Counseling
(Master of Science in Education)

The College of Saint Rose counseling program is intended to prepare competent mental health professionals for the counseling field. The program creates an academic and experiential environment in which graduate students are challenged to develop counseling skills, which will prepare them for work in com- munity, college, or school settings. The respective concentrations [Community, College, School] prepare counselors to address the needs of their chosen populations in a pluralistic society. Students are encouraged to become culturally sensitive counselors, lifelong learners, and actively involved in their own personal and professional development.

The Saint Rose Difference
There are many qualities that differentiate the Saint Rose graduate program in counseling from similar programs at other institutions:

• the program strongly emphasizes the
  practical application of course work
  through required internships;
• small class sizes allow students to benefit from a knowledgeable and experienced faculty;
• multicultural issues and perspectives regarding race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, class, and disability are integrated into all course work; and
• all counseling faculty members have work experience in the counseling field.

When students graduate from this program, they are proficient in a variety of core areas: assessment, counseling theory and practice, human development, and research. They are especially skilled in serving the needs of a specific population-children, adolescents, college students, or adults.

Certification, Candidacy,
and Career Opportunities
The master of science in education is the entry-level degree for professional counselors, and is essential for certification, licensure, and employment in community, school, or college settings. Most counseling graduates secure employment prior to graduation and almost all are employed within six months.

Students are eligible for candidacy after completing 12 credit hours at Saint Rose with at least a B in each course. These courses cannot be repeated, and they must include CSL 500 (Counseling Theory and Practice). In addition to the academic requirement for candidacy, the professional performance of each student will be considered in a counseling faculty review. The faculty will recommend students based on interpersonal skills, and potential to do graduate-level work and become a competent mental health professional.

Field Experience
Field experience is a hallmark of the Saint Rose graduate program in counseling. Students gain 600 hours of hands-on experience through two internships; each internship is 300 hours. Both are taken toward the end of the master's program and they may be completed concurrently or during different semesters. The first internship is taken concurrently with the master's practicum and focuses on the development of individual and group counseling skills in the student's area of concentration. The second internship allows the student to gain further experience in their area of concentration or in another area, provided that the prerequisite coursework is met.

Admission Requirements

• A completed Saint Rose graduate
  school application;
• A baccalaureate degree from an
  accredited institution;
• Official transcripts from all colleges/
  universities attended;
• An undergraduate grade point average of
  at least 3.0;
• A resumè;
• Attendance at a counseling
  admission workshop;
• At least two letters of recommendation: one that addresses the individual's character and potential to be a counselor, and one that addresses the individual's scholarship (and is written by a professional qualified to make that assessment);
• Completion of nine hours of psychology course- work taken no more than five years prior to admission to the master's program in counseling. These prerequisite courses may include or be similar to:
  • child or adolescent psychology, theories of personality, and educational psychology for School Counseling students;
  • abnormal psychology, theories of personality, and adolescent psychology for Community Counseling students; or
  • adolescent psychology, theories of personality, and adult development or abnormal psychology for College Student Personnel students.
• Applicants must complete all prerequisites before earning 18 graduate credit hours. Prerequisites may be taken at the undergraduate or graduate level, but may not be counted as electives or as part of the required 48 credit hours; and
• A personal essay discussing objectives and motivation for pursuing a graduate degree in counseling.

MSED in Counseling
Application Deadlines:
While Saint Rose Graduate School applications may be obtained from Graduate and Continuing Education Admissions, we encourage applicants to use our convenient online application.

April 15:
Deadline for Fall Admission

October 15:
Deadline for Spring Admission

There is no guarantee that applications received after deadlines can be reviewed in a timely enough manner to ensure matriculation and registration for the upcoming term.

Financial Aid Opportunities The College of Saint Rose offers a variety of academic and some need-based scholarships for graduate students. Interested students should contact Graduate and Continuing Education Admissions for specific details. Academic, Cultural Diversity & International Scholarships Application deadline: June 30 for Fall October 30 for Spring Graduate Assistantships Application deadline: June 1 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application deadline: May 1 Deferred Payment Plan Employer Assistance Internship in Special Education A full-year paid internship opportunity is available for those applicants who possess provisional or initial certification in elementary, secondary, or special education. We understand that earning an advanced degree is a serious investment. That's why we invite you to tour our campus and speak with an admissions counselor.

FACULTY
In the Saint Rose graduate program in counseling, the faculty begins mentoring students before they even apply. A required admissions workshop for students interested in pursuing this program allows candidates to discuss their personal and professional goals with faculty members. All members of the counseling faculty are continuously available to students for consultation and advisement regarding outside projects of interest, career goals, and volunteer work.

Stephen Birchak, Ed.D., University of Northern Colorado.
Expertise: Counselor Education;
Character Education.

Michael Bologna, Ph.D. University at Albany, SUNY. Expertise: Social Welfare; Relationship Violence in Homosexual Couples; Post-Modern Theory; Treatment with Battered Women.

Jelane Kennedy, Ed.D.,
College of William and Mary. Expertise: Counseling; Homophobia; Diversity; Women's Issues.