Additional Requirements and Technical Standards for Matriculation and Graduation

All students are expected to uphold personal and professional ethical standards and practices both inside and outside of the classroom. Adherence to such personal and professional ethical standards is an intrinsic and essential component of the professional standards of the counseling field. All students must adhere to the “Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice” of the American Counseling Association.

Professional liability insurance coverage is required during enrollment in the clinical components of the Counseling Program.

The Counseling Program faculty has a responsibility to society and to the profession to matriculate and graduate the best possible counseling professionals. Therefore, the technical standards which follow are required for matriculation and graduation from the Counseling Program:

• The student must be able to participate in oral demonstrations, presentations, and role-plays of counseling situations and be videotaped for the purposes of developing skills and receiving feedback.
• Because counseling professionals must be able to respond immediately in counseling and crisis situations, the student must be able to participate in role-plays or other practice simulations as a counselor without advance knowledge of the scenario or preparation of the role-play.
• The student must be able to conduct a counseling session with real clients under live or videotaped supervision.
• The student must be able to communicate and interact respectfully and sensitively with clients.
• The student must be able to communicate effectively in oral and in written form with all referral sources, e.g. court and community agencies.
• The student must be able to communicate effectively in oral and in written form with all members of a mental health care team.
• The student must possess the emotional and mental health needed for the full use of one’s intellect, perception, and sound judgment. Such emotional and mental health is required for the efficient completion of all responsibilities related to the diagnosis, treatment, and referral of clients and to the communication with others in the mental health care network.

The faculty in the Counseling Program reserves the right to recommend entry into personal counseling or psychotherapy for assessment and/or treatment as a condition of continuation in the Counseling Program. Graduation from the program is recommended when students are determined by the School of Education to be personally, academically, and clinically ready for entry into the counseling profession.