Professional Counseling Student Handbook 2025-2026

The department’s philosophy encompasses a commitment to the development of a professional identity as professional counselors; oversight of curriculum and field experience; and uniformity through implementation of and adherence to one curriculum with the flexibility to provide counselor education and supervision at various national and global campuses. The department continually works to enhance the counseling curriculum in order to provide a counselor education and supervision experience that promotes social justice using a global approach. The program curriculum is aligned with individual state educational requirements, national professional standards and the American Counseling Association (ACA) Ethical Code.

The Department of Professional Counseling offers a professional degree program that is designed to prepare individuals for a career in professional clinical mental health. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge, self-awareness, and interpersonal and clinical counseling skills to work with individuals, couples, children and adolescents, families and small groups in a variety of mental health and select school settings.

The CACREP accredited MA in Counseling with an Emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is offered at the following locations:

• St. Louis/Webster Groves
• Columbia, South Carolina*
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina*
• Online for students in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington

*Students enrolled at these locations take classes Online

The emphasis in Community Counseling is only available in Geneva, Switzerland.

The counseling degrees offered at Webster University are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The MA in Counseling with emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling offered at the following campuses is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educations Programs (CACREP): Webster Groves, Missouri; Columbia and Myrtle Beach South Carolina, Online (see qualifying states above). Graduating students may only refer to their degree as CACREP-accredited if they graduated from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis at one of the four campuses above during the approved timeframes.

We have students who are completing a non-CACREP accredited MA in Counseling at the Westport location. While students in this location may take classes from the CACREP-accredited program, this does not imply the earning of a CACREP-accredited degree. We do this because CACREP standards represent best practices in the field of counselor education and we want to ensure that Webster students at all locations, regardless of CACREP accreditation status, have the benefit of a sound educational curriculum that will prepare them well for a career as mental health counselors.

MA in Counseling Program of Study: Emphases Offered and Matriculation Requirements for Each Emphasis

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

This degree emphasis is offered online and at all extended campuses where the counseling program is offered except Geneva. It requires satisfactory completion of 60 credit hours of coursework. Some states require completion of all core courses prior to taking internship. Note that successful completion of the program may exceed 60 credit hours for students requiring remedial coursework in writing competency and/or professional counseling skill development.

Required Core Counseling Courses (30 hours)

• COUN 0200 Comprehensive Counseling Student Development (0 hours)
• COUN 5020 Foundations of Counseling: The Helping Relationship
• COUN 5050 Human Growth and Development
• COUN 5100 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
• COUN 5200 Theories of Counseling
• COUN 5220 Assessment
• COUN 5600 Techniques of Group Counseling
• COUN 5610 Techniques of Counseling
• COUN 5700 Lifestyle and Career Development
• COUN 5800 Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
• COUN 5850 Research and Program Evaluation

Additional Required Subject Area Courses (12 hours)

• COUN 5230 Psychodiagnostics
• COUN 5450 Trauma, Crisis and Emergency Relief Counseling
• COUN 5540 Family Systems Theory
• COUN 5630 Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling

Required Field Experience Courses* (9–12 hours)

• COUN 6100 Counseling Learning Practicum I (1.5 hours)
• COUN 6200 Counseling Learning Practicum II (1.5 hours)
• COUN 6500 Internship (1.5 hours per term, 6-9 hours total)
• (A minimum of 6 credit hours and 600 clinical supervised hours required; 9 credit hours and 900 clinical supervised hours are required in Florida)

*No school settings may be used for practicum or internship hours toward the MA in Counseling for this emphasis at this time.

Elective Courses (9 hours)

In addition to the required subject area courses listed above, students work with a faculty advisor to select electives from the counseling program curriculum to fulfill the 60-hour requirement for completion of the degree. Note that some state licensure boards may not accept courses completed through Directed Studies.

Recommended Elective Courses*:

• COUN 5140 Psychopharmacology
• COUN 5150 Psychopathology (Required for North Carolina and Kansas licensure)
• COUN 5160 Issues in Counseling (various topics)
• COUN 5570 Telemental health Counseling
• COUN 5185 Ecological Counseling
• COUN 5190 Women’s Issues in Mental Health
• COUN 5545 Blended Family Counseling
• COUN 5570 Telemental Health Counseling (Required for Arkansas licensure)
• COUN 5580 Human Sexuality and Sexual Counseling (Required for Florida licensure)
• COUN 5640 Couples, Marriage and Family Counseling
• COUN 5670 Counseling of Children
• COUN 5820 Consultation and Supervision

*The electives listed here are offered on a rotational basis. There is no guarantee that any of these courses will be offered during a student's time in the program (except those required for licensure).

