Counseling and College Student Personnel

College of Education & Human Services

Office of Dean - College of Education & Human Services
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg PA 17257
coledu@ship.edu (717) 477-1373

Department

Counseling and College Student Personnel Department
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717) 477-1668
jlarmi@ship.edu Department Web Site

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Counseling and College Student Personnel

Program	Faculty
Admission Requirements	Degree Requirements

As society has become more complex and the tasks of living more demanding, people in need of assistance have come to rely upon trained specialists who are better able to facilitate the search for self-sufficiency. The complex stresses of today demand that helpers be specialized and highly trained.

The Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel teaches the skills necessary for the professional practice of counseling and college student personnel work. With our emphasis on the personal growth, we encourage each student to gain competencies, values, and beliefs that will enhance and facilitate the helping process. Our program also facilitates the conceptualization of a professional role, which is not only relevant for the present, but also flexible enough to grow as new knowledge and development occurs.

The misson of the Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel, as an entity of Shippensburg University, its Graduate School, and the College of Education and Human Services, is to develop students’ academic and personal potential through a comprehensive counselor education program for graduate counseling and college student personnel students.

The department’s mission integrates the principles of a meaningful learning environment, professionalism, and individual responsibility. It strives to be a respected leader in the promotion of dignity, acceptance, and collaboration within the Shippensburg University campus environment.

Specificially, it seeks to graduate highly skilled practitioners in counseling and college student personnel by utilizing experiential learning opportunites in an atmosphere of intellectual, investigative, and creative scholarly curiosity. The department nurtures students to become congruent lifelong learners, noble practitioners, and leaders in the profession who embrace inquiry, technology, and innovative practices. Through authentic relationships with invested faculty who model intentional practice based firmly in theory and cultural advocacy, students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be purposeful, effective practitioners with a strong sense of personal and professional identity.

The Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel teaches the skills necessary for the professional practice of counseling and student personnel work. With our emphasis on the personal growth of the trainee, we encourage each student to develop attitudes, values, and beliefs that will enhance and facilitate the helping process. Our program also facilitates the conceptualization of a professional role, which is not only relevant for the present, but also flexible enough to grow as new knowledge and developments occur..

The Program

The department offers the following graduate degree specializations in counseling:

Master of Education degree and certification as elementary or secondary school counselors.
Master of Science degree with specialization in community or mental health counseling.
Master of Science degree with specialization in college counseling or student personnel services.

The counseling and college student personnel program is a careful balance of theory with practice. Students are required to complete a minimum of three internships. Over the years, the department has established a variety of sites for experiential learning. These sites include elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, public and private social service agencies, and hospitals. Learning sites are jointly selected with advisement.

Because we are accredited, a student may sit for the certification tests administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors during their final semester. Upon successful completion of the National Counselor Exam, graduates of CACREP approved programs are eligible to become Nationally Certified Counselors without additional supervised experience.

Students who complete 60 credit hours consistent with the Pennsylvania Board of Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists are eligible for licensure as professional counselors; however, they must complete additional post-master’s supervisory experience in order to become licensed.

Graduates of this program have successfully obtained positions in elementary and secondary schools as well as in major universities throughout the United States. Other graduates work in community mental health agencies, group homes, service agencies, hospitals, and crisis units.

Accreditation and Certification Approval

The Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The department is also authorized by the State Board of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to offer certification programs in Elementary Counseling and Secondary Counseling.

In addition, the College Student Personnel, Community Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, College Counseling, and School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA). Accreditation in counseling is closely related to the credentialing process established by the American Counseling Association (ACA). The college student personnel program complies with standards promoted by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).

Admission Requirements

Generally, the admission procedure requires a full academic semester for processing applications, credentials, references, and the required on-campus interview. Students are encouraged to begin this process at least two full semesters prior to the desired starting date.

Applicants for admission to any area of specialization must meet the requirements for the Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel in addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
Applicants to community, mental health, student personnel, and college counseling concentrations must present an official undergraduate transcript with a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average or successful completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Applicants to the elementary and secondary school counseling concentrations must present an official undergraduate transcript with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Miller Analogies Test (MAP) scores are not applicable to the elementary and secondary school counseling concentrations.
Applicants to all concentrations are expected to have a minimum of one year’s experience (paid or volunteer) in the area to which they are applying. Each concentration may have additional criteria that applicants must meet in order to qualify for admission into that particular track.
Once the completed packet is returned, the Admissions Committee will review the forms and invite successful applicants to the next available on-campus group interview session.
Appear for an interview with the Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel faculty. Faculty interviewing the candidate will complete assessment criteria on the applicant’s presentation of self, including: maturity, openness, ability to listen, understanding of the profession, clarity of career goals/appropriateness of our program for these goals, ability to deal with stress, and relevant academic/life/work experience.
Following the interview each applicant is assessed by the department faculty and the Department Admissions Committee with regard to the autobiographical statement, resumé, relevant life/academic/work experiences, applicant’s recommendations, writing skills, as well as overall impressions from the on-campus interview, to determine admission to the program.

