Jacqueline G. Montgomery, MA, Associate Dean for the School of Professional Counseling
Bob and Carol Goodin Nursing and Counseling Center - Room 218
(270) 384-8150   montgomeryj@lindsey.edu

 Jeffery J. Crane, PhD,  Director, Counseling and Human Development Program
Bob and Carol Goodin Nursing and Counseling Center - Room 223
(270) 384-8160  cranej@lindsey.edu

School of Professional Counseling

The School of Professional Counseling offers the Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services & Counseling. The School of Professional Counseling - which is the only one of its kind in the nation - provides practitioner-based programs to students who are interested in careers in mental health care. Students who earn a master's degree from the school are eligible to become "Licensed Professional Counselor Associates."

 In addition to its programs on the A.P. White Campus in Columbia, the School of Professional Counseling collaborates with community colleges within Kentucky and surrounding states to provide local, community-based programs at 25 college community college campuses. The bachelors and masters degrees are offered at these campuses, allowing Associate degree graduates to earn these higher-level degrees through the Lindsey Wilson College School of Professional Counseling.

The School of Professional Counseling programs are offered in the following cities: Ashland at Ashland Community and Technical College, Big Stone Gap, VA at Mountain Empire Community College, Cincinnati, OH at the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cumberland at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, Danville and Lexington at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Elizabethtown at Elizabethtown Community College, Hazard at Hazard Community and Technical College, Henderson Community College, Hillsboro, OH at Southern State Community College, Hopkinsville at Hopkinsville Community College, Logan, WV at the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, London and Somerset at Somerset Community and Technical College, Louisville at Jefferson Community and Technical College, Madisonville at Madisonville Community College, Maysville at Maysville Community and Technical College, Paducah at the Western Kentucky Community College, Prestonsburg at Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Radcliff Regional Educational Center, Radcliff, KY, Richlands, VA at Southwest Virginia Community College, Scottsville at the Scottsville campus of Lindsey Wilson College, Wytheville, VA at the Wytheville Community College. Under development are sites at the Carrollton Community Campus - Jefferson Community and Technical College in Carrollton, KY; Gateway Community Campus - Gateway Community and Technical College in Covington, KY; and Shelbyville Community Campus - Jefferson Community and Technical College in Shelbyville, KY.

 Master of Education

The Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development, with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling, is an application-oriented experience designed to enhance the skills of bachelor-level practitioners presently employed or planning a professional career in counseling. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).  CACREP is an independent non-profit organization, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), with voting members who represent the American Counseling Association (ACA), its divisions and the public.  CACREP grants accredited status to graduate-level programs in the professional counseling field.

Through our accreditation with CACREP, students are eligible to sit for the National Board of Certified Counselors examination during their last semester of studies to certify as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) as a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC). In most circumstances, graduates also are immediately eligible for provisional or temporary licensure in the state where they received coursework.

 Employment opportunities for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors are diverse and abundant. In addition to private practice settings, possible employment opportunities for graduates of the program include churches, city and state human services departments, community mental health centers, correctional departments, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, employee assistance programs, employment services, hospice programs, hospitals, industries, military, counseling agencies, psychiatric hospitals, rape crisis centers, sexual abuse centers, YMCA/YWCA facilities, and vocational services.  This degree does not lead to P-12 school counselor certification or satisfy requirements for  the MEd in Teacher as Leader

  Curriculum

The Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development, with a specialization in mental health counseling, requires a minimum of 60 semester hours and participation in a group experience facilitated by the program. Requirements include 39 hours from nine core areas (human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program evaluation, professional orientation and abnormal) provide foundation course work and clinical experience, in addition to 21 hours of specialty requirements in Mental Health Counseling.

 A. Core Curriculum: 33 hours

• Lifecycle Development in Individuals & Families (CHD 5003) - 3 hours
• Multicultural Issues, Human Diversity, & Preventive Com. Education (CHD 5013) - 3 hours
• Counseling Theories & Techniques: Affective/Humanistic (CHD 5023) - 3 hours
• Counseling Theories & Techniques: Cognitive/Behavioral (CHD 5033) - 3 hours
• Group Counseling Techniques (CHD 5043) - 3 hours
• Career Education Counseling (CHD 5053) - 3 hours
• Individual and Group Assessment (CHD 5063) - 3 hours
• Psychopathology (CHD 5073) - 3 hours
• Research Methods (CHD 5083) - 3 hours
• Ethics and Professional Issues (CHD 5093) - 3 hours
• Foundations and Educational Foundations (CHD 5503) - 3 hours

 B. Clinical Instruction: 6 hours

• Practicum - 150 hours (CHD 6003) - 3 hours
• Internship - 200 hours (CHD 6011) - 1 hour
• Internship - 200 hours (CHD 6011) - 1 hour
• Internship - 200 hours (CHD 6011) - 1 hour

 TOTAL CORE AND CLINICAL: 39 hours

 C. Specialization in Mental Health Counseling: 21 hours

Although a significant emphasis in the core curriculum is the development of a mental health counseling knowledge and skill base, the following specialty course work and clinical experiences are designed to provide specialized expertise in the area of community mental health counseling.

