, psychological, and spiritual growth to foster individuals’ contributions within a pluralistic society. The Catholic heritage of the University and the Christian understanding of service are integral to the philosophy of the Graduate Programs in Counseling.

The Graduate Programs in Counseling are specifically designed to enhance the students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes in their chosen academic arenas and to prepare them to accept professional responsibilities. Success in the Graduate Programs in Counseling is based not only on completing the required course work but also on demonstrating competencies and attitudes appropriate to the profession. Whether they counsel, administer, or teach, graduates of the Graduate Programs in Counseling of University of Holy Cross promote holistic development of each individual and the spirit of justice that brings about social equity and global harmony.

Mission and Philosophy of the Graduate Programs

The Graduate Programs in Counseling incorporate the Mission of the University in their own statement of Mission and Philosophy. The various specialties in Counseling nurture students to become self-developing, competent professionals who can contribute to their communities, both personally and professionally. The programs emphasize the whole person’s development of the spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and material values necessary to live responsibly, respect individuality, seek truth and peace, and foster justice in society. The programs emphasize the delivery of services from sociocultural, systemic, developmental, and wellness perspectives. The Graduate Programs in Counseling integrate their philosophy into their Mission through measurable objectives for teaching, research, and public service.

Program Goals

The goals of the Graduate Program in Counseling include

to recruit, maintain, and matriculate a diverse student body;
to foster students’ identification as professional counselors;
to foster students’ development of a sociocultural, systemic, developmental, and wellness perspective of mental health;
to promote students’ development of clinical skills as counselors;
to promote students’ development of skills necessary to consume, conduct, and apply scholarly research in the field of mental health;
to monitor students to assess personal wellbeing and to promote personal and professional development;
to maintain a counseling and training center providing both an opportunity for the development of students’ clinical skills, as well as opportunities to engage in public service by providing low cost counseling to the community;
to provide a graduate assistantship experience resulting in acquisition of professional experiences and skills; and
to maintain national accreditation of the program.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Master’s Program in Counseling, graduates are expected to demonstrate

the practice of professional counseling skills within the scope of a multicultural and changing society;
the ability to synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of counseling;
the ability to engage in critical thinking, decision making, and independent judgment;
the skills to conduct and evaluate research in counseling and its related disciplines for its applicability to counseling theory;
the practice of leadership skills in collaboration with members of the counseling profession;
the ability to evaluate the impact of counseling theory and practice as it relates to assisting the client in achieving the optimal level of wellness;
the acceptance of individual responsibility and accountability for personal and professional growth; and
the necessary academic and clinical skills to obtain professional licensure.

Nature of Graduate Work

Course work at the graduate level serves mainly as a guide to independent study. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate to their respective professions rather than just to pass courses or simply to comply with formal requirements. Graduate students are expected to exceed minimum requirements and assume responsibility for pursuing lifelong learning that best meets their professional needs.

Specialties Offered

The Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences, through the Dean of the College of Counseling, Education, and Business and the Provost, administers the Graduate Programs in Counseling. Upon admission the student must select one of the following areas of specialization:

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling

Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (with optional emphasis areas in Addiction Counseling, Pastoral Counseling, and Play Therapy)
Specialization in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Specialization in School Counseling

Graduate Admissions

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Chair of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences accepts applications for admission from students without regard to ethnicity, race, color, sex, age, disability status, or national origin.

Admission Procedures

Applicants must first be admitted to Graduate Studies. The application, all official transcripts, and proof of immunizations must be sent to the Office of Admissions, University of Holy Cross (UHC), 4123 Woodland Dr., New Orleans, LA 70131.

To be considered for admission to Graduate Studies in Counseling, applicants must submit the following prior to the application deadline of the semester for which they are applying:

A completed official graduate application form (sent to Admissions);
Official transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate course work, which must be sent directly from the institutions attended to the Office of Admissions;
At least three letters of recommendation written by people qualified to evaluate academic potential and personal and professional promise. Letters should address the candidate’s character, work ethic, leadership, ability to work with others, communication skills, and ability to complete graduate-level academic work successfully. These letters should be sent to the Chair of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences; and
A two-page, double-spaced, typed personal goal statement sent to the Chair of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences. The goal statement should provide some background information, the reason the candidate has chosen counseling as a profession, and some future professional goals.