Admission to Candidacy

To become a degree candidate, a student must first complete the common core curriculum required of all graduate counseling students. Then, after consultation with a faculty advisor, he/she will be interviewed for admission to candidacy for the degree. This procedure helps to assure that each admitted student has both the intellectual capacity and the professional commitment to succeed.

Degree Requirements

To qualify as a candidate for a master’s degree in counseling a student must complete a minimum of 48 semester hours of graduate study (60 in the Mental Health concentration) and maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Graduate work in counseling is divided into three phases and must be completed in order. The sequence of course work within each phase should be adhered to as closely as possible. Frequent consultation with a faculty advisor is necessary.

Master of Education Degree

Elementary School Counseling concentration leading to the Master of Education degree and certification:

Phase I (15-18 credits; required for admission to candidacy)
- CNS 559 Introduction to Helping Services
- CNS 515 Career Development
- CNS 600 Research and Statistics
- PSY 519 Life Span Psychology
- CNS 578 Pre-Practicum in Counseling
- TCH 511* Elementary School Curriculum
  (*only needed if not certified to teach Elementary level)
Phase II (21 credits)
- CNS 585 Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 573 Theories of Counseling
- CNS 522 Assessment Techniques in Counseling
- CNS 512 Group Counseling Leadership Skills
- CNS 509 Multicultural Counseling
- CNS 505 Organization and Administration of School Counseling Services
- CNS 567 Counseling Children
Phase III (6 credits)
- CNS 580 Clinical Field Experience I
- CNS 589 Clinical Field Experience II
Elective Courses (6 credits)
- Choose one from the following:
  - EEC 550 Foundations of Learning Disabilities
  - EEC 411 Introduction to Exceptionality
  - TCH 475 Inclusive Education: Practical Approaches (Pre-req.: EEC 411)
- Choose one from the following:
  - CNS 508 Marital, Couple & Family Counseling
  - CNS 510 Drug and Alcohol Counseling
  - CNS 524 DSM IV Psychopathology (Offered Spring only) (Pre-req.: CNS 559)
  - CNS 564 Grief and Loss Issues in Counseling
  - CNS 570 Working w/Dreams, Sandtray & Music (Offered Summer only) (Pre-req.: CNS578)
Minimum — 48-51 credits

Secondary School Counseling concentration leading to the Master of Education degree and certification:

Phase I (15-18 credits; required for admission to candidacy)
- CNS 559 Introduction to Helping Services
- CNS 515 Career Development
- CNS 600 Research and Statistics
- PSY 519 Life Span Psychology
- CNS 578 Pre-Practicum in Counseling
- ELP 501 Curriculum for School Leaders* (*only needed if not certified to teach Secondary level)
Phase II (21 credits)
- CNS 585 Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 573 Theories of Counseling
- CNS 522 Assessment Techniques in Counseling
- CNS 512 Group Counseling Leadership Skills
- CNS 509 Multicultural Counseling
- CNS 505 Organization and Administration of School Counseling Services
- CNS 588 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Skills
Phase III (6 credits)
- CNS 580 Clinical Field Experience I
- CNS 589 Clinical Field Experience II
Elective Courses (6 credits)
- Choose one from the following:
  - EEC 550 Foundations of Learning Disabilities
  - EEC 411 Introduction to Exceptionality
  - TCH 475 Inclusive Education: Practical Approaches (Pre-req.: EEC 411)
- Choose one from the following:
  - CNS 508 Marital, Couple & Family Counseling
  - CNS 510 Drug and Alcohol Counseling
  - CNS 524 DSM IV Psychopathology (Offered Spring only) (Pre-req.: CNS 559) CNS 564 Grief and Loss Issues in Counseling
  - CNS 564 Grief and Loss Issues in Counseling (Offered Fall & Summer) (Pre-req.: CNS578)
Minimum — 48-51 credits

Master of Science Degree

College Counseling concentration leading to the Master of Science degree:

Phase I (15 credits; required for admission to candidacy)
- CNS 559 Introduction to Helping Services
- CNS 515 Career Development
- CNS 600 Research and Statistics
- PSY 519 Life Span Psychology
- CNS 578 Pre-Practicum in Counseling
Phase II (27 credits)
- CNS 585 Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 573 Theories of Counseling
- CNS 522 Assessment Techniques in Counseling
- CNS 512 Group Counseling Leadership Skills
- CNS 509 Multicultural Counseling
- CNS 560 Introduction to College Personnel Work
- CNS 565 The College Student and the College Environment
- CNS 588 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Skills
- CNS 524 Classification of Psychopathology
Phase III (9 credits)
- CNS 580 Clinical Field Experience I
- CNS 589 Clinical Field Experience II
Minimum — 48 credits

