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Student's Frequently Asked Questions

1) I am a new student this year and I want to know how I start to search for my practicum/internship site?

    A : Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling students will be notified of a mandatory practicum/internship orientation that takes place in January. At that orientation you will learn how to select a site and all about the number of hours you will be working. School Counseling and School Psychology faculty do the practicum/internship orientations for their students and they will notify students of the dates.

2) When can I see the next semester schedule of CPS classes?

    A: The schedule is posted on Go Solar two weeks prior to the start of registration. You can log onto Go Solar to view the schedule and check your registration day and time. Try to register as close to your assigned time as possible. Classes fill up quickly. Academic and Semester Calendars are kept by the Registrar’s Office and may be found at http://www.gsu.edu/es/calendars_and_schedules.html. Registration Calendars may be found at http://www.gsu.edu/es/20677.html.

3) What is a Course Authorization Form and when do I have to fill one out?

    A: The Course Authorization Form (also found in the CPS office)  is used in three situations:

    1. If you are receiving an error message when you try to register,

    2. If you are registering for a class that is restricted or has prerequisites that you haven’t completed, or

    3. If you are trying to register for a class that is full.

    In all situations, fill out the form (include the class name and number, the CRN number, any error message) and turn it into Annette Johnson in the CPS office or email to Annette at ajohnson@gsu.edu. She will contact the instructor to see if they will authorize you to take a restricted class, if they are able to overflow or if you have met the course prerequisites. If you are receiving an error message, she will be able to research that as well.

4) Is the Comprehensive Exam different then the NCC exam?

    A: Yes. The comprehensive exam is a requirement for graduationin the Professional and Rehabilitation counseling programs (School Counseling students must use the GACE subject exam after September 1, 2006 and School Psychology students may use either the PRAXIS II subject exam or the GACE subject exam in place of a comprehensive exam). You may take the comprehensive exam only one time per semester and only up to three times total. There are prerequisite courses listed in your student handbook that you must complete prior to taking the comprehensive exam. Most students have completed the prerequisites by the end of their second fall semester and take the exam in their final spring semester. The dates of the upcoming comprehensive exam and the application can be found here.

    The National Certified Counselors Exam (NCC) is an optional exam which the state of Georgia uses as a requirement for licensure. It is given on campus in April of each year. It is open only to current CPS Professional, Rehabilitation or School Counseling students who have just graduated that December, or will graduate the next May or August. You will be given an application during your practicum/internship class and you may choose to take this exam or not. If you do not choose to take it on campus when you are eligible, you will have to arrange to take it from the Composite Board in Macon, GA (http://www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/counselors/) or through the National Board of Certified Counselors (www.nbcc.org)

5) I want to switch to another program within the CPS department. What do I need to do?

    A: You have to apply to and be accepted into the program. The deadlines for application and the semester of admission are:
  • Professional Counseling – summer Feb. 1
  • Professional Counseling – fall May 1 (March 1 starting in 2008)
  • School Counseling – summer only Jan. 15
  • School Psychology – fall only Feb. 1
  • Rehabilitation Counseling – fall only May 1

Yes, the Office of Academic Assistance and Graduate Admissions (OAA) require that you send in another application, test scores, transcripts, etc. Be aware that any course work taken prior to admission in a CPS program WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE CURRICULUM FOR THAT PROGRAM.

6) What happens if I apply to a different program but am not accepted? Can I continue in my original program?

    A: Yes. You do not have to do anything to continue in your original program.

7) What happens if I apply to a different program and am accepted? Do my credits automatically transfer?

    A: Yes, those that are needed in your new curriculum. You will attend a mandatory orientation prior to starting your new program. At that time you will be given the model curriculum for your new program and you will be able to see which of the courses in your new program that you have already taken. Be aware that any course work taken prior to admission in a CPS program WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE CURRICULUM FOR THAT PROGRAM. NOTE: when you switch programs you will be adding a year to the length of time it will take you to complete your degree. The practicum/internship sequence for all programs only start in fall and end in spring, so you must postpone it one year while you are completing the prerequisite course work in your new program.

8) I have taken some previous course work and want to transfer in some classes. How do I do this?

    A: The course work must be at the graduate level and if you are transferring it into the School or Professional Counseling programs, it can only come from a CACREP accredited school. All CPS programs will accept credits only from accredited schools. The course work must be no older then 6 years by the time you will graduate. Please carefully review the Transfer Credit Policy . Be aware that the CPS department will not transfer in any skills based courses (interpersonal skills or group) or the introductory classes in the Professional or School Counseling programs.

9) I need to take some time off. Do I have to reapply to my program?

