Counseling and Personnel Services (MEd)

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Admission Requirements

Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the Graduate School.

For unconditional admission, a minimum undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 is required.  The GRE test is no longer required for admission to the MEd in Counseling and Personnel Service degree program.

Requirements for Admission in Good Standing:

  1. GPA of 2.75.
  2. Two letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors familiar with their work.
  3. Professional Goal Statement: 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.
  4. Resume.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the website of the specialization area of interest below for further information about suggested GPA requirements, application deadlines, and other specific information related to that specialization area.

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. 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

General Requirement: Students admitted to the Mental Health Counseling Program who have not completed a course in abnormal psychology are required to take PSYC 308: Foundations of Psychopathology as a prerequisite to the program. Students who have successfully completed a graduate-level course in abnormal psychology at another institution can transfer it into the program as an elective course.
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_MEDCSC

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" or better 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 awarded to apply for a rank change with the state of Kentucky.

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 673ECPY 680, and ECPY 683; 1 full psychological assessment is required during the combination of ECPY 673ECPY 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 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:
Theories and Techniques of Counseling Children
Prevention & Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
Expressive Techniques in Psychotherapy
Introduction to Sandtray
Grief Counseling
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 (recommended but not required) 

*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 field studies and two practicums. 10 hours per week are required during field studies. No less than 20 hours per week are required during the two practicums.

 
 

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/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: https://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures.