Counseling and Personnel Services (MEd)

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Admission Requirements

Application requirements

  • Completed application submitted at https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/apply 
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed.  To be considered official, transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution to the UofL Graduate School directly.  Transcripts issued to the student are considered unofficial. 
  • International transcripts must be evaluated per the grad school requirements: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international 
  • Personal statement 
  • ​2 recommendations (can be academic or professional, personal recommendations not acceptable)  

International Applicants: 

Admission Requirements: 

  • Completed application (including all checklist items) to be holistically reviewed 
  • Applicants who receive the highest evaluations from the admissions committee will be invited to participate in a virtual or in-person interview.  
  • Unconditional admission requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 for all undergraduate coursework taken. Cumulative undergraduate GPAs ranging from 2.5 to 2.74 will be considered for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis. 
  • Conferred four year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required for unconditional admission. Applicants in their final year of their bachelor’s degree with final courses being completed before the graduate program start, can be reviewed for probationary admission pending a final transcript showing degree conferral by the end of the first semester.  
  • ​Admission is competitive. Meeting the GPA minimum and all other admission requirements does not guarantee that prospective students will be accepted into the program.  

Priority Application Deadlines:  

Art Therapy Fall start: February 1 

Clinical Mental Health Fall start: March 1 

Clinical Mental Health Spring Start- October 15 

Counseling Psychology Fall start: March 1 

Counseling Psychology Spring Start- October 15 

School Counseling Fall start - March 1

School Counseling Spring Start – October 15

Program Admissions:   

Art Therapy: Admission is for Fall cohort only

  • Personal statement (Specify prompt if needed)  
  • Explain what has led you to wanting a career in art therapy, including how your personal art making practices have influenced your personal growth, self-awareness and how you relate to others.  
  • ​Explain a difficult experience(s) and how you overcame that personally and professionally. 

Prerequisite Requirements: 

  • Psychology: Fifteen (15) credit hours. Specifically, Intro/General Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Abnormal Psychology; Personality Theory, and Statistics 
  • Studio Art: Eighteen (18) credit hours. Specifically, Drawing, Painting, and a Clay/Ceramics class. The other 9 credits may be in advanced class in those above, or other visual arts such as Fiber Arts, Photography, 2D/3D Design, Glassblowing, Sculpture, etc. 
  • Applicants may be admitted into the program with a maximum of 2-3 outstanding prerequisites. These must be completed within the first year of study 
  • Portfolio 
  • 10-12 pieces of work submitted via Powerpoint slides or similar 
  • Pieces should demonstrate a variety of media usage (e.g. Do not submit all examples of painting)  

Program admission dates: 

  • Admission is for fall cohort only 
  • ​Priority Application Deadlines: February 1

Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Admission in Spring and Fall (Summer term admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed each year.) 

  • Personal statement (Should explain why you would like to pursue a career in your chosen concentration and field of study. Such as how your personal and qualities and attributes make you a match for the procession, relevant work and volunteer experience, how your goals align with the concentration, and any areas/issues with your application package).  

Program admission dates: 

  • Application Deadline (Spring): October 15 
  • ​Application Deadline (Fall): March 1 

Counseling Psychology: Admission in Spring and Fall (Summer term admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed each year.) 

  • The Admissions Committee evaluates applications based on how an applicant's goals, professional experiences, and commitment to education an appropriate fit with this program are. 

Program admission dates: 

  • Application Deadline (Spring): October 15 
  • ​Application Deadline (Fall): March 1

School Counseling: Admission in Spring and Fall (Summer term admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed each year.)

  • The Admissions Committee evaluates applications based on how an applicant's goals, professional experiences, and commitment to education are an appropriate fit with this program.