 In addition to the 39 hours of core experiences above, each student who specializes in mental health counseling must complete the following course work within the specialty area. This course work provides an introduction to community mental health counseling, contextual dimensions, knowledge and skills for the practice of mental health counseling, and clinical instruction.

• Evaluation of Mental & Emotional Status (CHD 6033) - 3 hours
• Diagnosis of Mental & Emotional Disorders (CHD 6023) - 3 hours
• Substance Abuse Treatment (CHD 6163) - 3 hours
• Play Therapy (CHD 6253) or Adolescent Intervention (CHD 6283) - 3 hours
• Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders (CHD 6203) - 3 hours
• Mental Health Administration, Supervision & Consultation (CHD 6513) - 3 hours
• Systemic Family Therapy (CHD 6613) - 3 hours

Exit Assessment

The Graduate Program has the same academic policies and standards as the undergraduate program except where specifically stated. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of initial acceptance into the program. Graduation from the Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development degree program requires:

• A cumulative quality point average of 3.00 or higher;
• Completion of a program evaluation survey;
• Filing an application for graduation with the Registrar following the specific guidelines set forth in this catalog;
• Recommendation of the graduate faculty; and
• Completion of the comprehensive examination.

Admission

The application process is complete when the Director of Records for the School of Professional Counseling or the appropriate Administrative Assistant at a regional hub has received the following:

1. A completed application for admission on the approved application form
2. A written request addressed to the Registrar of all colleges and universities previously attended to send two official transcripts to:
3. Registrar, Lindsey Wilson College, 210 Lindsey Wilson St., Columbia, KY 42728; and
4. Site Coordinator at the campus where classes will be taken.
   1. Three letters of recommendation completed on forms provided in the application packet;
   2. An interview with the Regional Admissions Committee if the applicant's undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0; and
   3. A non-refundable $35 processing fee.

 Classification of Applications

All applicants admitted to the graduate program in Counseling and Human Development are admitted on conditional basis.  The status is reviewed by the Regional Admissions Committee* at the end of the graduate candidate's first semester to consider each student's unconditional acceptance into the program.

A change in status from conditional to unconditional must be accompanied by:

1. A completed application folder;
2. Receipt of an official transcript showing the conferral of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a related discipline;
3. A successful student review and subsequent recommendation by the Regional Admission Committee; and
4. Approval by the SPC Academic Council.

 Note: Admissions decisions are based on academic performance and personal characteristics/dispositions as reflected in the Graduate Students Review and Recommendation process.  Students who receive scores of "Pass" or "Low Pass" will be granted unconditional admission status.  A student who receives two or less "No Pass" scores will meet with the Resident Faculty Supervisor to discuss and formulate a remediation plan.  A student who scores three or more "No Pass" scores will meet with the Regional Admissions Committee to discuss remediation or alternatives to the program.

  Non-Degree Admission:

Upon application, non-degree admission may be granted to those who wish to enroll in courses but do not intend to pursue a degree. Such course work may aid in completing certification requirements, enriching professional development, or similar objectives.
If a student who is enrolled in the non-degree category subsequently wishes to seek a degree, he or she must make application to the program requesting a change in status and must meet all criteria for admission. If approved, a student may carry forward no more than 12 hours of credit earned as a non-degree student.

 Transfer of Credit:

All graduate students who wish to transfer graduate credit from other institutions to be applied to Lindsey Wilson's Counseling and Human Development degree should be aware of the following criteria:

• Transfer credit must carry a grade of "A" or "B" and must be earned at graduate level.
• Transfer credit must be consistent with the program's curriculum, which comprises the required CHD program structure.
• Transfer credit must be judged to be equivalent to CHD course work. Elective credit must also be comparable to graduate courses consistent with the student's course of study.
• Normally no more than 15 credit hours may be transferred into the CHD program. Exceptions must be approved by the Chair of the Counseling and Human Development Program.
• Once the Chair of the Counseling and Human Development Program has approved the transfer hours, the student must submit the appropriate course documentation to the Registrar for final action.
• In cases where a graduate degree has been earned in a related field from a regionally accredited college or university, the graduate faculty may accept block credit earned, provided these courses satisfy requirements of the program to which the student is applying. The Graduate Faculty Admissions Committee may require a student to retake any course in an area where there are questions regarding the content of the curriculum or the student's competence in a given area.

 Graduate Credit Without the Baccalaureate Degree:

The following criteria apply to those students who wish to enroll in graduate course work who have not earned a Bachelor of Arts degree:

• Undergraduates must have senior status, and
• Cumulative quality point average of at least 3.00.

