School Counseling

The comprehensive exam is required for all students in the Master’s degree School Counseling programs. Students are required to take the exam after completing all course work or concurrent with the last semester of their course work. Students will integrate knowledge and skill from all courses and experiences throughout their Master’s degree program. Questions are intentionally structured to require integration from all elements of training.

Comprehensive examinations are scheduled for the end of the spring and fall semesters. The student's comprehensive examination committee will consist of two departmental faculty members. The exam is comprised of both a written and oral component. Students will receive specific information and directions for the Comprehensive Examination approximately 2 months prior to administration. Students will have sufficient time to prepare for the examination.

If students successfully demonstrate synthesis and integration of school counseling competencies, they will receive a “Pass” or “Low Pass”. If a student does not demonstrate sufficient synthesis and integration of competencies, they will earn a “Fail”. If a student receives a “Fail” they may be given the opportunity to take the examination again. If a student fails the comprehensive exam due to an act of academic dishonesty, for example, using Generative Artificial Intelligence to generate all or portions of the exam, they will be subject to additional consequences and may jeopardize eligibility for licensure. When a student fails and is granted the opportunity to re-take the exam or has not taken the exam during the semester of the practicum experience, they will receive an incomplete for the Advanced Clinical Practicum course. When they have taken and passed the exam they will receive a grade for completion of all program requirements.

Students are required early in their course of study to complete the pre-practicum course. Students will complete a pre-practicum of 100 hours in a school setting so that they may have the opportunity to observe and understand the role of the counselor in the schools and to discern the program track they wish to pursue (School Counselor or School Adjustment Counselor).

Students are considered eligible for the practicum once they have successfully completed all prerequisite courses or when they take such courses concurrently. A candidate’s eligibility for and enrollment in the practicum will be determined by the Director of the School Counseling program based upon:

• A review of the student’s transcript, existing teacher licensure, and professional experience
• Successful performance in required graduate courses; and
• Evidence that they have taken the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Test. Students need not have passed the MTELs prior to starting the practicum.

The practicum for the School Counselor is 600 hours (3 days per week on site), and the practicum for the School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker is 900 ours (5 days per week on site). Each is completed over 2 semesters. Both practicum commitments are governed by criteria outlined in the state regulations.