Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

College of Humanities and Social Sciences- Department of Psychology


Purpose Graduation Requirements
Admissions Requirements Accreditation*
Program Requirements  

Purpose

The Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program at Charleston Southern prepares individuals to serve in a wide range of clinical roles including both secular and sacred settings. Students who complete this program will be qualified to sit for the state boards to obtain their credential of a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of South Carolina (LPC).

Program Distinctive

The proposed Charleston Southern University graduate program is designed as a terminal or professional master’s degree with research preparation while also providing a heavy clinical training emphasis. The Master of Science in Clinical Counseling Psychology program offers graduate education for those interested in becoming professional counselors in community agencies, including college counseling centers, churches, hospitals, mental health, social services agencies, and private practice. The program requires completion of 60 credit hours of coursework. The curriculum has been developed in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Council of Applied Masters Programs in Psychology (CAMPP) and the program aims at acquiring accreditation through Master’s Programs in Applied Counseling (MPCAC) in the spring of 2021. Coursework is consistent with requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor in the state of South Carolina. Therefore, students completing this program will be qualified to sit for South Carolina state boards to become Licensed Professional Counselors. This Masters of Science program sees value in developing highly talented clinicians and offers those interested students the ability to take a series of courses to prepare them to emphasize in Marriage and Family Counseling, Addictions Treatment, or Christian Counseling. 

Program Requirements

  • Prepares students to take their boards to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina
  • Emphasizes clinical competence from a Christian worldview
  • Application of psychology education in clinical training though practicum and internships
  • Offers students opportunities for clinical emphasis in Marriage and Family, Addiction Treatment or Christian Counseling
  • Click here for the Program Requirements

Program Objectives

  • Students will effectively master the comprehensive curriculum.
  • Student will define problems through assessment and diagnosis.
  • Students will effectively implement clinical counseling.
  • Students will integrate science and practice.
  • Students will establish theoretical foundations of practice.
  • Students will effectively communicate knowledge to others.
  • Students will demonstrate ethical and professional conduct.
  • Students will demonstrate personal adjustment skills sufficient to meet both academic and personal objectives.

Admissions Requirements

  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited university
  • 12 undergraduate hours in psychology or related subject
  • GRE or MAT unless the student has
  1. an undergraduate GPA of 3.5
  2. another Master’s degree obtained
  3. 15 credits of graduate studies with a 3.0 GPA or above
  • Application with Statement of purpose
  • 3 Recommendation Forms (2 academic, 1 professional)
  • On-campus interview
  • Official transcripts
  • Application fee as set forth by the CSU graduate council
  • All paperwork should be submitted by July 1st

Provisional Acceptance into the Graduate Program

Provisional admission may be granted to a student who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution but has not met all requirements for regular admission. Requirements for provisional admission are as follows:

  1. Provisional admission can be given only upon the specific recommendation of the Director of the Counseling Psychology Graduate Program once the appropriate documents have been received by the Graduate School.
  2. A student may take a MAXIMUM of nine graduate hours in the Counseling Psychology Master’s program under provisional or non-degree admission. Once the student has taken nine graduate hours, no further graduate coursework may be undertaken until the student has met the following criteria:
  • The student must have a completed admissions file in the Graduate School.
  • The student must show a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on the first nine (9) credit hours of graduate course work at Charleston Southern University.
  • The Director of Graduate Studies in Counseling Psychology must recommend the student for regular admission.

Note: Financial Aid is not available to students under Provisional Admission.

Non-degree Graduate Students

Admission as a non-degree graduate student may be granted when the student has earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution but does not desire to work toward a graduate degree or is enrolled in another university and desires that credit for courses taken at CSU be transferred to the graduate school in which the student is seeking a degree. Financial Aid is not available to non-degree students.

Regulations Governing Non-Degree Graduate Students: A non-degree student must present a transcript demonstrating an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Even though a non-degree graduate student has been admitted to the university, the student has not been admitted to any department or to any degree program. No more than nine (9) credit hours earned while classified as a non-degree graduate student will be accepted toward a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree at Charleston Southern University. A student must, therefore, gain regular admission to the program before completing more than nine (9) credit hours of study for additional hours to be counted toward a master’s degree. Regular admission is based on criteria above.

Transfer Credits

With prior approval, a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of transfer credit may be accepted from a graduate program at an accredited institution toward the fulfillment of the requirements for the MS in Counseling Psychology at Charleston Southern University. Approval of the Director must be obtained during the application process, and the decision whether to award credit at that time is final. Students may not attempt to transfer previously-taken courses later. Only courses in the “B” or “A” range will be considered for transfer.

Students currently enrolled in the Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology program must have prior written approval to take courses from another institution for transfer credit. The approval must carry the signatures of the Program Director or Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Registrar.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA and no more than two (2) “C’s” on their graduate transcript. Students who earn a third “C,” even in their last course, will be expelled from the program.

All students must apply for graduation with the Office of the Registrar. See the Academic Calendar for graduation application deadlines.

Student Progress

The student must maintain an overall 3.00 GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.00 it must be raised to the required GPA the next semester or the student will be ineligible to continue in the program. The GPA is calculated only on credit hours earned at CSU.

If a student earns a “C” in any course, he or she will be placed on academic probation and allowed to progress in the program.  If a student earns an “F” in any course, he or she will not be allowed to progress, will be placed on academic probation, and may be permitted by the Graduate Program Director to repeat the course.

Any student earning more than two grade below a “B” throughout the MS in Counseling Psychology course of study will be dismissed from the program.

Validation of credits

All credits earned at Charleston Southern University or accepted by transfer will remain valid if the master’s degree is completed within six (6) calendar years from the time the student registers for the first course that applies toward the degree.

Accreditation

*This program is pending approval by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The program anticipates becoming accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) in Spring of 2021.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programs