Community Counseling

Effective June 1, 2016, this degree emphasis is only available to students entering the program in Geneva, Switzerland. Students may apply to transfer individual courses as provided in the Transfer Policy.

This degree emphasis requires satisfactory completion of 48 credit hours of coursework. Note that successful completion of the program may exceed 48 credit hours for students requiring remedial coursework in writing competency and/or professional counseling skill development.

Required Core Subject Area Courses (30 hours)

• COUN 5020 Foundations of Counseling: The Helping Relationship
• COUN 5050 Human Growth and Development
• COUN 5100 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
• COUN 5200 Theories of Counseling
• COUN 5220 Assessment
• COUN 5600 Techniques of Group Counseling
• COUN 5700 Lifestyle and Career Development
• COUN 5800 Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
• COUN 5860 MA Counseling Thesis (may be substituted for other approved coursework)

Required Field Experience Courses (9 hours)

• COUN 6000 Counseling Learning Practicum (total of 3 hours)
• COUN 6500 Internship (total of 6 hours)

Elective Courses (9 hours)

In addition to the required subject area courses listed above, students work with a faculty advisor to select electives from the counseling program curriculum to fulfill the 48-hour requirement for completion of the degree. Seek advisement for appropriate selection of electives with the Counseling Coordinator or Advisor when selecting elective courses. Note that some state licensure boards may not accept online courses or courses completed through Directed Studies.

COUN 5860 MA Counseling Thesis: The master’s thesis consists of an individual research project designed by the student and carried out under the direction of a Faculty Supervisor in the field of counseling or psychology. The thesis project allows students to actively contribute to research in the field of counseling or psychology and to gain important research experience that prepares them to follow a doctoral program. All thesis topics must be approved by the Faculty Supervisor and the Department Chair. Students are expected to select a topic in collaboration with their Faculty Supervisor, develop research questions and/or hypotheses for the study, collect and analyze data, and report the results of their research in APA format. Following completion of the qualitative or quantitative thesis, students are encouraged to submit their work for possible publication. In addition to the individual feedback and support they receive from their Faculty Supervisor, students working on a thesis participate in the research meetings of the departmental research series (consisting of psychology and counseling faculty, thesis students and invited guests) where their work is presented and critically discussed.

General Requirements

All students in the Department of Professional Counseling are subject to the policies and procedures for graduate studies found in the Webster University Graduate Catalog, and the specific requirements of the counselor education programs found within this Student Handbook. Please note carefully that students are governed by the Graduate Catalog that is in place at the time they are admitted. The Graduate Catalog determines your program of study. However, the contents of the Student Handbook may be updated from time to time as the department sees fit. Whenever changes are made, these are communicated to students and a new Handbook is issued. Students are subject to the Handbook that is current at any given time. As stated in the academic policies and procedure guidelines, the MA in Counseling is a professional degree program that is excluded from dual major and sequential degree options. It is the responsibility of every student to familiarize themselves with the contents of the current Student Handbook.

Courses in the Department of Professional Counseling are available only to those admitted to the Counseling degree programs and department-approved non-degree-seeking students. All non-degree- seeking students must meet specific admissions requirements and seek advisement for appropriate course selection.

Students participating in the Counseling degree programs are required to follow the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) and adhere to applicable state laws, regulatory policies, and rules and policies governing professional behavior at the field placement setting. Students have the same ethical and professional obligations to clients as those required of professional counselors (ACA, 2014). Violations of ethical code may result in course failure, a forfeiture of all clinical hours accrued, or potential dismissal from the program and a forfeiture of all clinical hours accrued.

New Student Orientation

Students granted admission to the department are required to attend the New Student Orientation before they can begin taking any classes. The orientation will cover introduction to the counseling profession, the Webster Counseling Program and faculty, expectations of students, path to licensure in the specific state, student retention policy including procedures for student remediation or dismissal from the program, and other items faculty may choose to present. This orientation is mandatory. Failure to attend the orientation will result in students being unenrolled from courses for which they have registered, and postponement of their start date.

