Faculty

Chairperson and Graduate Program Coordinator: Associate Professor Michael Kocet

Graduate Program Directors: Associate Professor Theresa Coogan (School Counseling); Assistant Professor Melissa Freeburg (Mental Health); Associate Professor Michael Kocet (Student Affairs)

Professors: Victoria Bacon, Louise Graham, Maxine Rawlins

Associate Professor: Christy Lyons Graham

Department Telephone Number: 508.531.2836
Location: Kelly Gymnasium, Room 104
Website: www.bridgew.edu/counselingprograms

Degree Programs

• MEd in Counseling
  Concentrations: Mental Health Counseling, Mental Health Counseling–Dual License, School Counseling (PreK-8, 5-12), Student Affairs Counseling

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Programs (CAGS)

• Mental Health Counseling

Postmaster’s Licensure Program

• School Counseling (PreK-8, 5-12)

Click on Academic Programs  for program information and requirements.

Mission Statement

The Bridgewater State University graduate Department of Counselor Education prepares professional counselors to provide counseling, consultation and preventive services to individuals, families, groups and communities in mental health, student affairs and PreK-12 educational settings. The faculty embrace a professional identity as counselors and facilitate the development of this professional identity in students by stressing wellness, lifespan development, professional ethics, multicultural competencies and prevention. The counseling faculty are diverse with regard to background, experience and counseling orientation, and prepare counselors to help clients effectively respond to developmental, educational, career, mental health and other lifespan challenges. As professional counselors, students in the Department of Counselor Education are educated to think critically, communicate effectively and responsibly utilize innovative strategies to enhance the practice of counseling in the 21^st century. The faculty facilitate the ability of students to translate theoretical and philosophical principles into practical application to promote wellness throughout the lifespan. Students graduate prepared to pursue licensure in their respective area of counseling.

Counseling Program Options

Master of Education in Counseling Program Options

Mental Health Counseling - 60 credits
Mental Health Counseling: Dual License - 66 credits
School Counseling - 51 credits
Student Affairs Counseling - 39 credits

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Counseling Program Options

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Mental Health Counseling - 30 credits (minimum)

Postmaster’s Licensure in Counseling Program Options

School Counseling (PreK-8, 5-12) - 45 credits

General Admission Criteria for the Counselor Education Programs

The counselor education faculty seek to admit students who will become highly effective professional counselors. As such, the faculty look at each student’s application as a whole and do not exclude students based on any one criterion. Students must submit a complete application by Oct. 1 for spring semester admission and Feb. 1 for summer/fall semester admission. In addition to the admission standards set by the university, there are general admission criteria for counseling that are based on state and national standards outlined below. Specific program admission requirements are identified under individual program options on the following pages.

• Each applicant is reviewed by counselor education faculty who serve on the Counseling Programs Committee.
• Each applicant must demonstrate success in forming effective interpersonal relationships in individual and small group contexts.
• Each applicant must demonstrate aptitude for graduate-level study.
• Each applicant must provide career goals and objectives and their relevance to their chosen program.
• Each applicant must demonstrate openness to self-examination and personal and professional self-development.

Degree-seeking students who desire to change programs must file a formal petition with the Counseling Programs Committee and meet all admission requirements of the desired program. A student whose petition is approved must adhere to the specific program requirements in place at the time of approval.

The counselor education faculty actively seek to recruit applicants with diverse backgrounds.

Counseling Program Planning

All accepted students must complete an on-line orientation for new students and meet with their faculty adviser upon acceptance.

Prospective candidates who have not been formally accepted into the program are urged to confine their selection of courses to the three core courses (CNMH 528 , or CNSA 528 , or CNSC 528 ; and CNGC 529  and CNGC 500 ).

The Department of Counselor Education takes very seriously its responsibility and commitment to train professional and ethical counselors and to “protect the public good.” Faculty are committed to supporting student success, and providing remedial interventions, when needed. However, the department also recognizes that there will be a small number of students for whom it becomes clear that transitioning out of the program is necessary. The department has written a Learning Contract that reflects ACA ethical standards, university guidelines, department expectations and requirements, as well as the procedures that will be followed in response to academic, personal and /or professional student-related concerns that may arise. During the new student orientation experience, the department’s Learning Contract will be reviewed and discussed with all students; students will sign and receive a hard copy of the contract. Students must sign and receive a copy of the Learning Contract to continue to take courses as degree-seeking students. The contract will also be posted on each of the department’s program-specific Blackboard virtual sites. A signed copy will be put in each student’s file at the College of Graduate Studies.

Grade Requirement

Please see Graduate Academic Policies  in the BSU catalog and the College of Graduate Studies Handbook (www.bridgew.edu/Handbook/GradSchool.cfmFieldwork).

Fieldwork Experiences

Field experiences (e.g., practicum or internship) are required of all matriculated students. Depending on the counseling program, students complete between 300 and 1000 hours of supervised fieldwork experience. Each student, in conjunction with an academic adviser, selects an appropriate site and is supervised by an on-site professional while meeting with a Bridgewater State University faculty member for a fieldwork seminar. Most important, students must submit a fieldwork application to the fieldwork director to participate in any fieldwork experience. Fieldwork applications must be completed by the first Monday in April for the summer semester, by the first Monday in June for the fall semester, and by the first Monday in November for the spring semester.

Culminating Experience

As part of the graduation requirement in the department, students are expected to complete a culminating experience which is overseen by members of the Department of Counselor Education faculty. The culminating experience focuses on students’ ability to integrate counseling and development theory into direct practice. Through the culminating experience, students will demonstrate the counseling competencies that align with current CACREP standards (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs), as well as standards that align within respective programs of study. Students will have the choice of a master’s thesis; CNGC 502 - Research ; taking the CPCE Exam (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination); creating a capstone portfolio, CNGC 585 - Capstone in Counseling – Portfolio ; or a project paper, CNGC 586 - Capstone in Counseling – Project Paper . Students completing a master’s thesis must follow the guidelines established by the College of Graduate Studies. Students who are considering pursuing future doctoral studies are especially encouraged to select the master’s thesis option.

CAGS in Mental Health students have the option of submitting a passing score on the LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) exam in lieu of the above mentioned culminating experiences.