Penn GSE : Applied Psychology and Human Development Division

What are the requirements for admission to the program?
In order to be eligible for admission to the MPE program in Professional Counseling and Psychology (PC), applicants must have sucessfully completed PennGSE's Counseling and Psychological Services Program during the academic year prior to admission in the MPE program in Professional Counseling and Psychology. The program also accepts applications from persons with a 48 credit master’s degree in counseling, clinical psychology, social work, or other mental health-related field that included graduate-level courses in intervention theory, assessment, human development, sociocultural counseling, research design/program evaluation, career counseling and group counseling. Master's preparation must also have included a counseling/clinical practicum with a minimum of 224 supervised hours. In compliance with Pennsylvania requirements, graduates of the PennGSE Counseling and Psychological Services Program who have been out for more than one semester are not eligible for the MPE.

Upon admission to the PC program, each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will work with the student to complete a program of study that meets Pennsylvania licensing and PennGSE requirements. If you plan to be license eligible in another state(s), you may plan a program of study relevant to these requirements as well. It is the student’s responsibility to learn the requirements for licensure in the other state.

I do not have a master’s degree in a counseling psychology-related field. Is this a pre-requisite for applying?
Yes, the PC program has been designed to be a post-master’s program with advanced coursework building on a previous master’s degree in psychological services, counseling or clinical psychology, social work, or other mental-health-related degree. You may want to consider PennGSE’s M.S.Ed. in Psychological Services. (http://www.gse.upenn.edu/degrees_programs/aphd_services.php).

Does it make sense to do this program and then apply to doctoral programs?
It depends on what area you would like to focus your doctoral studies. The PC program was designed to be a terminal master’s degree that focuses specifically on training counselors and therapists. If you hope to work for several years before pursuing a doctoral program, it might make sense to complete the PC program and obtain a license. This would enable you to work as a professional counselor prior to beginning your doctoral studies. Keep in mind that you need to complete a 3600 hour internship post-MPE graduation before you can get the license. In addition, if you want to pursue a doctoral program in an area that is not counseling or clinical psychology (i.e., one in which you would not be eligible for licensure), and you want to be able to also work as a professional counselor, then this program would also be a good match for your career path.

How long is the program?
This will depend on your previous master's level coursework, and whether you are enrolled in the PC program full-time or part-time. The Pennsylvania regulations are very explicit about the types of courses required as part of a 20 course (60 semester hour) program. Full-time students must begin the program in the fall and can complete the program in one full year. Part-time students may begin fall, spring, or summer.

May I attend the program part-time?
Students are permitted to enroll in the program part-time. A program of study needs to be completed with the academic advisor upon matriculation in the program. Students have 6 years to complete the degree, as outlined by GSE Policy (http://www.gse.upenn.edu/student_life/handbook.pdf)

Is the program accredited by APA or other accrediting body?
The American Psychological Association (APA) only provides accreditation for doctoral psychology programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Master’s programs are not eligible for APA accreditation. There are two accrediting agencies for master's level programs in psychology: (1) the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and (2) Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPAC). Both accrediting agencies require that the program be in existence and have students enrolled before an application for accreditation can be made. The PC program is not accredited by these agencies. What is important, however, is whether or not a program of study meets a state licensing board’s requirements. Our program was written so that it meets the Pennsylvania requirements. Therefore, students should be eligible for licensure in PA regardless of the program’s accreditation status.

What is involved in applying?
If you are coming to the PC program directly from the PennGSE Counseling and Psychological Services Program: - Completed admissions application (application fee waived) - Essay – no more than two pages, double-spaced - New GRE scores will only be required if your scores are more than 5 years old . Your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores (if within 5 years) will be forwarded from your Counseling and Psychological Services admissions file. - In compliance with Pennsylvania requirements, graduates of the PennGSE Counseling and Psychological Services Program who have been out for more than one semester are not eligible for the MPE.