Academic Requirements

Admission to Graduate Studies at University of Holy Cross is based on the evaluation of the applicant’s personal, professional, and academic records by the Graduate Faculty. The University recruits qualified applicants from diverse sociocultural backgrounds who display professional promise, intellectual achievement, personal character, and educational commitment. At a minimum, applicants are expected to have the following academic qualifications:

A Baccalaureate degree from a university or college approved by a recognized regional accrediting agency in the United States or proof of equivalent training at a foreign university;
A record of undergraduate study that is predictive of success in graduate studies, preferably in a field related to counseling, with a cumulative undergraduate Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; and
Satisfactory academic standing at the last university or college attended.

Foreign and ESL Students

A foreign or ESL (English as a Second Language) applicant must present evidence of satisfactory proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English. The applicant may do so by presenting a satisfactory score on the TOEFL, normally 550, or iBT score of 79. For information about TOEFL, the applicant should write to TOEFL, 1755 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Stages of Admission

Stage One: Conditional Admission to the University

Students conditionally admitted must possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and may take a maximum of nine hours of graduate credit at University of Holy Cross on a conditional basis. Conditional admission does not guarantee admission to any of the graduate programs and is limited to one semester.

Conditional admission constitutes the following conditions:

A minimum 3.0 undergraduate Grade Point Average is required.
A student accepted conditionally may take a maximum of nine hours of graduate credit.
A student accepted conditionally must attend the graduate orientation. (One is held in the fall, one is held in the spring, and one in the summer.)

No student under conditional acceptance may register for the next semester until he or she has been approved by the Graduate Counseling department for progression in the program.

Conditional admission is limited to one semester

Stage Two: Admission to Graduate Programs

Applicants may not take more than nine (9) hours of course work until they have been accepted into the Graduate Program in Counseling. In order to be accepted, applicants must meet the following conditions:

The graduate admission criteria must be completed. Please refer to the criteria listed above.

Deadlines to complete the graduate application package are

June 15	for Fall Registration
October 15	for Spring Registration
February 15	for Summer Registration

Once the admission criteria are completed, the applicant is invited to attend an interview process. This includes an interview by Graduate Counseling faculty and a writing sample. Graduate Counseling applicants should submit their goal statement prior to the interview. Applicants may receive information regarding the interview process and the written statement from the Chair of the department.
Graduate program faculty determine admission into the program. The criteria for admission are based upon the following indicators:
1. Completed admission criteria;
2. Undergraduate Grade Point Averages;
3. Three letters of recommendation;
4. Results of writing sample, goal statement, and program interview;
5. Recommendations from UHC instructors; and
6. Available space for new students within the program (based on CACREP requirements for FTE).
Applicants are notified in writing by the Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences regarding the results of their admission application. Those who are accepted are allowed to register for the next semester. Those who are not accepted are not allowed to continue graduate studies in Counseling at UHC.

Stage Three: Candidacy

Students remain at stage two status until they are accepted for Candidacy. Candidacy is primarily determined through academic achievement in graduate classes and demonstration of appropriate dispositions. See the Handbook of Graduate Studies in Counseling: MA in Counseling for Candidacy requirements.

Letter of Good Standing

Students enrolled in graduate programs at other institutions who wish to register for transfer credit must submit a Letter of Good Standing and are not required to submit complete transcripts. The Letter of Good Standing must come from the Chair of the student’s graduate program.

Course Load

To be classified as a full-time graduate student, a student must register for nine (9) credit hours in a regular semester and six (6) credit hours in a summer term. An overload of three (3) semester hours may be approved by the Chair of the department.

Grade Point Requirements

An overall Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for the maintenance of good standing in the graduate program. A passing grade for graduate students in Counseling is no lower than a B. A graduate student who attains a C or lower in any course is automatically placed on probationary status, must repeat the course the next semester it is offered, and must earn a minimum grade of B in that course, or the student is dropped from the Graduate Counseling Program. Students are allowed to repeat a course only once, and the course must be repeated at UHC. A maximum of two grades of C may be earned during the student’s program of study. If a student receives more than two grades of C, the student is dropped from the graduate program in Counseling.

Graduate students whose semester average in course work is below 3.0 are placed on probationary status and are not allowed to register for more than six (6) semester hours during the following semester. To be removed from probationary status, the graduate student must complete six (6) semester hours with an earned grade of not less than B and a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 at the end of those six hours. If the graduate student is on probation for falling below a 3.0 overall GPA and is unable to remedy the deficient overall GPA at the end of six (6) semester hours of the probationary period, the student is dropped from the graduate program.

Subject to the review of the Graduate Counseling faculty, students may be dropped from the programs for factors other than Grade Point Average without having a probationary period. Status is then determined by the Graduate Counseling faculty. The student may appeal decisions of the Graduate Counseling Faculty by submitting a written appeal to the Provost of the University.

