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school of health professions - Student Handbook 2023-2024


MSMH Academic Progression

Academic Progress Requirements
Students are recommended to successfully complete (i.e., pass with a grade of C or better) at least 15 curricular credit hours in an academic year (defined as consecutive Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters). Within the first semester of enrolling in the program, students must choose between a part-time or full-time degree plan. Any deviations from this schedule require the approval of the advisor. Students’ professional dispositions for practice as a professional counselor are also routinely evaluated.
Academic Standards
Students must meet specific program performance standards in order to remain in good standing with the university. The CCMH department values student retention and utilizes remediation planning, academic probation, or dismissal, as appropriate, to address academic deficiencies. Information about remediation, probation, and/or dismissal procedures are available in this handbook. Specific standards follow:
  1. Each student in the CCMH department must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.70 or higher at the end of each semester, as well as receive a grade of C or better in all courses taken.
  2. Students must file a degree plan within the first semester of enrollment.
  3. Students are required to meet course requirements for participation, assignments, and testing.
  4. Students are required to display satisfactory progress in terms of professional dispositions to practice professional counseling.
  5. Students are required to obtain a score of Pass on the departmental Comprehensive Examination.
Professional Dispositions
The term professional dispositions describe fundamental characteristics necessary for competent professional counseling practice.
Professional dispositions are: the commitments, characteristics, values, beliefs, interpersonal functioning, and behaviors that influence the counselor's professional growth and interactions with clients and colleagues.
The Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health conforms to the Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs standards requiring that students can demonstrate the required knowledge and skill across the curriculum as well as professional dispositions for professional counseling practice.
Professional disposition standards include but are not limited to:
1) Demonstrating fitness, for professional counseling, in interactions with others as measured by the CCMH Professional Disposition Evaluation processes. These reviews are conducted using the Professional Disposition Evaluation (PDE) Form, which include the following competencies:
a)    Professional Ethics
b)    Multicultural Competence
c)    Engagement in Learning
d)    Personal Insight
e)    Adaptability and Cooperation
f)     Use of Feedback
g)    Conflict Resolution
h)    Personal Responsibility
i)     Emotional Management
j)     Dependability, Record Keeping, and Task Completion
2)  Conformity with: the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, relevant counseling specialty ethical codes, and relevant state licensure boards rules/regulations.
Comprehensive Examination
Student performance is also measured via comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is a summary achievement exam of counseling curriculum content mastery. The following list describes the exam in more detail:
  • A comprehensive examination is required of all Master of Science degree candidates in the CCMH department.
  • The Comprehensive Examination Committee is a standing committee of CCMH faculty.
  • The Comprehensive Examination is designed, built, and administered by the CCMH department.
The examination covers the following 9 areas:
  • Relevant specialty counseling designation;
  • Research and Program Evaluation;
  • Assessment and Testing;
  • Group Counseling and Group Work;
  • Counseling and Helping Relationships;
  • Career Development;
  • Human Growth and Development;
  • Social and Cultural Diversity;
  • Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice;
  • Students are advised to study for the exam as they would study for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) for licensure and certification.
  • Students must have completed at least 75% of the counseling curriculum prior to registering for the Comprehensive Examination.
  • The Comprehensive Examination is graded on a Pass / Fail basis.
  • The Comprehensive Examination is offered once each semester
  • Examinees will be allowed to take the Comprehensive Examination two times. An appeal for additional attempts, beyond the first two attempts, must be filed through the student’s advisor and with the Comprehensive Examination Committee.
  • The Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health may accept a Passing result on the National Counselor Exam or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam in lieu of the comprehensive exam.
The Comprehensive Exam requirement is in effect for all CCMH students beginning their matriculation in Fall 2018 or later.