Applicants who have completed a 48 credit program at another institution - Completed admissions application - Essay – no more than two pages, double-spaced - GRE scores no more than 5 years old -Three recommendation letters, one of which should be from a work supervisor who can attest to your clinical/counseling skills - Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (undergraduate and graduate) One recommendation letter from a work supervisor since graduation who can attest to your clinical/counseling skills.

When should I apply?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you are applying for the fall semester, it is useful to have your complete application submitted in the spring. Most applications are received and reviewed by the faculty by March 31st.

What courses will I need to take in the program?
This will depend on the courses that you have completed in your previous master’s degree. However, in general, all students must complete coursework in the following in order to eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania. · Human growth and development – 2 semesters · Social and cultural foundations – 2 semesters · Helping relationships – 2 semesters · Group work – 2 semesters · Career and lifestyle development – 2 semesters · Appraisal/assessment – 2 semesters · Research and program evaluation – 2 semesters · Professional orientation – 2 semesters In addition, students must have completed a 224 hour practicum prior to entering PC and as part of their master’s program. Completion of the PC program requires a 600 hour internship (20 hours per week, completed over the course of 2 semesters)

What is a typical course schedule?
For students entering from the Counseling and Psychological Services M.S.Ed., a typical program of study would be as follows:

How long is the internship?
Students are required to do a two-semester, twenty-hour-per-week internship, under the supervision of a licensed professional (psychologist, social worker, professional counselor). You must accrue a minimum of 600 hours during the internship.

What does an internship entail?
You must work at an agency or site (not a private practice) providing direct services to clients. Fee-for-service employment will not count as an approved internship.You should be engaged in individual and group or family counseling. You also should be involved in other types of professional activities such as record keeping, providing referrals, assessments and intakes, training workshops, and inservice and staff meetings. You should gain supervised experience in using different assessment instruments and using the professional literature and research to inform treatment decisions. You also need to receive a minimum of one hour of supervision per week at your internship site. Supervision must be provided by a professional who is licensed (see the next question about supervisor credentials).

What are the qualifications for internship supervisors?
Supervisors must be licensed and have at least 5 years experience (within the last 10 years) in counseling. Supervisors may be licensed as professional counselors, psychologists, or clinical social workers.

Can I count my counseling job as an internship?
It depends on the nature of your job. All internships, whether they are a student’s regular job or not, must be approved by the PC program field placement coordinator.

When can I do my internship?
If you are completing the program as a full-time student, you will do your internship immediately after you have completed your one-year Counseling and Psychological Services M.S.Ed. degree program, been admitted to the PC program, and received faculty approval for your internship. You must have completed coursework on group counseling, intervention theory, assessment, and professional orientation and ethics. If you are completing the program as a part-time student, you must complete 16 courses prior to your internship. For students who have completed a 48 credit program at another institution, prior coursework that includes group counseling, intervention theory, assessment, professional orientation and ethics must be approved by the faculty to count toward the 16 cu’s to begin the internship. All internships must be approved by the faculty.

How do I find an internship?
Students are responsible for finding their own internships for the PC program. Students must first be admitted to the PC program before contacting any site about the possibility of an internship. Prior to contacting a potential internship site, the student must set up an individual meeting with the Field Placement Coordinator. During this meeting, the Field Placement Coordinator and student will review the program requirements for internships and discuss the student’s goals for training. Students may contact sites once they have had this meeting and been granted permission to secure an internship. This process ensures that students are not contacting the same sites as other students or contacting sites that would not be approved for training. The Field Placement Coordinator may also decide to make an initial contact with the site before granting a student permission to pursue the site as an internship. The Field Placement Coordinator will coordinate the paperwork that needs to be completed by the site in order for the site to be approved as an internship. Students who are working as mental health counselors may want to consider obtaining approval to use their job as an internship. In this instance, the student must make an appointment with the Field Placement Coordinator to review the program requirements for internships and discuss goals for training. Students will need to document that a current job meets the requirements of an internship.