Program admission dates:

  • Application Deadline (Spring): October 15
  • Application Deadline (Fall): March 1

Degree Requirements

Core Professional Area
LEAD 600Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics3
ECPY 605Human Development 33
or ECPY 611 Learning Systems: Theory and Practice
ECPY 629Theories and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy (OR) 13
or ECPY 630 Theories and Techniques of School Counseling
ECPY 650Group Process and Practice3
ECPY 663Multicultural and Diversity Issues3
ECPY 670Career Counseling3
ECPY 730Social, Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling3
Mid-Point Assessment
ECPY 672Practicum in Clinical Mental Heath Counseling (OR) 1 and 23
or ECPY 673 Practicum in Counseling Psychology
or ECPY 674 Practicum in School Counseling
or ECPY 676 Internship I in Art Therapy
One of the following Concentrations:12-36
Art Therapy (36 credit hours)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (36 credit hours)
Counseling Psychology (36 credit hours)
School Counseling (12 credit hours)
Minimum Total Hours36-60
1

Prior to ECPY 672 Practicum in Clinical Mental Heath Counseling, students must complete ECPY 629 with a minimum grade of B.

2

At least 700 hours of field placement must be completed during the practicum and two internships including at least 280 direct service hours. 10 hours per week are required during the practicum.  No less than 20 hours per week are required during the two internships. CACREP requires that 600 hours be completed during the internships.

3

ECPY 611 is only an option for the concentration in School Counseling.  All other concentrations must take ECPY 605.

MEd in Counseling and Personnel Services Concentrations

Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_MEDMHC

ECPY 540Evaluation and Measurement in Education3
ECPY 619Empirical and Theoretical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy3
ECPY 621Differential Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling3
ECPY 626Consultation3
ECPY 640Assessment Methods for Counselors3
ECPY 682Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
ECPY 682Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
ECPY 601Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
ECPY 639Prevention & Treatment of Substance Use Disorders3
ECPY 646Crisis and Trauma in Mental Health Counseling 3
Professional Electives6
Minimum Total Hours36
 

CACREP and Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors Curriculum Guidelines:

CACREP requires that 600 hours be completed during the internships.

  1. The helping relationship, including counseling theory and practice
  2. Human growth and development
  3. Lifestyle and career development
  4. Group dynamics, process, counseling, and consulting
  5. Assessment, appraisal, and testing of individuals
  6. Social and cultural foundations, including multicultural issues
  7. Principles of etiology, diagnosis, treatment planning, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior
  8. Research and evaluation
  9. Professional orientation and ethics

Degree assessment:  All program coursework must be completed with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

School Counseling (P-12)

Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_MEDSCO

ECPY 624Foundations of School Counseling3
ECPY 626Consultation3
ECPY 640Assessment Methods for Counselors3
Elective (approved by faculty advisor)3
Minimum Total Hours12

Notes: ECPY 674 Practicum in School Counseling must be applied for by March 1 for Fall term and October 1 for Spring term.

  1. Students must earn at least a "B" in ECPY 630 to be eligible to enroll in ECPY 674 School Counseling Practicum. 
  2. For school counseling certification, a grade of "B" or better is required in ECPY 674.
  3. Transfer of credit is dependent upon receipt of transcript, satisfying all Graduate School transfer course requirements, and advisor’s approval.
  4. Upon admission, students have six years to complete their program.
  5. All students must have liability insurance prior to taking practicum.
  6. At any point after admission, the faculty reserve the right to review a student’s fitness on the basis of personal characteristics, for continuing in the counseling or student personnel program.  Such a review shall be initiated upon written recommendation of two faculty members and shall consist of a review of the student’s academic result in a recommendation to the Dean for (1) continuation of the student in the program, (2) continuation for a specified provisional period with specific conditions for continuation thereafter, or (3) dismissal from the program.
  7. The program requires the acceptable completion of a program portfolio.
  8. The program is not official unless signed by both advisor and student.
  9. This program must be completed, and degree posted, to apply for a rank change with the state of Kentucky. Kentucky certified teachers who already hold a Rank II (and complete a total of 60 graduate credit hours) will be eligible for a Rank I upon completion of this program.
  10. The CEHD will recommend the Provisional certificate for program completers. To qualify for a Standard certificate, program completers must complete an additional graduate level course (approved by ECPY Department faculty advisor) and document employment in School Counseling to the KY Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). Please contact KY EPSB for specific employment requirements.

