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Nov 22, 2024
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Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] See drop-down menu above to access other catalogs.
Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, CAGS
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 Return to: Academic Programs
The CAGS in Mental Health Counseling is designed for students who are practicing counselors and do not possess a 60-credit master’s degree in counseling or related field and need a CAGS to apply for licensure in Massachusetts as a Mental Health Counselor (CMR 262).
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Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree in counseling, which included an applied counseling internship with clinical supervision
- A 3.5 cumulative GPA in the master’s program*
- GRE combined score of 1000 or higher (if requested by the Department of Counselor Education)
- Demonstration of successful experience in a counseling capacity demonstrated for at least one year
- Three letters of recommendation from professionals or educators outside of the BSU Department of Counselor Education, at least one of which should be from a supervisor who has knowledge of the applicant’s counseling activities
- A completed Counselor Education admissions application, including a 500-word personal statement related to the student’s intended counseling program option
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
Applicant Screening Process
Students who meet all admission requirements as outlined above will be invited to an admission interview.
*Candidates who meet the following criteria will receive a conditional invitation to an admission interview:
- A 3.0-3.4 cumulative GPA
- A composite GRE score that exceeds 1000
Admission Interviews
All applicants with a completed application package who meet the admissions requirements outlined above will be required to participate in the on-campus Admission’s Day interview process. The Admissions Day interview is an opportunity for faculty to assess the applicant’s potential for employment as a professional counselor. Admissions Day is held on the third Friday of March and the third Friday of November each year. Grade Requirement
Students must receive a grade of “B-” or higher in each graduate course or fieldwork experience; students who receive a grade lower than a “B-” must repeat the course. In addition, students who receive a grade of “F” in any course will be placed on academic probation by the department. Any student who receives a second grade of “F” will be dismissed from the program. Lastly, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or will be placed on academic probation as outlined in the graduate student handbook.
Program of Study
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits of course work at BSU and fulfill the following requirements either through the student’s master’s degree or with courses and fieldwork experience as part of the student’s CAGS program. Elective(s)
Counseling electives (CNGC, CNMH, CNSA, CNSC) as needed to meet the minimum 30 credits required in the program.
Fieldwork requirements
Students will meet with their advisor to plan their fieldwork experience. Students may work 10‑30 hours per 15-week semester and will register for three credits for each 150 hours of fieldwork they will complete that semester. For example, 10 hours per week/150 total hours = three credits; 20 hours per week/300 total hours = six credits; 30 hours per week/450 total hours = nine credits. Students must attend a clinical seminar each semester they are involved in field experience and must attend a minimum of two total seminars. However, if a student elects to complete 600 hours in a single semester, the student would attend two seminars. Exit requirement: 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.
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 culminating experiences. Alternatively, they may complete the culminating experience with the successful completion of one of the following options:
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.
Please see the catalog section, Graduate Academic Policies , for additional information regarding comprehensive examinations. Total minimum credits: 30
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