Enrollment & Grading Policies

Credit Regulations, Grading and Enrollment Policies

• A seven-year time limit exists for all Master's degree programs, beginning with the first course included on a planned program of study. Courses utilized in school licensure programs should meet these same recency requirements. (NOTE: Admitted students must apply for a leave of absence if they do not plan to enroll in courses during two consecutive terms in an academic year).

• Continuous enrollment is expected, except for summer quarter. If enrollment does not occur for two consecutive terms, a student will be automatically dropped from the program. Application for a leave of absence, not to exceed one year, is available and should be submitted to the advisor prior to the leave of absence.

Additional Certification Programs

• A series of courses in Addictions Counseling is offered through Continuing Education. These courses will lead to a graduate certificate in Addictions Counseling and meet the academic requirements for CACD certifications through the Addictions Counselors Certification Board of Oregon (ACCBO).

• A series of courses in Marital, Couple and Family Counseling can also be taken to obtain a graduate certificate in Marital, Couple and Family Counseling. This particular certificate is for students who are not in the Marital, Couple and Family Specialization.

Counselor Education Department Course Requirements and Substitutions

• Students may complete nine to fifteen graduate credits at PSU prior to admission to the Counselor Education Department. These nine credits may be transferred into the student's planned programs of graduate study with the approval of the student's Counselor Education advisor.

(Note: The COUN 541 and psychopathology courses are both prerequisites for admission, therefore neither of these courses can be part of a graduate program.) If students have taken graduate courses at other universities, it is up to the student to meet with a faculty advisor to determine transferability and to complete appropriate paperwork.

• Master's degree candidates who have available credits may include up to a maximum of 12 credits in COUN 501 Research, and COUN 505 Reading and Conference, combined, on their planned program of studies (GO-12).

• At times, it may be appropriate to integrate workshop experiences endorsed by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), and other professional organizations into the process of planning COUN 505 courses. Students may not enroll in 505 courses without prior approval by their faculty advisor.

• Periodically, special three-credit courses (e.g., Coping with Crises, Stress and Coping, Play Therapy, Counseling the Elderly) are offered under COUN 510. Students may include such course work on Master's degree programs of study (GO-12) planned in consultation with a faculty advisor.

• A selection of courses in the COUN 507 series, Current Issues in Counseling, is offered each quarter. Courses are offered based on a combination of student interest and issues in the profession. The following are examples of previously offered COUN 507 courses:

Student Requests for Variation of Program Requirements

In the event that a student wishes to request a variation of program requirements, he or she should initiate the process via a meeting with his or her faculty advisor. In some instances, through the course waiver process, a variation can be approved by the faculty advisor. In other instances, a student may be asked to state the request in writing and meet with the counselor education faculty for the purpose of resolving any issues or problems that might be inherent in the request. In all cases a student must complete program requirements within the seven-year time limit established through the Office of Graduate Studies.