Degree Requirements for Master of Education in Counseling

Degree requirements are established by the faculty on recommendation from the School of Education, the Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Academic Standards Committee. The program requires a minimum of fifteen (15) units of graduate credit. No P/F grades are permitted unless a course is mandatory P/F. Unless otherwise noted in the course description, courses are valued at 1 unit each. A unit of credit is equivalent to 4 semester hours or 6 quarter hours. Up to two (2) units of independent study may be applied toward the degree. Professional dispositions and expectations must be met in addition to course requirements.

Up to five (5) previously completed relevant graduate transfer units may be applied toward a degree if requested and approved at the time of application for acceptance as a degree candidate. Requests are reviewed and approved by the counseling faculty based on the extent to which the transfer courses are equivalent to those required in the Puget Sound counseling program. Applicants may be asked to provide evidence such as syllabi to demonstrate equivalency. Applicants receiving transfer credit may be required to complete additional competency assessments in order to meet CACREP standards. All students must take COUN 620; 621; and 660 and 661, or 662 and 663 in residence.

Academic Standing

No more than two courses with C grades, or a maximum of two (2) units of C grades, may be counted toward a degree, subject to School approval. Grades of D and F are not used in meeting graduate degree requirements but are computed in the cumulative grade average.

A candidate falling below a 3.0 grade average or receiving a grade lower than C may be removed from candidacy or be placed on probation. When candidacy is removed for any reason, the student may not register for additional degree work without the prior approval of the Academic Standards Committee.

Students who violate the professional and ethical standards observed by the academic and professional community may be removed from candidacy. Such standards are delineated in the codes of the American Counseling Association, American School Counseling Association, and chapters 181-87 of the Washington Administrative Code.

Degree Completion

Once degree candidacy has been granted, a student is expected to complete all degree requirements within six (6) years. All courses to be counted in the degree, including graduate transfer credit, must be taken within the six-year period prior to granting the degree; hence, courses may go out of date even though candidacy is still valid.

Program Requirements

• 605 Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice (1 unit)
• 610 Cognitive Behavior Theories and Techniques (1 unit)
• 615 Humanistic Theories and Techniques (1 unit)
• 620 Counseling Pre-Practicum (0.5 unit)
• 621 Practicum in Counseling (0.5 unit)
• 630 Research and Program Evaluation (1 unit)
• 635 Conceptualization, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning (1 unit)
• 640 Group Counseling (1 unit)
• 645 School Counseling (0.5 unit)
• 646 Developmental Counseling (0.5 unit)
• 650 Promoting Social Justice through Culturally Sensitive Counseling (1 unit)
• 655 Assessment in Counseling (0.5 unit)
• 656 Career Development (0.5 unit)
• 659 Internship (0 units)*
• 660 Internship in School Counseling (1.5 units) or 662 Internship in Mental Health Counseling (1.5 units)
• 661 Internship in School Counseling (1.5 units) or 663 Internship in Mental Health Counseling (1.5 units)
• 670 Counseling Leadership and Advocacy (0.5 unit)
• 675 Family Counseling (1 unit)
• 680 Capstone Seminar (0.5 unit)

*COUN 659 is required by CACREP for candidates whose Internship involves summer term engagement at the site.

Candidates for Certification Only Master of Education Course Offerings

Candidates who already hold master's degrees from CACREP-approved counseling programs may pursue school counselor certification. These applicants must meet all admission requirements for degree candidacy and are admitted on a space-available basis. Individual programs of study are developed at the time the applicant is admitted, and the applicant must provide evidence of prior coursework and its equivalency to courses at Puget Sound. Most plans of study require a substantial number of courses and include a 600-hour internship in a K-12 setting.

Candidates may be required to complete additional assessments in order to meet CACREP requirements. Candidates must take COUN 660 and COUN 661 in residence.