    A: No. If you take 12 consecutive months off from classes, you will have to fill out a Reentry Form. The reentry application is available online. You will need to submit a $25.00 application fee with your application.

    You want to pay attention to the most recent Course Listing to see if the semester when certain courses are offered has changed. The course listing can be viewed on the CPS web site in any of the program handbooks, found in each Program Page. If you take less than 12 months off, you simply register for classes as usual at your given day and time in Go Solar.

    Be aware that the University is instituting a new Continuous Enrollment Policy effective fall semester 2006. This policy will require the following:

    1. Graduate students must register for at least a total of six semester hours of course work during any period of three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer) until completion of degree.
    1.  In order to graduate, students must be actively enrolled in the program of study during the semester they finish degree requirements for graduation.

10) I want to take a class that is not on the approved list of electives for my major. Is this possible?

    A: Yes. Read the instructions and fill out a Petition for Waiver or Variance. This form can be found at http://education.gsu.edu/eps/docs/Petition_Form_Waiver.pdf.

11) What is a GRA and how do I get one?

    A: Graduate Research Assistantships are available in most academic departments in the university and many student support offices (the recreation center, tutoring, housing, etc.). There is no central listing of all GRA opportunities. Update your resume and stop by each department to see if they have any GRA openings. Starting in the fall 2006 there will be two types of GRA appointments: one will be a single GRA appointment, 8-10 hours per week with a stipend and a 50% tuition waiver. The other will be a GRA appointment, 8-10 hours with a higher stipend and a 100% tuition remission. The higher remission will be more specialized work and the lower rate less specialized work. You can put together two of the lower level GRA positions and receive a full tuition remission.

    GRA policies may be found at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwhre/policies/GRAPolicy.pdf

12) I plan to graduate in two semesters. What do I need to do?

    A: You have to file a Graduation Application by the deadline shown at http://www.gsu.edu/es/graduation.html (be sure you are looking at the deadlines for GRADUATE applications) and turn it in with the $40 graduation fee. You may choose to participate in the ceremony or not. If you do, please visit the GSU Bookstore for information about cap, gown and hood. Your hood color is ordered by degree (M.S., M.Ed.) only – not by major.

13) I was admitted to the master’s program and the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program at the same time. When can I take Ed.S. classes?

    As long as you were concurrently admitted to the master’s and Ed.S. programs, you can take any Ed.S. classes while you are taking your master’s classes, EXCEPT CPS 8450 Advanced Group (you must graduate with your master’s prior to taking this class) and CPS 8660 Applied Practice II can not be taken until after you complete your master’s level practicum and internship.

 

14 ) I was not concurrently admitted into the master’s and Education Specialist Program. How can I apply to the Ed.S. program?

    During the semester you will graduate with your master’s, apply to enter the Ed.S. program the next semester. You have to wait until you are about to complete the master’s degree because having a master’s degree is a requirement for admission to the Ed.S. program. For more information on admission criteria for the Ed.S. programs, please see http://education.gsu.edu/oaa/EDS_Materials.htm
    Do not take any Ed.S. classes prior to being admitted into the Ed.S. program! They will not count towards your curriculum unless you take them after you are admitted into the program.

15) What are the advantages of taking Ed.S. classes or completing the Ed.S. degree?

    A: For students who want to pursue licensure in Georgia, completing the Ed.S. degree will lower your post-master’s supervised experience from three years to only two years. Also, many states require 60 hours of graduate level course work to be licensed. The CPS department master’s programs are 48 hours. You can use your admission to the Ed.S. program to take the additional 12 hours of graduate course work. Ed.S. classes are also a great way to focus on an area of interest. For School Counselors employed in the public school system in Georgia, completing the Ed.S. degree means higher pay.

16)  What courses can I take as my Ed.S. electives?

    A: Your Ed.S. electives can be any 7000 level or above course in any department in the College of Education, or the departments of Sociology, Psychology or Anthropology.

17) I will graduate with my M.S. in Professional Counseling and I am interested in applying to the add-on certification program in School Counseling. What do I do?

    A: You must apply to and be accepted into the add-on program (application deadlines shown under question number 5). You will not be earning another masters - you will be taking only the courses in the School Counseling curriculum that you have not taken already. You will do another practicum/internship in a school setting. You can not start your practicum/internship until the second fall after your admission into the add-on certification program. At the end of your program you will be eligible to become certified as a school counselor.

18) I am in the School Counseling program and I have to take EXC 2010 Exceptional Children (EXC 4020 starting in 2007) and IT 7360 Technology for Educators. Can I test out of the technology course?

    A: Yes. Go to http://www.gapsc.com/ and click on Computer Skills Test.