No course work applied toward undergraduate graduation requirements may be counted toward requirements for a graduate degree. A maximum of nine graduate credit hours may be taken by an undergraduate.

 Assistantships

The graduate assistant placement is designed as a learning milieu for the graduate student while assisting academic unit faculty in providing a comprehensive program with academic integrity. Each assistantship requires 30 hours per week.  Contact the Director of the Counseling Services for more information.

The duties of the graduate assistant will vary. Graduate Assistants who are assigned to the Counseling Center work closely with the Director of Counseling Services and their faculty supervisors to provide counseling services to students of Lindsey Wilson College as well as individuals living in Columbia and the surrounding area. Graduate assistants on the main campus assigned to the dorms work closely with the Director of Counseling Services, their faculty supervisor, and Residence Life. Dorm Counselors live in the dorms and provide counseling services and other supporting services to residential students as requested by the students and/or encouraged or mandated by Residence Life. Graduate Assistants at community campus locations work closely with campus coordinators, faculty supervisors, and the Director of Counseling Services. The primary responsibility of the GAs at the Community College is to facilitate the operation of the Counseling Lab.

  Graduate Assistantship Application

• Complete a Graduate Assistant Application.  All application materials should be submitted to the Resident Faculty Supervisor (or Enrollment Coordinator) for the campus as early as possible.
• All eligible applicants will be invited for an interview.  Several faculty and staff are invited to attend as an interview team, including the Enrollment Coordinator, Resident Faculty Supervisor, and Regional Academic Director, to illustrate the collaborative process by which Graduate Assistants are selected.
• After applicants have been interviewed, the interview team will select a candidate and notify the Director of Clinical Services & Training by submitting the selected candidate's Graduate Assistant Application, Graduate Assistant Agreement, and background check form.
• The Director of Clinical Services & Training will report the results of the background check to the interview team in order to inform the final selection for the Graduate Assistant position.  The Resident Faculty Supervisor will inform all applicants of the decision.
• An unsuccessful candidate for Graduate Assistantship may apply for consideration for other positions available.

 Counseling Services Facilities

In support of the accreditation standards for the CHD graduate program, Lindsey Wilson College offers counseling instruction environments conducive to modeling, demonstration, supervision, and training.  The counseling services facilities are staffed by at least one Graduate Assistant for administrative management support as well as a Resident Faculty Supervisor to arrange appropriate licensed clinical supervision.  The counseling services facilities also provide the opportunity for students to develop program-appropriate audio/video recordings for use in supervision.

  SPC Scholars Program

The School of Professional Counseling Scholars Program is designed to prepare students for additional post-graduate studies, such as a doctoral program. The program is highly competitive and limited to no more four students per semester. Students named to the SPC Scholars Program will participate in research and present at professional conferences.

  Application Process

• Prerequisites:
  • Minimum grade point average of 3.50
  • Membership in Chi Sigma Iota
  • Registration in the second or third semester of the counseling and human development program
  • Membership in the American Counseling Association
• Applicants must provide the following materials:
  • Cover letter
  • Essay explaining why the applicant is suited for the program
  • A writing sample of academic work
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty
  • Sponsorship by a Scholars Program committee member

 Faculty willingness to sponsor a student will be based on perceived similarities in professional research interests and faculty availability. Faculty will be assigned as advisors to students they sponsor. The admissions committee (comprised of faculty participating in the program) will review application materials and approve all proposed sponsorships.

Students admitted to the SPC Scholars Program will begin official participation the semester after they have been accepted. SPC Scholars are required to maintain a 3.50 grade point average. Participation in the program will require additional work above and beyond course work required for graduation and will likely require travel to meet with faculty advisors and research teams. Successful completion of the SPC Scholars Program does not guarantee acceptance into a doctoral program, nor does participation on a research team guarantee publication.

  Program Requirements

The intent of the SPC Scholars Program is to encourage scholarship and academic preparation for students interested in doctoral studies. SPC Scholars will engage in a range of activities tailored to this purpose

SPC Scholars will:

• Participate on a research team (led by the faculty advisor) working toward scholarly publications. SPC Scholars will receive authorship status commensurate with participation on published works. Actual publication is not required, so long as students work on the research team.
• Participate in one presentation at a professional conference.
• Prepare for and take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). 

 Faculty advisors will help students hone their research skills and assist them in the application process for doctoral studies (i.e., vita preparation, studying for the GRE, developing a letter of application for doctoral programs).

 Successful Completion

During a student's last semester in the program, SPC Scholars committee will evaluate the student's work.  If a student has met all of the program's requirements, they will receive:

• Recognition of their status during their program's pinning ceremony, including a brief outline of their successes (i.e., acceptance into a doctoral program, professional publications, presentations).
• SPC Scholars Program participation will be indicated on their transcript and diploma.