Exit Requirements:  To complete the program, students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.  No credit shall be accepted for carrying a grade lower than C (no C-minus).  

Counseling Psychology

Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_MEDCPL

ECPY 540Evaluation and Measurement in Education3
ECPY 611Learning Systems: Theory and Practice3
ECPY 619Empirical and Theoretical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy3
ECPY 621Differential Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling3
ECPY 648Psychological Assessment I3
ECPY 649Psychological Assessment II3
ECPY 680Practicum in Psychological Assessment 13
ECPY 683Internship in Counseling Psychology 13
ECPY 775Biological Bases of Behavior3
LEAD 601Applied Statistics3
Professional Electives6
Minimum Total Hours36

Degree Assessment: All program coursework with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.  A grade of B- or better is required in ECPY 619, ECPY 629, ECPY 648, ECPY 649, ECPY 673, ECPY 680, and ECPY 683.

1

600 hours of field placement are required during the combination of ECPY 673, ECPY 680, and ECPY 683; 1 full psychological assessment is required during the combination of ECPY 673, ECPY 680, and ECPY 683.

Art Therapy

Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_MEDET

General Requirement: Undergraduate prerequisite includes eighteen (18) credit hours in studio art and fifteen (15) credit hours in psychology. Students admitted to the Art Therapy Program who have not completed prerequisites of fifteen (15) credit hours in Psychology (such as: intro/general psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and/or statistics) and eighteen (18) credit hours in Studio Art must do so within the first year of study.
ECPY 540Evaluation and Measurement in Education3
ECPY 619Empirical and Theoretical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy3
ECPY 621Differential Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling3
ECPY 632Clinical Art Therapy I: Theories3
ECPY 633Clinical Art Therapy II: Assessment and Practice3
ECPY 638Group Art Therapy Techniques3
ECPY 677Research in Art Therapy and Counseling3
ECPY 641Applied Methods in Art Therapy3
ECPY 643Practicum in Art Therapy-Counseling3
ECPY 678Internship II in Art Therapy-Counseling3
Professional Electives6
From the educational areas designated in Curriculum Guidelines for LPAT and ATR, including but not limited to:
ECPY 628
Theories and Techniques of Counseling Children
ECPY 639
Prevention & Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
ECPY 637
Expressive Techniques in Psychotherapy
ECPY 644
Introduction to Sandtray
ECPY 653
Grief Counseling
ECPY 694
Graduate Seminar in Educational and Counseling Psychology
Minimum Total Hours36
Degree Assessment: All program coursework with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. 
 

*ACATE – CAAHEP Educational Standards 

  1. History and Theory of art therapy 
  2. Professional Orientation, Ethical, and Legal Issues 
  3. Materials and Techniques of Art Therapy Practice 
  4. Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor 
  5. Group Work 
  6. Art Therapy Assessments 
  7. Thesis or Culminating Project 
  8. Human Growth and Development 
  9. Helping Relationships and Applications 
  10. Psychopathology and Diagnosis 
  11. Psychological and Counseling Theories 
  12. Appraisal and Evaluation 
  13. Research 
  14. Cultural and Social Issues 
  15. Studio Art 
  16. Specializations 
  17. Career Development

*The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) cooperate with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) to establish, maintain and promote appropriate standards of quality for educational programs that meet or exceed the minimum standards.  

 
1

At least 700 hours of field placement must be completed during one practicum and two internships.  10 hours per week are required during the practicum.  No less than 20 hours per week are required during the two internships.

 
 

The Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure in the following concentrations:

  • Counseling Psychology
  • School Counseling P-12
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Art Therapy

If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/about/departments/academic-planning-accountability/disclosures/professional-licensure.

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: 
https://online.louisville.edu/resources/compliance/license.