Advising

Upon admission into a Counseling degree program, students are assigned an advisor. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their advisor and schedule an advising appointment during which they can develop a program plan. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in advising with their counseling advisor at various times throughout their program. The department suggests three minimum points for advising: within the first term to discuss a program plan and general goals, at completion of 12 hours to discuss field experience, and during the first or second term of Internship to discuss graduation and post-graduation steps toward licensure. Students should set other advising appointments as necessary to stay organized or address concerns in the program. All advising appointments are the responsibility of the student and are required to occur in relation to the field experience components and other needs. At locations where there are no full-time counseling faculty, the campus director or a designee serves as the advisor. Being assigned an advisor does not shift the responsibility for a student’s program of study from the student. Students are in charge of their own educational journey and are responsible for following their plan of study.

Priority Registration Deadline

In order to assist in planning effectively for staffing needs, students are asked to register for the following term at least 30 days prior to that term’s start. Courses with fewer than 10 students registered 30 days prior to the start are at risk for being canceled due to low enrollment.

Transfer Policy

Students apply to and gain admission to a specific Webster campus. The admitting campus becomes the student’s home campus where a student must complete all their course work. Students wishing to take courses at a location other than their home campus must obtain approval from the Counseling Coordinator at both their home campus and the campus where they wish to take the course(s) prior to registration.

No more than 18.0 credit hours can be completed at a location other than the student's home campus without transfer. It should be noted that taking courses at a CACREP-accredited program does not imply completion of a CACREP-accredited degree.

Transfer between campuses

• For transfer to a non-CACREP-accredited program: Current Webster University Professional Counseling students may request to be considered for inter-campus transfer prior to starting field experience coursework.
• For transfer to a CACREP-accredited program: Current Webster University Professional Counseling students wishing to be considered for transfer to a CACREP-accredited Webster program from a non-CACREP-accredited program may request to apply no more than 12.0 credit hours of previously completed coursework toward their degree. These hours cannot include field experience course work.
• In general: Students must be in good standing in the program to be considered for transfer. No students on academic probation or in remediation will be considered for transfer. The process for transfer between Webster University programs shall include:
  • Two letters from Webster faculty at the student’s home campus regarding the student's counseling and interpersonal skills level;
  • A phone or personal interview with the Counseling Coordinator or designee in the program where the student wishes to transfer, regarding the student's counseling and interpersonal skills level and reason for transfer; and
  • Approval for the transfer by the Department Chair.

Additional documentation may be requested at the discretion of the Counseling Coordinator.

Transfer of coursework completed at another institution

A maximum of eighteen (18) credit hours from a graduate counseling program at a university with acceptable accreditation (see Transfer of Credit in Academic Policies of the Graduate Catalog for definition of accreditation) may be accepted toward a counseling degree. There will be no course substitutions once a student has transferred 18 credit hours.

Core counseling classes considered for transfer must be transferred into a counseling program within eight years of completion and must be equivalent to Webster course content and learning outcomes as evidenced by the actual course syllabus for the course requested for transfer. Syllabi samples or templates are not sufficient. Core courses include: COUN 5020, COUN 5050, COUN 5100, COUN 5200, COUN 5230, COUN 5220, COUN 5600, COUN 5610, COUN 5700, COUN 5800 and COUN 5850. Non-core counseling courses considered for transfer can be transferred within ten years of completion. Best educational preparation for the field may include advising students to not transfer related but unsubstantial credits as non-core courses. Practicum and Internship hours cannot be transferred to the degree.

Students/applicants receiving approval for transfer of counseling coursework transfer the coursework content at their own risk. All transfer petitions are considered on a case by case basis and decisions rendered accordingly.

Continuing Enrollment

A student who has not enrolled in Webster University graduate degree coursework for five consecutive terms must enroll for the sixth term, or the student will be required to meet the program degree requirements stated in the catalog that is current when the student resumes classes with Webster University. A student who is returning after an absence that exceeds five consecutive terms must meet with their Advisor or Counseling Coordinator at their home campus to develop a new program of study that is based on the catalog in which they are returning. If a student is enrolled continuously and core-course requirements change, the student may opt to complete the revised core curriculum.

Coursework that is older than eight years will not automatically transfer/apply towards a student’s current degree program, even when this coursework was completed at Webster University. Students must petition the department for permission to apply any previous coursework. All transfer petitions are considered on a case by case basis and decisions rendered accordingly.

Counselor Professional Identity

Students are required to actively identify with the counseling profession by participating in professional organizations and by participating in seminars, workshops or other activities that contribute to personal and professional growth (CACREP, 2016). Student membership in the American Counseling Association (ACA) is required for students in field experience. ACA is the main professional organization for counselors and counselors-in-training which centralizes all advocacy and legislative efforts with the purpose of strengthening and unifying the counseling profession. Membership in ACA is offered to students at a discounted rate and comes with great benefits such as a subscription to the Journal for Counseling and Development, complimentary professional liability insurance and access to a wide array of resources through ACA’s website. ACA also has multiple divisions and regional organizations based on member areas of interest. Students are encouraged to become involved with their local and/or national professional counseling organizations in order to form a professional identity and to obtain additional learning, professional networking, leadership opportunities and legal support in addition to financial, academic and career resources.

