Course Formats
Main campus classes in mental
health
counseling and school guidance counseling are typically offered in two
regular semesters of approximately 16 weeks each. The summer semesters
are seven and a half weeks in length with the exception of practicum,
which
spans a 12-week period. Classes typically meet once per week during the
fall and winter semesters and twice per week during the summer
semesters.
Most courses are scheduled from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.-10:00
p.m., Monday through Thursday, with some additional daytime and weekend
offerings. Applicants should note that course schedules vary each
semester.
The master of science degree
programs
and course work are offered at selected locations in a field-based
weekend
format. Accessibility to main campus administrators, advisors, faculty
members, library resources, and information is maintained through
on-site
coordinators, faculty members, and online services. In addition to main
campus personnel, on-site personnel assist students and provide an
effective
liaison between the main campus and students and are available to
students
during classes and throughout the program.
In the field-based format for a
master’s
degree in mental health counseling,
courses are taken one at a time (except during practicum). Each
individual
three-semester-hour course begins with registration and spans an
eight-week
period. Forty-five hours are required and are scheduled into two full
weekends.
Courses for a given cluster of students are typically scheduled from
August
through late June. Each course is offered once for each cluster during
the course of the approximately three-year program. Students admitted
at
a specific field-based site must begin the program with the first
scheduled
course offered for their cluster as course work is sequenced throughout
the program. Instructors are accessible to students throughout course
work.
Students register and begin
course
preparation approximately one month prior to the first class meeting.
Class
meetings (except the practicum) are scheduled on Fridays (6:00
p.m.–10:00
p.m.), Saturdays (8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) and Sundays (8:30 a.m.–5:30
p.m.).
Practicum classes will be scheduled over a 15-week format.
Online Program
A masters program in counseling with a concentration in mental health
counseling, substance abuse counseling, or substance abuse counseling and
education is offered through the Counseling Studies Institute, a joint
initiative of the Center for Psychological Studies and the Fischler Center
for Education and Human Services. This program is specially designed
for the mature and independent learner.
Courses are ten weeks in duration, and are offered during four semesters.
For more information, visit the web site at www.csi.nova.edu.
Schedules will be affected by
official
university holidays, such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day, as posted
in the academic calendar.
Summer Institute
The Master’s
Program
Summer Institute, designed to enhance the professional development of
students
outside the classroom, is open to all master’s counseling students. It
is held each summer on the main campus in Fort Lauderdale. Topics
include
professional issues and ethics, preparation for practica, state
licensure
and certification, technology skills and resources, career development,
job search preparation and professional topics relevant to the field.
Master’s
Practicum
Information
The practicum is conceived to be
that phase of the master’s program in which a counselor trainee is able
to crystallize his or her educational experiences by actually
translating
theoretical constructs into practice. This type of supervised practice
in counseling is generally viewed as an experience that assists the
prospective
counselor to function effectively in a future employment situation. It
serves as a bridge between the theoretical and the real. It is the fist
opportunity for the counselor-trainee to apply what he or she has
learned
from the more didactic portion of the curriculum.
Three consecutive semesters of
practicum
are required in the mental health counseling master’s program and one
30-week
practicum is required in the school guidance and counseling master’s
program.
This affords students the opportunity of working with a variety of
client/school
populations over time. Enrolled students will receive a Handbook of
Practicum
Experiences and specific details on practicum at the appropriate time
in
their program. Some employed students may need to take a leave of
absence
from their employment or reduce their workload during this portion of
the
program.
Special note: students
enrolled
in the Master’s Program in Mental Health Counseling wishing to pursue
State
of Florida requirements for licensure may, at their option, elect to
increase
hours in practicum in order to fulfill state requirements.
Main Campus Format
Each practicum
spans
a full semester during fall and winter terms. The student will spend a
specified number of hours in a community agency setting along with a
three-hour
weekly practicum seminar class. The summer term practicum will run for
12 weeks.
Field-Based Format
In the mental
health
counseling curriculum, each practicum spans a full semester
(approximately
15 weeks). In the school guidance and counseling curriculum, the
practicum
spans a 30-week period. The student will spend a specified number of
hours
in a community agency/school setting, along with the regularly
scheduled
practicum seminar classes. Seminar classes will typically be scheduled
during weekday evenings. Each site has a local practicum coordinator
who
assists in all arrangements for site placements. Practicum constitutes
a departure from the weekend format. Please be advised that, during
practicum,
students may also be enrolled in regularly scheduled weekend classes.
Professional
Liability
Insurance
Students entering
practicum
will be charged a nominal fee for liability insurance coverage provided
under the Center for Psychological Studies' group policy. All students
are required to abide by the Ethical Standards of the American
Counseling
Association, the ethical standards of their respective professions, the
policies and procedures of the Center for Psychological Studies, and
agency
placement rules and regulations.
