Gwynedd Mercy University 2026-2027 University Catalog
submitting assignments will result in an official absence and a lower grade. In addition, there are specific attendance expectations in several Counseling courses. These courses include but are not limited to the program field courses( weekly 1.5 hours synchronous group supervision), the program skills courses, and the Special Topics Residency course. Attendance is mandatory for the required residency in the Counseling Program. Attendance in field course weekly group supervision is also mandatory. Unexcused absences may result in a lower final grade and / or program dismissal. More information is available in the Counseling Program Student Handbook.
Students in the Counseling Program need to be aware of the following online graduate program attendance policy: Should a student fail to attend a course for two consecutive weeks, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the course and program.
Academic Progress, Probation, and Program Dismissal: Counselor trainees in the Master of Counseling Program are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the ethical codes of the American Counseling Association and the American School Counseling Association. Counselor trainees are expected to demonstrate proficiencies in the following areas: academic knowledge, counseling skills and professional dispositions( behavior and demeanor appropriate for counselors). Deficiencies found in any of these areas may trigger a Professional Development Plan( PDP) to remediate the identified deficiency / ies. Failure to meet the expectations of the Professional Development Plan may lead to dismissal from the program. For a full explanation of this policy and process, please see the Counseling Program Student Handbook.
Regardless of the Professional / Personal Development Plan students are still obligated to meet the graduate programs’ academic policies, including but not limited to the Academic Warning, Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal policies found in the Graduate Catalog.
Course Withdrawal Policies: The Counseling Program maintains the same course withdrawal policies as outlined for all online graduate programs in the Graduate Catalog.
Time to Completion: 1. Master of Science in Counseling Program( both concentrations of study) is typically 2.5 to 3.5 years. The maximum time for completion of the degree is 6 years. In extraordinary circumstances, students may petition the Dean or Vice President for Academic Affairs, or a designate, in writing for an extension.
2. Post-graduate Clinical Mental Health Certificate Program is between 7 and 10 months depending on start time of cohort.
3. Post-graduate PreK – 12 School Counseling Certification Program varies based on the total number of Pennsylvania Department of Education competencies waived based other master ' s degree work. The maximum time for completion is 5 years.
Field Requirements: The Counseling Program offers three areas of field experience: Pre-Practicum, Practicum and Internship: 6 hours of Pre-Practicum( built into counseling course work), 100 hours of Practicum and 600 hours of Internship. Below are the main field experience expectations by area.
For specific information regarding field placement particulars( expectations, grading, application requirements, etc.) please review the appropriate field handbook. These handbooks can be found on the student portal and on the program website.
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