riculum designed to provide advanced professional preparation for practicing school counselors in elementary, middle, and high school settings. It prepares students to meet the requirements for Mississippi Class AAA educator licensure and further updates and increases student knowledge and professionalism in the field of school counseling. The program also provides an opportunity for coun- selors in school settings to seek other advanced credentials, such as National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) status and licensure as a Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Admission. To be admitted into the Educational Specialist in Counseling pro- gram, prospective students must:
1. Meet all general requirements for admission to the graduate school of Delta State University.
2. Provide a transcript indicating a master's degree in Counseling or Counselor Education from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or an equivalent program from an institution fully accredited by one of the recognized accrediting agencies.
3. Obtain an overall master's minimum grade point average of 3.25 using a 4.0 scale.
4. Provide a copy of a Mississippi Class AA Educator License in School Guidance and Counseling (or an equivalent from another state)
5. Provide evidence of current employment as a professional school counselor in a public or private school with a minimum of two years of experience. 6. Provide evidence of a minimal score on a nationally recognized standard-
ized test of verbal and written skills, consistent with the minimal scores cur- rently used for admission in Delta State University's Educational Specialist degrees within the College of Education. Currently, these consist of: a. Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) - 3.00
b. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Verbal Reasoning or Analytical Writing - 370
c. Miller's Analogy Test - 30
d. Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) Writing Test - 174 e. Praxis I: Competency-Based Test (CBT) Writing Test - 320 7. Provide three letters of recommendation from:
a. a current or former supervisor in the field of education who can address the candidate's professional school counseling qualifications
b. a college instructor who can address the candidate's ability for success- ful graduate performance in this program
8. Provide a curriculum vita demonstrating leadership and professional coun- seling identity and involvement.
9. Provide an academic writing sample.
Degree Requirements. A candidate for the Educational Specialist degree in Counseling is required to meet the following:
1. Fulfill the general requirements for a graduate degree at Delta State University;
2. Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond a 48-hour Master's degree, consisting of 12 hours of core counseling courses and 18 hours of counseling electives at the 600-level and above, chosen in consultation with the student's academic advisor. At least 15 hours must consist of 700-level courses.
3. Maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all graduate work attempt- ed toward the Educational Specialist degree in Counseling. A grade point average of 3.25 must be achieved and maintained by the last semester in order to qualify for the comprehensive examination and graduation. 4. Pass a comprehensive examination in Counseling during the last term of
course work.
5. Complete a capstone project in the student's school of employment. Grade Point Average. Students who earn three grades of C or one grade of D or F will be dismissed from the degree program. Students must maintain a 3.0 aver- age throughout their program. If a student's GPA drops below a 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. A minimum GPA of 3.25 on all course- work taken in the Educational Specialist program is required to qualify for the comprehensive examination and for completion of the program.
Comprehensive Examination. The comprehensive written examination will be given after the student has completed the courses and studies required in the pro- gram, with the exception of those in progress at the time of the examination. It will cover the four core classes mandated for all students: CED 717: Advanced School Counseling, CED 735: Advanced Counseling Research Methods, CED 758: Advanced Counseling Practicum, and CED 790: Theories of Counseling Supervision. Other questions will be tailored to each student's professional goals and program of study. A student must have an overall GPA of 3.25 or better in the Educational Specialist program in Counseling in order to qualify for the com- prehensive examination.
Termination From or Denial of Readmission to the Educational Specialist in Counseling. Each student's progress is evaluated periodically by a committee made up of counseling faculty and may include the Division Chair. Evaluation of the student's potential for the mastery of advanced counseling skills, including, but not limited to, adherence to professional counseling ethics and legal stan- dards, interpersonal communication skills, personal and professional attributes, personal and professional growth, and advanced academic knowledge of the field of counseling. If at any time, the committee concludes that the student is not progressing satisfactorily, it may recommend to the program coordinator that the student be dropped from the program.
Student Responsibility. The graduate student must accept full responsibility for knowing the policies and regulations relevant to the Educational Specialist in Counseling degree program.
CURRICULA
Educational Specialist Degree in Counseling
Note: Students employed full-time will be allowed to take no more than six hours per semester without prior written approval from their advisor.
Semester Hours 1. Core Counseling Courses... .. 12
CED 717, CED 735, CED 758, CED 790
2. Counseling Electives……... 18 Select six of the courses listed below, in consultation with the academic
advisor:
CED 620, CED 701, CED 703, CED 705, CED 707, CED 711, CED 712, CED 713, CED 714, CED 715, CED 718, CED 722, CED 770
Total……….……... 30