Professional Identity Commitment

The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (2014) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP 2016) require that institutions providing counselor education screen students for professional and academic fit for the counseling profession. Graduation from the MA in Counseling program requires successful completion of all graduate courses with appropriate academic success; development of appropriate interpersonal and counseling skills evidencing competency as a counselor; and being deemed fit for the counseling profession by program faculty as determined by development of counseling knowledge and skills, counselor formation, interpersonal relations with others in the program, and openness to supervision and feedback. Students’ counseling skill development, interpersonal skills with others in the program, openness to supervision, and academic success and standing will be evaluated on a regular basis throughout the program via use of dispositional and skills assessment tools, remediation team discussions, program faculty review of student achievement, and student participation. Students may be required to complete extra coursework and/or personal counseling in order to maintain good standing in the program. Per the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), students who are not a fit with the program and/or profession by evaluation of the counseling faculty will be transitioned out of the counseling department.

See the following useful addresses for participation in professional organizations.

• For national professional organizational membership and involvement, go to: American Counseling Association, American Mental Health Counseling Association or National Board of Certified Counselors.
• For local professional organizational membership and participation, search the above websites for state chapters.
• For state licensing requirements view ACA's Licensure Requirements.

Ethical Codes

It is important to note that the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) applies to counselors-in-training in the same way it applies to licensed professional counselors. The Code and its relevance will be referenced in every course. Students are expected to adhere to the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) and violation of the ethical code is grounds for dismissal from the program.

According to ACA Code of Ethics (2014):

• Counselors [Counselor-in-training] have a responsibility to read, understand and follow the ACA Code of Ethics and adhere to applicable laws and regulations. (C.1.)
• Students and supervisees have a responsibility to understand and follow the ACA Code of Ethics. Students and supervisees have the same obligation to clients as those required of professional counselors. (F.5.a.)

Violations of ethical code may result in course failure, a forfeiture of all clinical hours accrued, or potential dismissal from the program and a forfeiture of all clinical hours accrued.

Interpersonal Skill Development and Openness to Supervision

Webster’s counseling programs facilitate a mutual learning experience in addition to related readings and assignments throughout the term. Therefore, it is important that students feel safe, comfortable and free to discuss and elaborate on their thoughts around their developing knowledge and skills. It is important for all to be respectful of one another’s positions, relating to others in an empathic, nonjudgmental and warm manner in class just as would be expected with clients. Students are encouraged to make their feelings and thoughts known, yet, to do so in a manner befitting the counseling profession, i.e., respecting the position of the speaker while giving voice to their thoughts and using their budding counselor attending skills. Class discussions provide an opportunity for students to practice and evidence developing counseling skills by communicating in a manner consistent with a good counselor. The building of trusting alliances with one’s classmates is as important as doing so with clients. Therefore, it is expected that students will be practicing some of the same skills when participating in class as they would in counseling sessions with clients. Failure to evidence respect for other students will be grounds for remediation and assessment of one’s dispositional fit for the profession.

Additionally, openness to supervision and instruction by the faculty (or site supervisor) is an important element of counselor development. Openness to supervision is defined as: accepting supervision — both individual and group; recognizing one’s own personal strengths, weaknesses, biases, needs and beliefs and agreeing to adapt them to fit the profession; sensing personal and professional impact on others, both positive and negative; accepting and applying feedback from the instructor; being proactive in seeking out needed experiences, feedback, etc.; and accepting feedback in a non-defensive manner with a professional attitude.

Counseling is a professional degree that is regulated by state licensure boards and the ACA Code of Ethics (2014). As such, students will be required to commit to the above mentioned academic, interpersonal and counseling skill development in various coursework including a minimum of 11 months of clinical field experience. The clinical field experience is intensive, typically requiring a minimum of 12 to 38 hours per week to equate to a total of 700-1000 supervised clinical hours. It is imperative that applicants and students understand the time commitment required to develop and evidence counseling and interpersonal skills, openness to supervision and academic success related to the clinical field experience and program in general.

Students who do not evidence openness to supervision and/or appropriate interpersonal skills are subject to remediation and may be dismissed for lack of fit with program or profession.

