Additional Program Details
For more information about this program’s discipline-specific accreditation or licensure requirements, please see the program of study in the academic catalog.
Programmatic Information
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice —Demonstrate knowledge and application of professional ethical standards and legal considerations in the practice of counseling
- Social and Cultural Identities and Experiences — Employ multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with, advocating for, and counseling individuals with diverse cultural identities, worldviews, values, and beliefs.
- Lifespan Development — Describe how various factors influence development across the lifespan and impact functioning, resilience, wellness, and coping as well as counseling implications in work with diverse clients.
- Career Development — Utilize career development theories and models to employ developmentally appropriate interventions for career development with diverse client populations.
- Counseling Practice and Relationships — Demonstrate the knowledge and skills including theoretically sound and evidence-based practices necessary to develop an effective therapeutic relationship.
- Group Counseling and Group Work — Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for group development and counseling.
- Assessment and Diagnostic — Processes identify effective assessment strategies for the use of counseling research, diagnosis, treatment planning, and consultation.
- Research and Program Evaluation — Analyze research methods used in the counseling profession and apply counseling research to inform evidence-based practice.
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling —
- Illustrate the necessary skills to develop culturally sustaining interventions and treatment plans in a variety of mental health settings.
- Demonstrate knowledge of practice management, including third-party reimbursement, court-referred clients, and integrated care.
Students must successfully complete Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) in order to graduate. It is administered during Internship 1. This standardized exam covers the eight CACREP common-core areas as defined by their Standards for Preparation.
CACRE Standards for Preparation
These studies provide an understanding of each of the following:
- Human Growth and Development is the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
- Social and Cultural Foundations includes issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society.
- Counseling and Helping Relationships discusses counseling and consultation processes.
- Group Counseling & Group Work comprises group development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills, and other group work approaches.
- Career Development and related life factors.
- Assessment and Testing provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
- Research and Program Evaluation provide an understanding of the types of research methods, basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in research.
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice include all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing.
There are two classes students must complete in person on campus in Lakeland, Florida. These courses, titled Counseling Skills Lab and Human Sexuality, will both be one-week intensive classes.
- Students will have in-person experience practicing, meeting peers, and in-person mentorship with the faculty.
- The student is responsible for housing and transportation during these weeks
- SEU provides both breakfast and lunch on campus each day of the class.
- Relationships and connection are important values to the SEU community; therefore, we strive to create a culture during these intensives that cultivates long lasting relationships. To this end, students will also be given a social itinerary, which provides opportunities to connect and build community with their peers.
- For students who start the program in the fall, their intensives will be held in October during the week of fall break. For students who start the program in the spring, their intensives will be held in March during the week of spring break. (See the SEU academic calendar for date reference.)
Resources
Dr. David Lawson — Professor of Counseling/Program Director
Dr. Tiffany Jones — Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Gail Roaten — Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Mary Ballard — Professor of Counseling
Dr. Montserrat Casado — Professor of Counseling
Dr. Sara Spong — Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. David Carson — Professor of Counseling
View all SEU faculty
- How do online classes work at SEU?
Our program contains a combination of 8-week and 16-week online classes. These classes are a combination of asynchronous and synchronous, with the exception of two residency programs. These programs are required and held on SEU’s campus in Lakeland, Florida. - Do I have to take the GRE?
No; you do not need to take the GRE for admission into our program.
- What if my GPA is below the required minimum of 3.0?
We suggest that you apply for the graduate certificate in mental health services. As part of this program, you will take 5 of our counseling courses. Upon completion of this certificate, if your graduate GPA is 3.0 or higher, you may reapply to the MS in Professional Counseling program.
- Are other factors considered in addition to my GPA?
Yes. We also consider your admission essay, letter of recommendation, faculty committee evaluation, and admission interview.
- How many students do you accept each term?
In order to ensure the faculty-to-student ratios established by CACREP accreditation standards are maintained, the number of students we are able to accept each term is based on available space.
- Can I transfer counseling courses I have taken elsewhere?
Transfer credit is possible. For a course to be considered, it must have been taken through a CACREP-accredited program. Additionally, there must be evidence that similar key performance indicators (KPIs) were assessed.
- How many credits can I transfer in?
A maximum of 12 credit hours can be transferred from another program outside of SEU. - Will I be required to take any courses in person?
Yes. There are two courses for which you will be required to attend a 1 week in-person residency on our campus in Lakeland, Florida. In addition to this in-person requirement, there will be follow-up assignments throughout the remainder of the term that will be asynchronous. (See the above Residency Requirements section for additional information.) Also, there are synchronous components in most courses to allow students to engage with their peers, faculty members, and the course material.
