OVERVIEW
The Master of Science in Counseling (M.S.C.) is designed on a foundation of generalist core counseling courses that lead to a master’s degree in counseling. The coursework consists of a broad array of counseling courses for the purpose of enhancing career opportunities. The program stresses academic excellence, Christian leadership, and personal growth within a nurturing, caring environment. The program expands the University mission in advancing students toward continued learning in all aspects of life with a special emphasis in the professional application of generalist social work practice. As a facilitator of change, the program prepares students to serve diverse communities, organizations, groups, families, and individuals, particularly in a rural environment, at all levels of social work practice.
In addition to the generalist core curriculum and the generalist counseling track, students may continue to pursue specialty tracks in marriage and family counseling to academically prepare them to seek licensure in Kentucky and other states.
Applicants approved to pursue this degree may enter the program in any trimester or summer session as long as application materials have been received and approval granted by the M.S.C. Acceptance Committee one month prior to the start of a trimester. One-third of the M.S.C. core curriculum is taught in an online, web-assisted format. All of the counseling tracks are offered in the evening to accommodate the 25% non-traditional population from which Campbellsville University historically draws their students. Thus, each trimester the student participating in full-time study will enroll in one online course and two on-campus courses. Students desiring part-time study will seek consultation with their academic advisor to formulate an alternative academic plan.
A team of doctoral faculty from four interrelated and complimentary disciplines provides instruction in the Masters of Counseling Program: Christian Studies, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. Campbellsville University employs four Psychology faculty, two Christian studies faculty, two Sociology faculty, and three Social Work faculty qualified to teach in the M.S.C. program.
Class sizes are relatively small (12-15 students on average). The faculty give special attention to students and most usually they know every attendants name by the end of the first class. This M.S.C. program prides itself on relationships along with challenging and expanding student learning. As in the mission of Campbellsville University, this program works toward developing life-long Christian servant leaders who will contribute to the betterment of humanity.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES, CURRICULA AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Unconditional Admission
1. Applicants must complete and submit the University’s graduate application form.
2. Applicants must complete and submit the graduate application for the MSC program.
3. Applicants must submit official transcripts of all college work from accredited institutions (both undergraduate and graduate) confirming a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 should have a GRE aptitude score of 850 [combined verbal and quantitative scores].
5. Applicants must submit three recommendations using the standardized counseling program recommendation form as presented in the M.S.C. Program application packet.
6. Applicants must submit a 250-500 word typewritten essay discussing why they want a master’s degree in counseling and what aptitude/abilities they think they hold that will make them a good counselor.
Provisional Admission
Applicants not meeting all of the above prerequisites will be considered and acceptance will be considered as recommended by the Graduate Council. Students provisionally accepted will…
• Have their course performance assessed regularly by their advisor who will report progress to the M.S.C. Graduate Committee.
• Maintain a 3.0 overall GPA or greater while in the graduate program.
Admission Notification
Applicants will receive a written letter of acceptance once all admission requirements, including an interview with the M.S.C. Acceptance Committee, are complete. The Graduate Council recommends full, provisional or non acceptance.
M.S.C. Program Tracks
All three masters in counseling tracks are built upon a 24 credit-hour core curriculum allowing students to choose from one or more tracks offered in the program: The Generalist Counseling track (36 credit hours), the Marriage and Family Counseling track (42 credit hours). Generalist and Marriage and Family are available at the main and Louisville Extension Campus’s.
The requirements of each track is described in a written M.S.C. Program Handbook. The M.S.C. Program Director will discuss with applicants the tracks that may fulfill the candidate’s interest. Once the appropriate concentration is selected, the Program Director will assign the candidate an academic advisor.
The M.S.C. Handbook provides each prospective student a description of the degree, the benefits and limitations of each counseling track, the curricula requirements of each track, the requirements for acceptance in the graduate school, and the requirements for acceptance in the M.S.C. program. The M.S.C. degree does not require a thesis; however, the successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required prior to graduation.
Generalist Counseling
The Generalist Counseling track is a 36 credit-hour program. This degree is appealing to baccalaureate degree students in Human Services , Christian Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, and Social Work undergraduates who have an interest in attaining a master’s degree, but are not interested in seeking licensure credentials. The graduates with the generalist M.S.C. degree (36 credit hours of coursework) are qualified to provide career, academic, and other non-mental health counseling activities. The M.S.C. graduate, completing the generalist degree, is not qualified to seek or establish a private practice or independently bill service consumers as a professional counselor in Kentucky or states having licensure laws that limit the use of this degree.
Two cognate (tracks) emphases are available to students who wish to pursue additional content in specific areas of counseling. Each track, as does the generalist counseling degree, requires additional coursework beyond the core curriculum. The cognate areas include Marriage and Family Counseling, and Clinical Counseling. Students seeking an area of emphasis will complete the 21 credit-hour generalist counseling core and the coursework specific to the area of emphases.
Marriage and Family Counseling
Students interested in marriage and family counseling may seek the respective Marriage and Family Counseling M.S.C. concentration. This track requires students to successfully complete an additional 21 credit hours of coursework beyond the generalist core curriculum. The additional curriculum includes coursework recommended by the Kentucky Board of Marriage and Family Therapy as outline in KRS 335.330(3). This area of study is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to counsel individuals, couples, and families. Students successfully completing the Marriage and Family Counseling emphasis may seek certification as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Kentucky once all prerequisite requirements (as outlined in KRS 335.300 to 335.399) of the Kentucky Board of Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists have been fulfilled. The M.S.C. degree with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling (MFC) requires students to successfully complete the generalist core (24 credit hours), the MFC core (15 credit hours of specified coursework), practicum (6 credit hours) and the comprehensive examination.
CURRICULUM
The Master of Science in Counseling is a non-thesis degree that requires the successful completion of 24 core credit hours of coursework and the completion of one of three tracks for degree completion. In addition, all M.S.C. graduates must successfully complete a comprehensive examination consisting of core curricula content. Students are eligible to take the comprehensive exam once foundation coursework is satisfactorily completed. Students must pass the comprehensive examination before they participate in graduation activities. If the student does not successfully pass (70% or higher) the comprehensive examination in their first attempt, the student may retake an oral exam of similar rigor and content after 15 days.