Procedures for Dismissal for Other than Academic Reasons

In addition to terminating students for academic failure, students may be dismissed for ethical violations and/or personal unsuitability for the profession. The following protocol is followed as a part of ongoing student screening when faculty identify behaviors that indicate possible incompatibility with the counseling profession:

Faculty-initiated private verbal discussions, including a collaborative dialogue between the faculty member(s) and the student, identifying problematic behaviors and addressing specific suggestions for remediation;
If problematic behaviors continue, documentation of specific concerns collected by faculty, including documentation of any discussions with student. This documentation continues throughout the process;
Meeting of graduate faculty to discuss concerns regarding the student. The meeting includes graduate faculty and the Provost of the University. Faculty collaboratively address alternatives and future courses of action;
Meeting with the student to discuss continued concerns and options. Specific goals for remediation are addressed, including timeline and consequences of noncompliance. The student receives written feedback detailing problem areas, including clear guidelines for retention;
If retention goals are not met within specified timelines, and problematic behaviors inconsistent with the goals of the Graduate Counseling program persist, the student is dismissed from the program for nonacademic reasons.

Appeal

Subject to the review of the Graduate Counseling faculty, students may be dismissed from the program for factors other than Grade Point Average (GPA) without a probationary period. Status is then determined by the Graduate Counseling faculty. The student may appeal decisions of the Graduate Counseling faculty by submitting a written appeal to the Provost of the University. If the decision to dismiss remains firm, the student may then appeal to the Director of Student Life and follow the University Appeal Procedure.

Time Limit

A maximum of five (5) years from the first semester attended is allowed to complete the requirements for the graduate programs in Counseling. If the time limit is exceeded, the graduate student must apply for readmission to the graduate program in Counseling and document in writing the reason(s) for a need of extension. Readmission is an extension and does not qualify the applicant to begin anew the five-year requirement.

Student Responsibility

Each student is responsible for knowing all pertinent requirements and regulations for the successful completion of the Master’s degree. Students should become familiar with this section of the Catalog, the Handbook of Graduate Studies in Counseling, Master’s Program, and the offerings and requirements of their areas of specialization. Students should be aware of the fee payment required as they make progress through their academic program.

Personal Counseling Requirement

In order for Graduate Counseling students to increase self-awareness and to experience the process and benefits of counseling, students in the UHC Graduate Counseling program are required to engage in personal counseling at their expense for a minimum of 12 sessions. It is required that, throughout the practicum and internship experience, a student remains in personal counseling or retains the availability of a counselor. Students may seek personal counseling with any licensed professional they choose. There are post-Master’s students available at the Thomas E. Chambers Counseling and Training Center who can counsel students in the Master’s program at no charge to the student. Students should consult the program Chair for further information.

Students should be aware that the process and content of their personal counseling sessions remain confidential. UHC Counseling program faculty are in no way privy to any information regarding any student’s personal counseling. Students are required to complete the verification form and return it to the program Chair.

Recommended Phases of Counseling Experience:

Phase I Students in the first year of their Counseling program should avail themselves of individual and/or group counseling experience and are responsible for scheduling their sessions.

Phase II It is required that, throughout the practicum and internship experience, a student remains in personal counseling or retains the availability of a counselor.

Professional Association Affiliation

Memberships in the Association for Graduate Students in Counseling (AGSC), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) are required for Graduate Counseling students. Students should budget for this along with their other fees. Also, for purposes of early socialization in the profession, grants are sometimes available through the University organization (AGSC) for attendance at state conventions and conferences. Students are expected to attend workshops and seminars whenever possible to enhance and complement their graduate studies. Membership in other professional organizations is also strongly encouraged. Students are encouraged to join the appropriate counseling organizations that represent their respective specializations: the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) for students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization; the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) for students in the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling specialization; and the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) and/or the Louisiana School Counselors Association (LSCA) for students in the School Counseling specialization.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is required before students can begin their practicum experience in Counseling. This insurance can be obtained through the American Counseling Association (ACA) at no additional charge to members. Documentation of proof of professional liability insurance is requested with practicum applications and must remain active and on file throughout the student’s practicum and internship.

Transfer Credits

Approval of all transfer credits must be obtained from the Chair of the department. These courses must be verified by an official transcript from the institution where the courses were taken. Graduate credit is not awarded for portfolio-based experiential learning.

Major Advisor

Each student is assigned a major advisor. The major advisor aids the student with his or her program of study and registration.

