Coursework
Course Requirements
Students take courses in the following sequence:
Please obtain academic advising prior to initial registration.
Additional Requirements
- Students must pass a Praxis exam to demonstrate their competence in school counseling prior to completion of the program.
- Students prepare a growth assessment, which includes a formal research paper and a program evaluation. The Graduate Research Project content summarizes a topic that the student chooses to study in depth. The evaluation is a reflection on professional growth during the program. The research portion of the project will be completed in EDCO 592. In addition to the Graduate Research Project, students are required to present their research paper to a panel.
- All candidates that are admitted to the Master of Arts in Education: Educational Counseling; Master of Arts in Education: Educational Psychology; and Master of Arts in Education: Educational and Clinical Counseling programs are required to submit a copy of their California Certificate of Clearance (COC). Azusa Pacific University is required by law to keep these records on file while candidates are in attendance at APU.
Advisory Notes
- The practicum experience included in the educational and clinical counseling program is required by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and consists of 110 hours completed in a Pre-K–12 setting. In addition, EDCO 575 Clinical Practica requires students to complete 150 hours in various community settings under supervision from faculty and site supervisors. This course provides students the clinical experience in applied psychotherapeutic techniques, assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, issues of development, adjustment and maladjustment, health and wellness promotion, and other recognized counseling interventions.
- At some sites, students may need to delay enrollment until there is a sufficient number of beginning students to provide the appropriate adult learning opportunities. Applicants can obtain detailed information about dates for beginning coursework by requesting an advisement appointment at the Azusa campus or any of the regional centers.
- Students in an educational and clinical counseling program may request to waive a course (see “Waivers” in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the catalog) provided that the student can document completion of an equivalent course at another institution in the five-year period prior to requesting the waiver. Department approval of the request is required. If the course accepted for waiver also meets all the university standards for transfer credit (see “Transfer Credit” section in the academic catalog), up to 20 percent of the total program units may be transferred to meet requirements. If the course accepted for waiver does not meet the university standards for transfer credit (i.e., not applicable to a master’s degree at the university where it was taken, not taken from a regionally accredited institution, etc.), then the student must choose alternative elective courses to satisfy the unit requirements of the degree program. Students approaching program completion must obtain a credential application from the credential analyst office in the Department of Teacher Education. Students must complete all credential requirements to apply for the credential.
- To be eligible for the LPCC license, the Board of Behavioral Sciences requires individuals to complete a 60-semester-unit master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited or approved institution, which is counseling or psychotherapy in content, includes 6 semester units of supervised practicum, and contains at least 3 semester units, or 4½ units, of coursework in 13 core content areas. Candidates receive the LPCC designation only upon passing the required state examinations for licensure.
- Notify graduate registrar of intent to graduate 90 days before intended graduation. Students approaching graduation must obtain an Intent to Graduate Form from the graduate registrar. The graduate registrar will determine whether the student has met all requirements.
- A student has a maximum of five years to complete all coursework, including waivers and transfer of units, beginning the first date of enrollment for coursework in the degree program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units do I take each semester?
Full-time students take 6 units every nine weeks. However, many candidates are working adults and do not take classes full time. Academic advising is highly recommended to determine the course load required.
How long is a semester?
A semester is nine weeks, including final exams. Most classes are offered in accelerated nine-week terms.
How many hours does each class session require?
Classes meet for approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes, once a week.
How many evenings per week do I attend classes?
Most students attend classes two evenings per week.
How many students will there be in my classes?
APU is noted for its small classes with personalized attention. Most courses do not exceed 15–20 students.
Does APU require theses, dissertations, or capstone projects?
This program includes a capstone research project embedded within the EDCO 592 course.
How soon can I finish this program?
This program could be completed in a year. Depending upon the desired course load, working individuals usually finish this program in 24–36 months.
