Master
of Behavioral Studies: Counseling
Statement of Objectives
The counseling programs are designed to provide the
appropriate counselor training and perspective necessary for graduates to
function effectively in counseling and related areas.
The Master of Behavioral Studies Degree (MBS) in Counseling Psychology is
designed to prepare persons for careers in professional counseling psychology.
The program offers an opportunity for the student to specialize in the
treatment aspects of psychology, such as counseling centers, mental hospitals,
alcohol and drug treatment centers, and correctional facilities.
Graduates
will develop:
1. An understanding of the
nature of human beings including such broad areas as human development, learning
and cultural variation.
2. An understanding of the role
and function of assessment procedures and diagnosis in counseling.
3. Knowledge of the ethical,
professional organizational and legal issues associated with the discipline.
4. A capacity to be critical
consumers of research and/or changes in the discipline.
Program Admission Requirements
Admission to the Counseling Psychology program is a two-step process. First, prospective students must make application for
admission to the Graduate School. After
being successfully admitted to the Graduate School, application must be made to
the departmental Admission Committee for acceptance into the Counseling
Psychology program. Please note
that successful admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee that the
prospective student will be admitted to the Counseling Psychology program.
The Counseling Psychology program admission requirements are as follows:
Unconditional
Admission
Unconditional admission may be granted to an applicant who meets all of
the following requirements:
a. Completion of a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
b. Completion of all
undergraduate course prerequisites (this includes Abnormal Psychology,
Experimental Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychological Testing, and
Statistics)
c. A
Graduate Records Examination (GRE). A
score of 1500 or above using the following formula:
200 X GPA + combined score on any two of the three sections of the
General Test of the GRE (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical).
d.
A GPA of 3.3 or above on all undergraduate work attempted in eighteen or more
semester hours of psychology.
e. Acceptable recommendations from three professionals who are
qualified to rate the applicant's academic and/or professional aptitude and
motivation.
Conditional Admission
Applicants
not qualifying for unconditional admission may be granted conditional admission
based on a combination of their GRE scores, overall GPA, and psychology GPA.
Conditional admission may be granted to an applicant who meets all of the
following requirements:
a. Completion of a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited college university.
b. Completion of all
undergraduate course prerequisites (this includes Abnormal Psychology,
Experimental Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychological Testing, and
Statistics)
c. A score of 1300 or
above using the following formula: 200 X GPA + combined score on any two of the
three sections of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (Verbal,
Quanitative, and Analytical).
d. A GPA of 3.3 or above on all
undergraduate work attempted in eighteen or more semester hours of psychology.
e. Acceptable recommendations
from three professionals who are qualified to rate the applicant's academic
and/or professional aptitude and motivation.
f. Applicants who are
otherwise eligible for unconditional admission, but who have not finished the
prerequisite courses in psychology (Abnormal Psychology, Experimental
Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychological Testing, and Statistics),
may be granted conditional admission. However,
these applicants shall be required to complete these prerequisites as soon as
possible. Furthermore, these
applicants can not enroll in Seminar in Counseling Psychology, Intelligence
Testing, and Personality Assessment, until the prerequisites are completed.
Special
Considerations:
A
student who is denied admission may appeal this decision and receive a personal
hearing before the admissions committee of the graduate program in
counseling psychology. Some of the
potential factors considered by the admissions committee include professional
experience, emotional maturity, and negative life events such as a death in the
family.
In
addition to these academic qualifications, professional qualification will also
be considered. Factors considered in admitting an individual to the
counseling psychology program include emotional and social maturity, the ability
to communicate effectively and other personal attributes believed necessary for
success in the counseling profession.
Admission
to the counseling psychology program is only one step in the admission and
retention process. For example, the
student must earn a grade of "B" or better in Practicum I to be
eligible for Practicum II.
Performance
by graduate students will be reviewed, as they proceed through the program, with
regard to academic and professional performance.
A committee decision could be made that a
student may continue in the program with no undue restriction; may not
continue in the program; may not continue in the program without remediation so
some kind, such as personal counseling; should postpone internship; or should
reduce course load. Students may
appeal committee decision, however committee decision stands until repealed,
which means that a student may not be allowed to register for an upcoming
semester.
Admissions
Committee
In
addition to these academic qualifications, professional qualifications will also
be considered by the Admissions Committee of the Graduate Program in Counseling
Psychology. Factors considered in admitting an individual to the
Counseling Psychology program include emotional and social maturity, the ability
to communicate effectively, and other personal attributes believed necessary for
success in the counseling profession.
A
student who is denied admission to the Counseling Psychology program may appeal
this decision and receive a personal hearing before the Admissions Committee of
the Graduate Program in Counseling Psychology.
Admission
to the MBS program is only one step in the admission and retention process.
For example, a student must earn a grade of "B" or better in
Practicum I to be eligible for Practicum II.
Performance by graduate
students will be reviewed, as they proceed through the program, with regard to
academic and professional performance. A
committee decision could be made that a student may continue in the program with
no undue restrictions; may not continue in the program; should postpone
internship; or should reduce course load. Students
may appeal committee decisions; however, the committee decision stands until
repealed, which means that a student may not be allowed to enroll/pre-enroll for
an upcoming semester.
Licensed
Professional Counselor
An
individual interested in becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
should consult a graduate advisor and the LPC Committee, Oklahoma Department of
Health, for current requirements. Mail
request for application packet to: Oklahoma
State Department of Health, LPC Committee, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City,
OK 73117-1299.
Thesis
With
departmental approval, graduate students whose professional objectives
necessitate the development of additional competence in psychological research
may elect to write a master's thesis in lieu of three semester hours in
the behavioral studies component. However,
completion of a thesis in not a mandatory requirement for the master's degree.
Letter of Recommendation Form:
Licensed
Professional Counselor information, Oklahoma
Licensed
Professional Counselor information,
Texas
Last modified: September 17, 2001.