Program of Study

The student works closely with the major advisor to develop a program of study that outlines the courses to be taken toward the Master’s degree. The program is designed to meet the goals and objectives for graduate study of both the student and the institution and the requirements of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The planned program of study must be approved by the student’s major advisor and the Chair. Changes in the program of study may be made with the approval of the major advisor and the Chair of the department.

Clinical course sequence begins with COU 616 (Techniques), followed the next semester by COU 699 (Practicum). Each following semester, the student must be enrolled in an internship class (and actively seeing clients) until the student graduates. If the student is unable to follow COU 616 with COU 699 in the next semester, then COU 616 must be repeated in the semester prior to beginning Practicum (COU 699) and Internship (COU 701, 702, 703).

Admission to Practicum

To be admitted to practicum, students must have completed the required core courses and submit an application for practicum to the Practicum and Internship Coordinator. This application must be submitted during the semester prior to beginning practicum. The courses required prior to practicum are COU 600, COU 601n, COU 606, COU 609, and COU 616. Students must also show proof of liability insurance.

Application to Candidacy

Admission to Graduate Studies does not imply admission to candidacy for a degree. Students must file a formal petition with the Chair of the Department during their practicum semester. This application must be completed and signed by the student’s advisor and submitted to the Chair of Graduate Programs in Counseling. It is then presented to the Graduate Council for final approval.

To be considered for candidacy, the student must

Be admitted to graduate studies;
Be currently registered at University of Holy Cross;
Be currently enrolled in his or her practicum semester;
Have a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0;
Have a positive recommendation from his or her major advisor and a positive consensus from the Counseling Program Faculty; and
Declare his or her counseling specialization.

Students not recommended to candidacy are informed in writing by the Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences, and a remediation plan is implemented.

Admission to Internship

During the semester prior to the beginning of internship, students must apply for and plan with the Internship Coordinator the supervised intern experience. The student must have completed the following required courses prior to internship: COU 600, COU 601n, COU 606, COU 609, COU 616, and COU 699.

Each semester students are in the clinical part of their programs of study and are engaged in counseling with clients, the students must be officially registered with the University for internship (COU 701, COU 702, or COU 703). During internship, in addition to required supervision at their internship site, students are scheduled for 1 hour of individual supervision and 1.5 hours of group supervision within the Counseling Department each week.

Requirements for Graduation

A minimum of sixty (60) semester hours in Graduate Counseling is required for the Master of Arts degree in Counseling. Within the sixty semester hours, the Master of Arts degree in Counseling requires a 100-hour Practicum (40 direct client contact hours), and a 600-hour Internship (240 direct client contact hours). In addition, the student must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination as their final assessment. Students are required to pass all practicum, internship, and comprehensive assessments. If a student fails, he or she is required to repeat the practicum or internship the following semester. If a student fails to pass the oral or written examination, he or she is not allowed to graduate and must retake the examination the following semester. The student must be enrolled in the program for internship during the semester he or she takes the written comprehensive examination.

Comprehensive Examination

Students must be enrolled during the semester they complete the written components of the comprehensive examination.

Written Component

The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Counselors Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) serves as the written component of the comprehensive examination. All graduate students in Counseling must take the CPCE as the exit examination requirement. Students who do not pass the CPCE must retake it the next semester. After a failed attempt, Graduate Counseling faculty may develop a remediation plan to assist the student when he or she retakes the examination. After a student has taken the CPCE 3 times without passing, he or she is dismissed from the program and does not graduate.

Application for Graduation

The requirements for graduation, as outlined by University of Holy Cross, must be followed. Applications are available in the office of the Registrar. It is the student’s responsibility to file the Application for Graduation by the due date published in the Academic Calendar and to pay the appropriate graduation fees.

Commencement

Upon successful completion of course work, practicum/internship, and the final assessment of the written and oral comprehensive examinations, the student is expected to attend commencement exercises.

Certification/Licensure Requirements

The State of Louisiana requires persons practicing the profession of counseling to be licensed (or registered as a counselor intern) by the Licensed Professional Counselor Board of Examiners. Licensure in the state is also available for those graduating with the specialization in Marriage and Family who are interested in becoming Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). Licensure requirements include holding a graduate degree with specific academic requirements specified by the Board. A minimum of two years of post-Master’s supervised internship is required by the Board to become eligible for licensure, along with the respective national licensing exam, (i.e., the National Counselors Exam [NCE] and/or the National Marriage and Family Therapy license exam).

National certification is available to counselors through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Certification requirements include specific academic course work and passing the NCE. The Graduate Programs in Counseling at University of Holy Cross meet the academic requirements specified by NBCC.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, and the School Counseling specializations are currently accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The School Counseling specialty is also accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).