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Nov 21, 2024
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BVU Academic Catalog 2024-2025
Professional School Counseling, M.S.ED.
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 Return to: Graduate Degrees
The Master of Science in Education program is intended to enhance the skills of practicing professionals in order to become effective professional school counselors. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for Colleges and Secondary Schools accredits and the Iowa Department of Education approves the professional school counseling program. Licensure in professional school counseling includes K-8 and 5-12 levels, requiring a minimum of 48 credit hours in the program.
The Professional School Counseling program can be completed within two years, during which the student accumulates graduate credit through course work delivered during evenings, summers, and online. In keeping with the practical orientation of the program, the major involves supervised field experiences within the work setting.
Graduate students who would like to complete both the Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling program must apply and complete all the requirements of the Mental Health Counseling program prior to enrolling in Professional School Counseling courses.
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Coursework degree requirements
Note(s)
Courses with a grade lower than “B-” do not count toward the degree and must be repeated. Students must be in good academic standing and pass all first-year courses with a B- or better before proceeding to practicum and internship courses. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good academic standing.
*Additional practicums and internship courses are available for those for seeking K-12 licensure and are offered on an arranged basis
Completion of Background Check:
Students must complete a background check prior to beginning their first practicum experience. The background check will be conducted by BVU’s Human Resource department and is at the student’s expense.
Application for School Counseling License
Upon satisfactory completion of the appropriate program, the Buena Vista University School of Education licensure officer will recommend the student for a counseling license from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. The recommendation is contingent upon the successful completion of the specific program requirements (K-8, 5-12), documentation of Classroom Management and Exceptional Learner requirements, and application for licensure and fee submitted by the student to the Iowa Board of Education Examiners. Applications are available on the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners web site (www.state.ia.us/boee).
Licensure Only Admissions
Persons who have completed a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling may be eligible for licensure in professional school counseling. An analysis of the applicant’s graduate transcript(s) is necessary to determine the courses that are needed to obtain the license. Individuals interested in licensure only may contact the Graduate Office at 800.383.2821 extension 2162 for further information and to arrange for a graduate transcript analysis. Licensure only candidates must take at least six hours of course work from BVU, not including the practicum and capstone experiences, in order to be recommended for licensure. That is, students are not allowed to enroll in only the practicum, internship, or capstone experiences in order to be recommended.
Course Delivery and Schedule:
The Master of Science in Professional School Counseling is offered in a variety of formats - face to face, hybrid where there are both face to face and online components, and fully online. See the Graduate Director of the specific program for details.
Typically, students enroll in one graduate course per term. The various course formats meet the 45 contact hours required per graduate course.
Admission Requirements Master of Science in Education, Professional School Counseling:
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree completed prior to start of summer courses from a regionally accredited institution
- A minimum undergraduate college grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Two letters of recommendation from specified sources
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate or graduate institutions attended
- Completion of a personal statement
- Completion of a graduate interview
- Access to minimum technology requirements
- Acceptance by the admissions committee into the program
Application Procedures: Master of Science in Education, Professional School Counseling:
The process for successful completion of the application packet is as follows:
- Complete the application form (apply online at bvu.edu/grad.), including auto-biographical statements. The three autobiographical questions are:
- Describe significant personal experiences that influenced you to pursue the counseling profession.
- Describe significant professional experiences that influenced you to pursue the counseling profession.
- Discuss how you would make a contribution as a professional school counselor to the counseling profession.
- Obtain two letters with supportive endorsement or recommendation. Recommenders’ information will be submitted during completion of the online application and the recommender will receive the request electronically. The letters must come from:
- Your current supervisor and either
- A professional colleague, or
- A person of your choice who has direct knowledge of your professional experience.
- Request official transcripts be forwarded to the Graduate Program Office.
- Complete the graduate interview following submission of the application.
Contact Information
Graduate Programs, Box 2014
Buena Vista University
610 W. Fourth Street
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588
Toll-Free: 800.383.2821, ext. 1000
Direct: 712.749.1000
E -mail: grad@bvu.edu
Web site: bvu.edu/grad
Admission Timelines: Master of Science in Education - Professional School Counseling
A new cycle for Professional School Counseling program begins in July at the start of Term 6. Applicants are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible. Priority will be given to applications submitted before March 15. After March 15, applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The application materials are available online (bvu.edu/grad).
Note: Applicants for Iowa Professional School Counseling license are not required to hold a bachelor’s degree in education nor a teaching license. Non-education majors must complete GPSC 502 Meeting the Needs of All Learners in School Counseling Programs or undergraduate or graduate equivalency courses in both Exceptional Learner and Classroom Management to meet PSC licensure requirements. The additional state requirement for human relations is met through GPSC 544 .
Admission Appeal
Students may appeal a negative admission decision. A formal letter of appeal must be written to the Executive Director of Graduate Programs outlining the concerns regarding the admission decision. The case is forwarded to an appeals panel comprised of the Provost, the Vice President for Enrollment Services, and the Dean of the school of the graduate program. The student may request an interview with the panel. After review of the evidence provided by the applicant, the panel makes a second ruling with regard to admission.
Transfer Credit Policy Professional School Counseling
Requests for courses to be transferred for credit toward a graduate degree are reviewed upon request by the applicant. Such work must represent graduate-level courses relevant to the Professional School Counseling (GPSC) Program at Buena Vista University (BVU) being sought, with course content and level of instruction resulting in applicant competencies at least equivalent to those currently enrolled in the GPSC Program at BVU.
Note: Requesting transfer course credits means that the course credits will count toward the total degree credit hours.
Applicants seeking transfer credit must meet the following guidelines:
- Coursework must have been completed within the past five (5) years.
- Coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- Grades earned on transferred work must be equivalent to B or better.
- Skills (individual/group counseling) or field experience (practicum/internship) coursework is not eligible for transfer credit.
- Courses taken on a pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis will not be included in transfer credits.
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Return to: Graduate Degrees
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