Additional Practicum Field Experience and Seminar Requirements
Students are required to complete a total of 1000 hours of practicum/field experience. Field experience involves a two-hour weekly seminar on-campus.
Evaluation of student progress in practicum/field experience training focuses on three areas:
- Theoretical knowledge
- Counseling skills
- Professional attitudes
Field Experience and Seminar Requirements
Students in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are required to complete 1000 total hours of field experience. Field experience involves a two-hour weekly seminar on-campus.
Evaluation of student progress in field experience training focuses on three areas:
- Theoretical knowledge
- Counseling skills
- Professional attitudes
The foundation of Argosy University, Tampa student field experience training in counseling is the accurate assessment and understanding of human problems. This assessment and understanding is the basis for the recommendation and/or implementation of effective techniques for the alleviation or resolution of these problems within a climate of absolute respect for the client.
Ethical standards of the American Counseling Association are incorporated into student training. The administration closely monitors academic and professional development during all stages of progress throughout a student’s graduate career. This monitoring includes assessment of clinical suitability as well as academic achievement. Thus, aspects of student’s personal adjustment, interpersonal relationships, and behavior in all settings are relevant to their progress in their program. Our aim is to assure that students are well qualified and have the potential to become competent and ethical professionals.
The field experience is designed to emphasize counseling and therapeutic intervention skills. Theoretical orientations, specific treatment options and opportunities and client populations will vary across training settings. Argosy University, Tampa does not favor a particular theoretical orientation, but instead encourages students to explore a variety of counseling perspectives. The faculty and curriculum are representative of the major theoretical orientations. Students are encouraged to keep an open mind in order to get the full benefit of this general theoretical exposure, and to explore and experiment with a variety of treatment approaches. However, sites are encouraged to provide knowledge and modeling of therapy within an organized theoretical framework, so that students may learn to use this framework to guide their conceptualizations and interventions. It is hoped that students will, with time and experience, recognize strengths and limitations of a variety of approaches and develop proficiency in formulating and working within an approach best suited to their own personal style. The field experience presents an excellent opportunity for this kind of learning.
General Information
The field experience is a required training experience. Students may begin field experience after the successful completion of the required prerequisites. Students are required to attend informational meetings and apply for field experience study one — two semesters before they plan to enroll.
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program students must complete 1,000 hours of field experience/field study.
Students earn 3 semester credit hours each time they register for field experience. All students enrolled in field experience are concurrently enrolled in a field experience seminar led by a faculty member. The seminar meets on-campus weekly throughout each semester. Special arrangements will be made for students taking field experience at distant locations.
Students spend 23 – 25 hours per week in a site that has been approved by Argosy University. Students must spend a minimum of 400 hours in “direct service.” The remainder of the students’ time is spent in “indirect service,” supervision, and “training activities.” Students must receive at least one hour of on-site, individual supervision per week.
Argosy University approves a wide variety of field training sites. All field experience sites are within the local area unless a student speaks with the director of training to make other arrangements. The director of training in consultation with department faculty shall make this decision on a case-by-case basis.
The training site and seminar leaders evaluate students in writing twice each semester. Grades are assigned each semester on a “Credit/No Credit” basis.
Restrictions
Students may not train in settings in which they are employed unless the field study supervisor is clearly different from the employment supervisor.
Professional Liability Insurance
All students enrolled in field experience must be covered by professional liability insurance. Students must purchase the liability insurance that is provided through Argosy University, Tampa, and also their own personal liability insurance.
Prerequisites for Field Experience
In order for students to apply for field experience they must be in good academic standing, possessing a GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) and have completed the academic planning which will allow for all the field experience prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the field experience.
Comprehensive Examination Requirements
Students in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination no later than the end of the sixth year after entering the program. The material covered by the Comprehensive Examination reflects coursework and material required of students in the program.
Prerequisites for the Comprehensive Examination
To be eligible to sit for the Comprehensive Examination, students must have successfully completed all courses, excluding the field experience. Courses that are transferred are considered successfully completed.
Students taking the Comprehensive Examination must be students in good standing and have a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0). An application to take the exam must be submitted to the program chair at least one month prior to the date of the examination.
Procedures
The Comprehensive Examination is offered three times a year. Consult the program chair for the specific dates of the examination. All students must submit an application for the Comprehensive Examination. Although letters are sent to students, it is the student’s responsibility to know when they are eligible to take the exam and to submit an application.
The program chair reviews students who register to sit for the Comprehensive Examination for eligibility. Students who need special accommodations during the examination are required to request them in writing at the time of application and provide any necessary documentation with the request.
Prior to each exam, an open meeting will be held to allow students an opportunity to ask questions about exam preparation and exam procedures. The format of the examination may change from year to year. The format will be discussed at the meetings prior to each exam.
Students are notified in writing of their exam grade. Possible outcomes are “Pass” or “Fail.” If students do not pass, they are required to retake the examination. Students who fail the Comprehensive Examination are required to meet with their academic advisor to review the problems evident in the examination. The student will be advised of specific areas of weakness and possible strategies for remediation. The student will then be allowed to retake the examination one time within the time frame of program completion.
A student who fails the Comprehensive Exam a second time will be reviewed by the Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC).
After completion of required remediation, student may be eligible to retake the Comprehensive Examination. Any student who fails the examination a third time will be automatically dismissed from the program.
