Academic Probation

A student whose GPA falls below 2.75 during any given term will be placed on probation for the next term. If sufficient progress is not made to remove the probation, continuation in the program will be reviewed.

Academic Standards

The program maintains both qualitative and quantitative requirements. Daily classwork, assigned projects, research papers, tests, examinations and regular attendance form the basis of standing and credit.

Admission to Candidacy

After beginning graduate work, students apply for candidacy, a process of establishing professional goals and seeking direction for completing the program. “Admission to Candidacy” involves the successful completion of 30 hours (practicum included), a minimum of 2.75 GPA and faculty approval. The process is a prerequisite to beginning the internship.

A student who completes 30 hours of graduate work in counseling with a 2.75 GPA, but is not admitted to candidacy, is eligible to receive a Certificate in Counseling.

A student must complete the M.A. in Counseling degree within three years after admission to candidacy and within a total of six years.

Changes in Graduate School Policies and Programs

Because it is the nature of the graduate experience to obtain mastery of a chosen field, each graduate student should understand that published descriptions of degree requirements establish only minimum requirements. It is the prerogative of the counseling program to make changes in degree requirements at any time.

Classroom and Study Time

Course schedules are planned to have 15 hours of classroom interaction between the instructor and student for each credit hour. Approximately two and one-half hours of out-of-class study are expected for each hour in class.

Completion of Course Work

Each student is expected to complete all course work on time and to the satisfaction of the instructor. Incompletes will be allowed only in cases of emergency, when circumstances beyond the control of the student prevent completion of course requirements on time. An incomplete shall be requested at least one week before the end of the term and must be approved by the instructor and the director of the program. An incomplete must be removed within six weeks after the close of the term in which it was obtained. A grade will be assigned based on the work completed.

Course Syllabi

Instructors will prepare a syllabus for each course describing its purpose, requirements and other appropriate information such as bibliography and schedule. Students may request to see course syllabi when making course selections. Such requests should be made to the program office.

The department has established the following guidelines for instructors to use in setting course requirements:

• Research and Learning Projects. Daily assignments and/or a term project are assumed. However, the ratio of such work to reading and other requirements is arranged at the discretion of the instructor. Where term projects represent 50% beyond daily requirements, a guideline is 5-7 pages of double-spaced typed text per credit hour.
• Reading. Assigned reading is expected in all courses. Where reading assignments constitute 50% of the total course requirements, the guide is 500 pages per credit hour.

Courses Taken by EMU Students at Other Schools

A student should secure advance approval from the director of the counseling program before enrolling for work in other universities, including correspondence or extension courses, where credit is to be transferred back to EMU for graduation. The program reserves the right to limit the amount of transfer credit which may be applied to degree requirements.

Field Work and Supervision

The program requires students to complete a supervised practicum and internship. Supervision takes three forms, combining the advantages of three different learning situations: weekly individual supervision, weekly group supervision (5-6 persons) and case work. A learning atmosphere of trust and safety, wherein threat is kept to a minimum, is created. Affirmation of the student counselors’ gifts and inner resources is a model for the formative and evaluative components of supervision.

Course Load

To complete the entire degree in two academic years requires 30 SH each year. This is a full-time load, and the strong expectation is that students carrying this load will undertake very little or no additional employment.

Outcomes Assessment

The program reserves the right to require students to participate in institutional testing programs as part of ongoing assessment of student outcomes.

Student Classification

Level 1 students have earned from zero through 30 credits toward their degree. Students who have earned 31 credits toward graduation are classified as Level 2 students. These levels apply to both full-time and part-time students. Graduate special students are those who enroll in one or more courses toward the degree but who have not been formally admitted.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits may be considered for inclusion in the program of study upon the approval of the director of the program. A grade of “B” or better must be earned in courses requested for transfer credit. Courses considered for transfer credit must be applicable toward a comparable degree at the institution offering the course. Application for consideration of transfer credit taken more than five years before the date at which the student is admitted must be accompanied by substantial documentation of prior work and evidence of continued and current competence. Transfer credit taken more than ten years before the date at which the student is admitted may not be used to satisfy degree requirements. No practicum or internship credits are eligible for transfer credit. Decisions with respect to number of transfer hours accepted will be handled by the Admissions Committee on a case-by-case basis, but normally a maximum of 12 hours of credit obtained from an accredited college or university may be applied to the degree.

Tuition Refund Policy

Students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed or otherwise cease enrollment prior to the tenth week of the semester or the tenth day of a mini-term equivalent shall receive a refund equal to the percentage of the term remaining (rounded down to the nearest 10%) and multiplied times the refundable university charges for tuition and room and board.

Student aid refunds are distributed to the various programs in an order determined by federal regulations. Students are encouraged to review the schedule of refundable and nonrefundable charges and deposits which is published annually by the Student Accounts Office.

Students who withdraw prior to the first day of classes shall receive a full refund of all payments except tuition deposits.

In certain cases there is value in advising students to register for a course in order to permit them to test their interest or to evaluate overall course load for the semester. To make this possible without financial loss to the student, a course may be dropped with full tuition refund during the designated time for adding new courses, with the recommendation of the academic advisor and approval of the respective graduate program director.