Informed Consent to Self-Awareness and Self-Care

In compliance with the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (2014) regarding counselor training, admission to the professional counseling programs at Webster University indicates that an admitted student agrees to self-disclosure of some personal information in class journals, discussions, papers and other assignments for the purposes of self-reflection, self-awareness and improvement of interpersonal skills. Students are not required to disclose personal information which they are not comfortable disclosing. However, self-awareness is necessary in becoming a competent counselor and does not occur without self-reflection. It is recommended that all students pursue personal counseling (at their own expense) in general and especially when personal issues interfere with a student’s ability to be successful within the program. Supervisors and instructors are bound by professional ethical code (ACA, 2014) to endorse for graduation only those students that demonstrate a good fit for the counseling profession. Therefore, it is in the student’s best interest to maintain personal mental health while in the program and to seek necessary counseling and/or clinical supervision. A list of professional counseling service providers in your area may be obtained from the counseling coordinator at each campus.

Concept of Safety in Interpersonal Communications

During interaction between class members, self-disclosure and personal examination will occur. All interactions fall under the same umbrella of confidentiality as do client/counselor relationships. What is discussed in class must not be discussed with other students outside of the course or with friends or partners. Maintaining confidentiality is the primary ethical principle of counselors. If a student fails to maintain the confidentiality of clients or classmates, the student risks a failing grade in the course. In addition, the instructor will refer the breach of confidentiality to the Counseling Advisory Committee for disciplinary action of the student.

Endorsement Policy

The programs are carefully designed to prepare mental health professionals who are competent to enter work in professional or select school settings. As a result, specialized preparation is essential for graduates to become effective and fully functioning professionals. As gatekeepers to the counseling profession, the faculty have a responsibility to the general public to ensure that we graduate and endorse for hire only those individuals who have demonstrated through their training a good fit for the profession. Faculty will therefore endorse students and graduates for only those positions in which the students/graduates are qualified. This applies to endorsement for credentialing (licensure and certification) and employment as well.

Background Check

While the Department of Professional Counseling does not require background checks from applicants, some states will not issue a professional counseling license to those with a failed background check. It is the student's responsibility to check with the professional counselor licensure board in their state to ensure that upon successful completion of the degree, they are eligible to apply for licensure.

Further, some field experience sites require completion of a background check prior to accepting students for practicum and internship. While the department may assist students by providing a list of approved sites, it is the student's responsibility to locate a practicum and internship site. If you have adverse incidents in your background check, you may encounter difficulty securing a site. Failure to locate a site will adversely affect your ability to complete your degree program.

Any costs associated with obtaining a background check are the sole responsibility of the student. See your Advisor or Counseling Coordinator for more information.

Path to Licensure

State licensure and certification boards have a specific set of requirements for licensure and certification such as passing of nationally normed, field-related examinations (NCE, NCMHC, or state jurisprudence exams), and completion of a number of required, post-graduate, clinical supervised hours (2,000-4,000 hours, i.e., 2-5 years). These requirements vary by state. It is the student’s responsibility to educate themselves on the licensure or certification requirements of the state where they wish to pursue licensure or certification. For details on individual state licensure (LPC and LMHC) or certification requirements, consult ACA's Licensure Requirements page. Please note that state licensure and certification requirements are reviewed from time to time. The Department of Professional Counseling is committed to ensuring that students have the curricular and academic preparation to make them eligible to apply for initial licensure or certification.

The department may revise curriculum from time to time in order to keep abreast of changes in licensure and certification requirements where possible.

Use of Personal Electronic Devices

Students are required to turn off all cell phones during class unless otherwise advised by the instructor. Absolutely no texting, taking of calls, emailing, unauthorized web activity or social media use is permitted during class unless approved by the instructor. Students who have a potential emergency brewing during class time and need to be available by cell (sick child, dying relative, suicidal client) you are required to notify instructor at the beginning of class and take any call outside of class. More than one of these events will require a personal meeting with the instructor scheduled outside of regular class time. Students are not permitted to audio/video-record any in-class activity without prior approval from the faculty.

Email

Upon admission, all students are assigned a Webster email address. Your Webster email serves as the primary form of communication between instructors and students and is the only email address that the department will utilize for official communication. It is the obligation of all students to check their Webster email frequently even in terms when one is not registered for classes. If you choose to have your Webster email forwarded to a separate email account, you assume the risk that some emails providers may have restrictions that affect your ability to receive all your Webster email.

