The Master of Arts program in School Guidance Counseling (16 KAR 3:060. Guidance counselor, provisional and standard certificates, all grades) is designed to prepare candidates for certified positions as school guidance counselor. The prerequisites for admission to the Master of Arts in School Counseling program leading to satisfactory completion of the requirements for Kentucky certification in School Guidance Counseling include a bachelor's degree, a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale, favorable letters of recommendation, official scores on the GRE, and a successful interview process by the Graduate Admission and Retention Committee.

The provisional certificate (See 16 KAR 3:060) is a 33 semester credit hour program (exceeding 38 clock contact hours per course) offered through traditional modes (sometimes supported with Blackboard technologies) to both full-time and part-time candidates, who may hold full time jobs, at a pace suited to their particular circumstances. Courses are offered during the late afternoon, evening, weekends, and summer sessions to accommodate students with full-time employment are taught by highly qualified full-time and part time faculty who has preparation in the area. A candidate may chose to complete course requirements for the standard certificate by meeting one of the two options delineated in regulation 16 KAR 3:060 which includes the completion of six (6 additional credit hours--SGC 691 and SGC 692).

Candidates who complete the Master of Arts in Education degree in Guidance Counseling must demonstrate Kentucky School Guidance Counselor Standards which are aligned with CACREP. They must also demonstrate awareness and ability to address the components of the KERA Initiatives which include: Learner Goals based on Academic Expectations also demonstrate proficiencies in the University’s mission and the unit’s conceptual framework whose theme is Educator as Leader. These standards that guide the program content and serve as an instrument to provide continuous assessment.

Course Based Field Experiences
Spalding University believes strongly in the importance of practical, as well as theoretical learning. A distinguishing feature of the Spalding Guidance School Counselor program is the strong belief in the importance of practical as well as the theoretical learning. The proposed program intends to combine the candidates’ didactic learning with actual experience in a fieldwork setting where they can observe, develop clinical skills and practice the tasks typically associated with the work of a school counselor. As such, all course work integrates field experience that offer a comprehensive view of guidance and counseling. The candidate collaborates with the Director of Field Experiences and the course instructor in securing a placement. If the placement is located in a public school, the student must have approval from the school counselor and the district Director of Guidance. Candidates are required to complete 195 supervised clock hours.

Assessment tasks, which are woven into courses throughout the program, address critical elements of the conceptual framework providing candidates with many diverse opportunities to demonstrate their progress in conducting and analyzing research, reflecting about practice, using technology, and developing the skills needed to lead efforts aimed at facilitating high-level learning and counseling for all students. These assessment tasks are collaboratively performed by the course instructor and the field/site supervisor

Practicum
The Practicum course is offered to counselor candidates in the concluding phase of their studies. By the time candidates are ready to enroll in the Practicum course, they will have completed a minimum of 24 graduate credits in the Counseling Program. The candidate will prepare a proposal, which will address the practicum objectives in consultation with the faculty supervisor and the practicum supervisor. This proposal will outline the activities and timelines of the practicum experience. The faculty supervisor will meet with the candidates on a regularly scheduled basis for class seminars during the practicum. At other times, the faculty supervisor will hold meetings with the candidate and the field supervisor on as-needed basis. The faculty supervisor is the person responsible for assignment of the course grade after consultation with the field supervisor. Counselor candidates are encouraged, but not required, to complete their Practicum at the same site.

Counselor candidates will be required to complete an array of carefully planned field experiences in diverse settings as they progress through the program. The course instructor, the Director of Field Experiences, and site supervisor determine appropriate practicum activities. Activities could include observing/shadowing, attending staff meetings, advising, co-facilitate psycho-educational groups, intake/assessments, administering tests, interviewing professional staff members, studying materials and procedure manuals, and other support functions.

All field experiences activities will be under the direct observation and supervision of a site supervisor. To meet the program standard that all Counselor candidates have diverse field experiences, the proposed program carefully consider each candidate’s previous placements as a basis for making placement decisions. The course instructor coordinates the supervision and assessment of the counselor candidates in collaboration with the Director of Field Experiences and the site supervisor.

Throughout the coursework and systematically planned practica, the Kentucky Code of Ethics is given coverage and emphasis based on the increased level of responsibility and involvement of school guidance counselors within the school and its community. In addition, the faculty place emphasis on reflection while offering candidates opportunity to integrate course experiences with Kentucky School Guidance Counselor standards, KERA Initiatives, College of Education Professional Dispositions, and the candidates’ own values and beliefs about the teaching profession.

Program Sheet
Master of Arts in School Guidance Counseling
Certificate Program for Rank I Classification (Planned 6th Year Program) - School Guidance Counselor