Department of Educational Theory, Policy, and Practice
Degree: Master of Arts in Education
Specialization/Major/Concentration: Community Counseling
Program Purpose and Objectives
The M.A. in Education with a Specialization in Community Counseling provides professional level training to graduate students interested in working in community and mental health settings. The program is designed to prepare students to become Licensed Professional Counselors in the state of Louisiana. Students will receive knowledge, experience, and skills training in order to:
- Facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the life span.
- Prevent, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and associated distresses which interfere with mental health.
- Conduct assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate treatment plans using counseling treatment interventions.
- Practice consistent with the ethical and professional standards of the counseling profession.
Admission Requirements:
Students must submit an application to the Graduate School and meet Graduate School admission requirements. Please see Admissions link at this website.
Course Requirements:
The community counseling non-thesis specialization requires the completion of 48 credit hours, a specified core of 42 credit hours, and 6 elective credit hours.
The community counseling specialization with thesis requires a total of 48 credit hours, which includes the 42 hours specified core and 6 credit hours for the thesis.
Content Specialty:
ELRC 7345 Counseling Skills and Interventions (3) [Spring]
ELRC 4602 Introduction to Counseling Services (3) [Fall]
ELRC 4600 Counseling for Disabling Conditions (3) [Spring]
ELRC 7331 Counseling Theory and Techniques (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7330 Group Techniques and Dynamics in Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7333 Analysis of the Individual (3)[Summer]
ELRC 7334 Vocational Counseling (3) [Spring]
ELRC 7364 Practicum in Community Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7393 Multicultural Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7395 Family Counseling (3) [Summer]
ELRC 7391 Counseling Across the Life-span (3) [Summer]
ELRC 7399 Supervised Counseling Internship (6) [Spring]
**You must register for 6 hrs. of internship in one semester (600 on-site hours)
Research:
ELRC 4249 Understanding and Applying Research in Education (3) [Fall, Spring, Summer]
Electives (6 hours):
Six credit hours must be taken from relevant courses in counseling or other areas inside or outside the College of Education. Selection of electives may reflect your area of interest in the counseling field. All electives must have prior approval from your faculty advisor.
Suggested electives include:
ELRC 7397 Substance Abuse (3) [Fall]
ELRC 4361 Counseling Children (3) [Summer]
ELRC 5300 Girls’ and Women’s Issues in Counseling (3) [Spring]
ELRC 4364 Student Affairs Work in Higher Education (3) [Varies]
Faculty Advisors:
You will be assigned a major advisor and two committee members upon admission to the program.
Comprehensive Examinations
:Degree requirements include successful completion of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). This is a 160 question multiple choice exam that assesses the student’s knowledge of core areas of counseling. Students take the exam in their last semester of the program with permission of their faculty advisor. To be eligible to take the comprehensive examination, students must have at least a 3.0 overall grade point average.
Professional Development:
In addition to meeting academic requirements, students are expected to develop a professional orientation, generally defined as internalized attitudes, perspectives, and personal commitment to the standards, ideals, and identity of a profession. Evidence of professionalism includes: active participation and leadership in professional organizations; attendance at local, state, regional and/or national meetings; acquisition of appropriate counselor credentials; professional growth; and the continued pursuit of knowledge. You also are encouraged to present papers at professional conferences and meetings and to participate in workshops and in-service training.
Counselor Education Admission Requirements
Counselor Education Faculty
Counselor Education Student Handbook