Social Networks

Computer use in class is limited to note taking or class-related activities only. Students found to be on any social network during class time will be asked to immediately leave class and may be dropped from the course with potential for no refund. Counseling classes require respect and confidentiality, and any use of electronics devices that faculty/instructors deem inappropriate may lead to a referral to remediation or dismissal from the program. Students are not permitted to take pictures or audio/video-record any activity during class (face-to-face or virtual) and post on social media without the prior knowledge and approval from faculty. Posting images and recordings of individuals without their consent is unethical. Students in the counseling program are urged to conduct themselves professionally in all areas of their lives, including but not limited to virtual spaces.

Synchronous Online Courses

In order to facilitate effective and efficient course delivery, the department may utilize a third-party program for synchronous online course delivery, such as Zoom, for select courses or class sessions within a course. These platforms connect faculty and students in real time, offering students the option to complete classes from the comfort of their home while also interacting with faculty and peers in real time. In order to ensure a smooth learning experience, students taking any synchronous online courses are expected to have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection, along with a working web cam, speakers and microphone. It may be necessary to halt other applications in your residence that utilize internet bandwidth (e.g., Xbox, PlayStation, etc.) for the duration of a synchronous online class session. Expectations for student conduct in the virtual class are similar to those for on-ground courses. Students should allow 30 minutes before the start of class to log in and address any unexpected technical issues that may arise. This will ensure that class begins on time and that little time is wasted addressing technical concerns. Students must remain logged in for duration of the entire class and participate in class activities as expected.

Students must set up their computer in a room that accords them privacy and ensures minimum distractions. During class time, there can be no other persons present in the room as this infringes upon the confidentiality that other students should expect in any counseling course. Students should be seated in an upright position at a desk or table so that they can attend to the activities of the class. Failure to adhere to these requirements may cause the student to be dropped from the class or may lead to a failing grade.

Basic netiquette for virtual classes includes:

• Make sure your camera and sound are working properly and you can be seen through video.
• Be aware of what is behind and around you and of any sounds in the area. Make sure you have an appropriate and professional environment free of audible or visual distractions. Having a quiet space is essential and muting yourself when you are not talking helps minimize echo. Practice your camera view first to ensure everything looks appropriate before your class begins.
• For better sound control and privacy, use earphone with an attached microphone.
• All participants should dress appropriately, as you would for a professional face to face meeting.
• Do not engage in other activities on your computer or other devices during session, even if you don’t think it is visible, participants can see you are distracted.
• When you engage in virtual class from home, let your family know that you are “in class” and request that they not disturb you.
• Ensure you have consistent and secure network connection.
• Always access the virtual class following an access code or password provided by instructor so that your virtual space cannot be hacked.
• Do not audio/video-record class unless you have a special permission by the ADA office and/or your instructor.
• Make sure you are sitting up throughout the entire class and have the camera at eye level, further away from your face, having the light facing you rather than the screen.

Tevera

The Department of Professional Counseling has adopted Tevera to improve compliance with program and student assessment requirements for the maintenance of accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Tevera is a third-party online management solution for counseling students and faculty which enables the counseling program to streamline processes for assessment collection and documentation of students’ professional skills and dispositions. This system will help optimize program-wide assessment especially in light of our distributed nature across Webster’s multiple locations.

Tevera is used to manage clinical training sites for practicum and internship; facilitate student placement at clinical sites; track clinical hours for both field experience and post-graduation licensure; automate assessments, contracts and evaluations; streamline communication between faculty supervisors, site supervisors and students; and integrate assessments for best practices in the counseling field, as well as for accreditation through CACREP and the Higher Learning Commission.

All students will be enrolled in COUN 0200: Comprehensive Counseling Student Development (0 credit hours) upon admission to the program which will provide them with access to Tevera. The one-time cost associated with COUN 0200 will provide students with lifetime access to Tevera, even after graduation. This will give them easy access to their signed hour logs to help them build their portfolio for state licensure.

Academic Integrity

All work submitted and presented in class must be original to the student and to the specific class. Students are expected to explore, analyze and discuss the ideas of others with proper credit through citations and references. Students may continue exploring an area of interest, however new or additional research and writing is required. The counseling program follows and requires APA format for all written work. Recycling papers from other courses is not acceptable and will result in a grade of F.

According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2020), plagiarism involves presenting the work of another as one’s own. It is very important that students give appropriate credit to others when using their work. Whether paraphrasing someone else’s work or using direct quotes, students must follow proper citation based on APA manual instructions.