College Student–Personnel/Developmental Concentration leading to the Master of Science degree:

Phase I (15 credits; required for admission to candidacy)
- CNS 559 Introduction to Helping Services
- CNS 515 Career Development
- CNS 600 Research and Statistics
- CNS 578 Pre-Practicum in Counseling
Phase II (21 credits)
- CNS 585 Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 587 Research Seminar in Counseling
- CNS 522 Assessment Techniques in Counseling
- CNS 512 Group Counseling Leadership Skills
- CNS 509 Multicultural Counseling
- CNS 560 Introduction to College Personnel Work
- CNS 565 The College Student and the College Environment
Phase III (12 credits)
- CNS 562 Student Personnel Work in Higher Education
- CNS 580 Clinical Field Experience I
- CNS 589 Clinical Field Experience II
- Two electives (course selected with approval of advisor)
- Research Project
Minimum — 48 credits

Community Counseling concentration leading to the Master of Science degree:

Phase I (18 credits; required for admission to candidacy)
- CNS 559 Introduction to Helping Services
- CNS 578 Pre-Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 563 Professional Orientation to Community Counseling
- CNS 573 Theories of Counseling
- CNS 512 Group Counseling Leadership Skills
- CNS 524 DSM-IV – Classification of Psychopathology
Phase II (21 credits)
The following courses must be taken prior to enrolling in Clinical Field Experience I:
- CNS 585 Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 588 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Skills
The following courses can be taken anytime during the program once the prerequisite requirements have been met:
- CNS 509 Multicultural Counseling
- CNS 600 Research and Statistics
- CNS 515 Career Development
- PSY 519 Life Span Psychology
- CNS 522 Assessment Techniques in Counseling
Elective Courses (3 credits)
- CNS 508 Marital, Couple & Family Counseling
- CNS 510 Drug & Alcohol Counseling
- CNS 564 Grief & Loss Issues in Counseling
- CNS 567 Counseling Children
Phase III (6 credits)
- CNS 580 Clinical Field Experience I
- CNS 589 Clinical Field Experience II
Minimum — 48 credits

Mental Health Counseling concentration leading to the Master of Science degree:

Phase I (18 credits; required for admission to candidacy)
- CNS 559 Introduction to Helping Services
- CNS 578 Pre-Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 568 Professional Orientation to Mental Health Counseling
- CNS 573 Theories of Counseling
- CNS 512 Group Counseling Leadership Skills
- CNS 524 DSM-IV – Classification of Psychopathology
Phase II (27 credits)
The following courses must be taken prior to enrolling in Clinical Field Experience I:
- CNS 585 Practicum in Counseling
- CNS 588 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Skills
- CNS 510 Drug & Alcohol Counseling
- CNS 508 Marital, Couple & Family Counseling
The following courses can be taken anytime during the program once the prerequisite requirements have been met:
- CNS 509 Multicultural Counseling
- CNS 600 Research and Statistics
- CNS 515 Career Development
- PSY 519 Life Span Psychology
- CNS 522 Assessment Techniques in Counseling
Elective Courses (3 credits)
- CNS 564 Grief & Loss Issues in Counseling
- CNS 567 Counseling Children
- CNS 570 Working with Dreams, Sandtray & Music (Pre-req. CNS 578)
- PSY 435 Psychopharmacology
Phase III (9 credits)
- CNS 580 Clinical Field Experience I
- CNS 589 Clinical Field Experience II
- CNS 590 Advanced Clinical Field Experience
Minimum — 60 credits

Faculty

The Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel faculty is diversified in fields of specialization. All have been or are practitioners, and all teaching faculty hold doctorates in their field.

James R. Johnson, Ed.D., dean, College of Education and Human Services

Jan L. Arminio, Ph.D., chair, Department of Counseling, University of Maryland, coordinator of college student-personnel/developmental.

Ford Brooks, Ed.D., College of William and Mary, coordinator of community counseling and mental health counseling; community counseling and mental health counseling.

Andrew L. Carey, Ph.D., University of Virginia, coordinator of school counseling concentrations, school counseling, community counseling, and mental health counseling.

Marcy Douglass, Ph.D., College of William & Mary, school counseling.

Shirley A. Hess, Ph.D., University of Maryland, coordinator of college counseling concentrations; community counseling, and college counseling.

Kurt L. Kraus, Ed.D., University of Maine, school counseling, community counseling, and mental health counseling.

Bill McHenry, Ph.D., University of South Dakota, school counseling, community counseling.

Karen Newton, Ph.D. (abd), Georgia State University, community and mental health counseling.

Todd Whitman, Ph.D., University of Virginia, school counseling, community counseling.