Is there a research requirement or a comprehensive examination?
The PC program is an applied practice program not a research-focused program; therefore, there is no thesis or research requirement. There is a clinical oral examination during the final semester of internship. Given the Professional Psychology Specialization’s focus on engaged scholarship and problem-solving within context, the comprehensive examination process is designed to assess the student’s working active knowledge rather than static knowledge of the three major themes of the program: 1) human development; 2) culture and contextual fit; and 3) applied psychology. The coursework is used to test student’s basic knowledge of the three themes, while the examination should assess the student’s competence in using and integrating applied skills in the setting where counselors will work. This clinical praxis exam will evaluate the students’ abilities to present cases from their internship experiences using videotape or audiotape analysis according to our Professional Psychology Evaluation Form (PPEF). The PPEF is a 17-item likert-type form which evaluates students’ competence in case conceptualization, treatment progress, cultural relevance, theoretical modality, family history and assessment. Each student will need to present a case to the faculty and pass the examination at a competency level of 85% (which means successfully addressing 14 of the 17 areas in the presentation) and receive an average score of 3 (expected level of competency) on each of the items.

Who is my advisor?
Upon admission to the program, each student will be assigned an academic advisor from among the PC program faculty of the Division of Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD). Assignments will be made based on match between the student’s and faculty member’s areas of interest and availability. These faculty include:
Dr. Jeanne Stanley - http://www.gse.upenn.edu/faculty/stanley.html
Dr. Howard Stevenson - http://www.gse.upenn.edu/faculty/stevenson.html

Will I be eligible for licensure?
In order to be eligible for licensure as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania, students need:
· Successful completion of a 60 credit hour (the equivalent of 20 cu’s at PennGSE) master’s degree in counseling or related field, which includes internship and PC clinical oral examination
· 3600 hours of supervised clinical work after graduation in order to apply for licensure – you start accruing hours after completing 48 credit hours (16 cu’s). Your 600 hour internship during the course of the program does not count toward the 3600 hours of clinical work after graduation. Keep in mind that licenses are issued by the state boards (in Pennsylvania, the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors oversees licensure of professional counselors - http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=433170#exam)

What about financial aid?
We are aware that graduate tuition is expensive. Most of our students work with the Financial Aid Office on a loan package to finance their education. Students may be able to find paid jobs that would also serve as their internship. The PennGSE Applied Psychology-Human Development Division may also have graduate assistant funds available for those who qualify. Information about financial aid can be located on GSE’s Financial Aid Office website (http://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions_financial/). Professional organizations also have scholarships available for student members. If you have access to a college/university library, check in the reference section for books on grants, aid, etc. Ask the reference librarian for assistance. Other financial aid links: http://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/directory.html
http://www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/index.cfm (for women)
http://www.internationalscholarships.com (for international students)

Will I be able to be licensed in other states?
The program was designed with Pennsylvania regulations in mind. One advantage is that the exam for licensure required by Pennsylvania is a national exam and the one most commonly used by states. If you are interested in licensure in another state, you need to check that state’s regulations. Often, the easiest way to become licensed in another state is to first obtain licensure in the state where you trained and then apply through a reciprocity arrangement. Check this site for links to each state’s licensing board: http://www.counseling.org/Content/NavigationMenu/RESOURCES/LICENSUREANDCERTIFICATION/Licensure_and_Certi.htm

How many hours in field experience do I need to complete in order to be licensed?
In Pennsylvania, you need 3600 hours of supervised clinical work after graduation in order to apply for licensure – you can start accruing hours after completing 48 credit hours (16 cu’s). Therefore, your 600 hour internship may count toward those hours.

Which exam is used for licensure?
You must successfully pass the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) prior to being licensed. The NCE is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Scores must be forwarded directly to the State Licensing Board.

Whom should I contact for additional information?
Evelyn A. Jordan, Division Coordinator
Applied Psychology-Human Development Programs
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216

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