All students are expected to know what constitutes plagiarism and to avoid committing plagiarism in their written work. Plagiarism will not be excused by ignorance on the student’s part. Students needing clear understanding of plagiarism should see their instructor immediately and before any written work is turned in. The writing center is also available for students who need extra tutoring or proofreading. You may also view the official University policy on plagiarism.

APA Style

Most written projects in counseling programs require students to follow APA style found in the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2020). Instructors will inform students regarding those assignments that are to be written in APA style. Students are required to become familiar with APA Style writing requirements in order to demonstrate an appropriate level of academic writing. Examination of the APA Publication Manual throughout the program will assist students in developing and consistently improving their writing skills which are aligned with APA format requirements. Students are advised to obtain a copy of the APA manual as this will be the standard expectation in every course.

Course Attendance

The University reserves the right to drop a student who does not attend the first class. Any absence or tardiness in this accelerated program will result in a significant loss of learning. Students are expected to attend all class sessions of every course. One unexcused absence in this course may result in dropping the student one full letter grade with a second unexcused absence requiring that the student withdraw from the class. If it is too late to withdraw, the final grade will be an automatic F. Students are expected to write at a graduate level and come to class on time, having completed the reading assignments so they are prepared to ask questions and participate in all activities. Students coming to class late or leaving class early will be considered ‘absent’ for that class session unless approved in advance by the instructor.

Participation

Participation is required in all counseling courses. Being prepared to participate in class is equivalent to being prepared to participate in counseling sessions with your clients. Students are expected to come to class having already read the assigned material and completed the assignments. Students are expected to be active participants in the learning process, exhibiting attention, professionalism and respect during discussions and other classroom activities. These are key behaviors for counselors; ensure you are evidencing them in class.

Additionally, counselors are often required to lead group counseling sessions, educate large groups on various topics, present in court and perform public presentations of various types. Students who have difficulty speaking out loud in class, making presentations to the class, and participating in class discussions regularly should seek guidance from their advisor about these concerns.

Students are subject to appropriate academic penalty for incomplete or unacceptable work, or for excessive or unexcused absences (see Course Attendance section for this). See the grading section on individual course syllabi for further information.

Remediation for Student Success Process

The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (2014) requires that all counselor education programs in good standing provide a remediation process for all counselor education students that includes regular and ongoing evaluation of a student's general fit with the counseling profession.

Assessment will be based on faculty review of didactic and clinical competencies, attention to ethical code, openness to supervision, self-awareness and formation, professional conduct, and academic competency. When experiencing challenges in demonstrating academic success, development of appropriate interpersonal and/or counseling skills and openness to clinical supervision, and/or knowledge areas students may be initially required to meet with the course instructor to attempt to remediate student challenges.

If unresolved, the student or instructor may request the student be referred to a remediation committee, an ad-hoc committee that is appointed by the Department Chair or their designee. The committee will review the reasons for the referral and interview relevant instructors and the student in order to determine the most appropriate path for student success as it relates to a potential future in the counseling profession. The remediation committee uses the information gathered to make recommendations for student success. The recommendations may include but are not limited to: completion of extra coursework and/or field experience, completion of and/or participation in personal counseling, and/or dismissal or time off from the counseling program prior to completion of the degree program in order to resolve student issues related to lack of success. Hence, successful completion of the MA in Counseling program may require additional coursework beyond the stated number of degree credit hours (48 or 60) for students requiring remedial coursework and/or personal counseling. Student openness to and cooperation with the remediation committee and adherence to ACA Code of Ethics (2014) is integral to the student's continued success within the program. In cases where remediation is resolved unsuccessfully and leads to a student’s dismissal from the program, that dismissal is considered final with no further right of appeal.

Note: While the remediation committee may review cases related to academic and dispositional challenges, it is not intended to mediate grade appeals or dismissals related to academic failure. The committee is in place to work with students in good academic standing who are challenged in one or more areas and are seeking a plan for remediation for student success to remain in good standing or be transitioned out of the program.

Examples of grounds that may necessitate a referral to remediation include but are not limited to the following:

• Regular evaluation of students’ skill development at various intervals/courses throughout the program as listed on the current assessment tools (PSE, etc.).
• Notification by a faculty member and/or counseling related staff regarding inappropriate behavior, unethical behavior and/or lack of academic success as related to skill development and/or written assessment by a student while enrolled in and in the role of student within the counseling program.

Students in a counseling degree program are expected to participate in self-growth and self-disclosure experiences in some coursework as delineated by the ACA Code of Ethics (2014). Contents of self-disclosure may lead to requirement of professional help to address any personal concerns that may be affecting development of competent counseling skills and/or time off from the academic program until personal issues are resolved (ACA, 2014).

Academic Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement

Academic Probation

Students who receive one grade of C will be placed on academic probation.

Academic Dismissal

Students who receive two C grades, an F, a ZF, or WF will be dismissed. Conditional basis students who receive one grade of C or below will be dismissed without further right to appeal for reinstatement. They may apply for readmission after one calendar year from the date of dismissal. Students can also be dismissed from the program for violations of United States criminal codes. Any conduct that is detrimental to the school and/or other students will result in the termination of educational benefits from the Veterans' Administration.

Students who are dismissed from the program may apply for reinstatement after one calendar year from the date of dismissal. Also note that students dismissed from the program are not dismissed to the university and may apply to other programs. Once a student graduates, no further grade changes are allowed on the enrollment record.

Webster University counseling students are assigned to counseling faculty academic advisors who may assist in dealing with academic problems and student concerns. The student should make every effort to determine the circumstances that have led to inadequate performance. If the student wishes to appeal their grade, they should follow the Grade Appeal process that is detailed in this Student Handbook. Students on academic probation should enroll in only one course per term. The Counseling Coordinator/Advisor will determine when the academic performance of the student is adequate and the student may resume enrolling in two courses per term. Students on probation or admitted conditionally will be required to receive a minimum grade of B or better and will enroll in only one course per term until the Counseling Coordinator/Advisor agrees the student has demonstrated aptitude for graduate level study in a counseling degree program. Students will enroll in only one course per term for a minimum of four courses but may be enabled to take only one course per term indefinitely.

Reinstatement

A student who had been dismissed for academic reasons may send a written appeal for reinstatement to the Graduate Council through the Office of Academic Affairs. The student must send the appeal stating the basis for their request for reinstatement no sooner than one term following the issuance of the last grade that resulted in the dismissal. The student is responsible for providing a complete and accurate written statement describing the circumstances that contributed to their poor academic performance. Campus or program directors and faculty may provide recommendations to the Graduate Council as to whether the student should be reinstated. If the Graduate Council approve the request, stipulations designed to ensure academic success will be required of the student upon return to their studies. If the Graduate Council denies the reinstatement appeal, the student may apply for readmission after one calendar year.

Readmission

Students may send a written appeal stating the basis for their request for readmission to the Graduate Council in care of the Office of Academic Affairs. Students must send the appeal no sooner than one year following the issuance of the last grade that qualified the student for dismissal, or after a reinstatement appeal was denied by the Graduate Council. The student is responsible for providing a complete and accurate statement describing the circumstances that contributed to their poor academic performance.

Two types of dismissal situations that might create grounds for readmission are: 1) the student has a generally good graduate record at Webster University but experiences a work or personal problem that leads to poor performance; or 2) the student's background is weak in a specific area that leads to poor performance in courses in that area (see graduate catalog for exact language).

In the case of a past work or personal problem, students should submit information or documentation that indicates the nature of the original problem and how it has been resolved. In the case of a weak background in a specific area, students should demonstrate the attainment of the necessary knowledge and/or skills to do graduate work at Webster University, such as successful completion of remedial work in the problem area (see graduate catalog for exact language).

If the Graduate Council approves the student's request for readmission, stipulations designed to ensure academic success will be required of the student upon return to their studies. If the Graduate Council denies the readmission appeal, the student remains dismissed from the University without further right of appeal.

University Policies Statement

As stated above, all Webster University policies and procedures apply to students in the counseling program in addition to those specific to this Handbook. For a detailed description of University Policies, consult the Webster University graduate catalog.

The contents of this Handbook are subject to change.

I, ______________________________, a student at Webster University in pursuit of an MA in Counseling, acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Department of Professional Counseling Student Handbook. I understand that it is my responsibility to read and understand the contents of the handbook. I will be held responsible for all the content in this Handbook. By signing in the space below, I agree to abide by the practices described in this document while enrolled in graduate counseling courses at Webster University. I agree to contact my faculty advisor and/or the Counseling Coordinator at my campus should I have difficulties with students, faculty, and/or staff within the program. I agree to adhere to and abide by the professional ACA Code of Ethics (2014) while enrolled as a student in the graduate professional counseling degree program at Webster University. I agree to demonstrate openness to clinical supervision and transparency in my practices as a counselor-in-training while enrolled as a student in Webster University.

I understand that the contents of this handbook are subject to revision.

Please sign, date and turn in at student orientation prior to beginning of term.

Student Signature:

Print Name:

Date: