/Institutions/Trevecca-Nazarene-University/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Trevecca-Nazarene-University/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Catalog.json

General Academic Policies

Prerequisite Courses

A course comparable to Advanced Abnormal (one that deals with psychopathology from a diagnostic perspective and includes DSM nomenclature), Social & Cultural Diversity, Professional Identity (Ethics), Human Growth and Development, Career Counseling, Helping Relationships, Group Counseling, Testing/Assessment, Research, and a minimum of two semesters of practicum/internship (with at least 240 hours of face-to-face counseling experience) are prerequisites to doctoral training. Students who have not completed such courses will be required to do so in addition to doctoral requirements. With the exception of practicum/internship, individuals applying to the Ph.D. program who have completed application files but are lacking prerequisite courses for this program may request to complete these prerequisites under the degreed, licensure seeking category (description of this category is outlined in the Graduate Counseling section, under Admissions Categories). While it is preferred that prerequisites be completed prior to beginning the program, candidates lacking prerequisites who are admitted to the program may begin with a pre-approved, limited number of unmet prerequisites; however, students must complete all prerequisites courses within the first year of the program.

Additional General Academic Policies

1. Doctoral students are required to remain in continual registration until the program has been completed. In extreme cases a student may apply in writing for a Leave of Absence. Normally a Leave of Absence will be a period no longer than one year. Students must submit formally, in writing, to the Director of Graduate Counseling Program a request to take any time off from the program. This request should be made within the semester prior to the requested break. After the request is received, Director of Graduate Counseling Program will determine whether the Leave of Absence/break is approved or denied.
2. All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years of being admitted to the program. Any approved time off from the program will continue to count toward the six-year program limit.
3. After two semesters with no contact from a student, the student will be moved to inactive status during which time the six-year time limit still applies. It is the responsibility of the student to formally request to resume coursework after being moved to inactive status. This request must be submitted in writing to the Director of Graduate Counseling Program. After the request is received, the Director of Graduate Counseling Program will determine whether returning to active status (resuming the program) is approved or denied.
4. All doctoral students must seek the prior approval of the Director of Graduate Counseling Program prior to changing the program of study as designed at the beginning of the program during their initial advising session. This request must be submitted in writing to the Director of Graduate Counseling Program. After receiving the request, the Director of Graduate Counseling Program will determine whether the requested change of program is approved or denied.
5. Any student submission at any phase of the program is subject to review using originality software.

Academic Advisor

Each doctoral student is assigned an academic advisor and a research advisor. All advisors are full-time faculty members in the graduate counseling program. The student works directly with the advisor at all times. All doctoral students must meet with their academic advisor to complete a program of study within the first semester of the program. Any changes to the program of study must be approved by the advisor. The student will also meet directly with the research advisor throughout the program. The research advisor will facilitate the student with the development of independent research ideas both related to the dissertation as well as other research interests beyond the required dissertation. Each student will receive notification of these advisor assignments within the first semester of the program.

Residency

All doctoral students are required to attend three on campus residencies. Each residency will occur at the beginning of the new semester. The on-campus residency is an opportunity for face-to-face and online students to connect, collaborate, and enhance learning experiences.

Doctoral Candidacy

All doctoral students will be formally evaluated yearly by the doctoral committee. The committee will review grades, student concern forms, writing ability, and general experiences in the program. A letter will be sent to each student that will indicate continuation with the program, continuation with remediation (in which a remediation plan will be given to the student), or denial of continuation. The annual review does not limit the doctoral committee to communicating with students at any point throughout the program due to concerns.

It is important to note that evaluations of students go beyond academic performance. Students may demonstrate academic excellence but fail to demonstrate the professional conduct, clinical skills needed to work with clients in practicum/internship settings, as well as quality of professional writing. When issues of “suitability” surface, the goal is to work with these students. If remediation is not successfully completed by designated timelines, students will be placed on probation and/or eventually dismissed from the program if the recommended remedial plan is not satisfactorily completed. Dismissal from the program can also be implemented without any prior remedial action or probation if there is a serious violation of anything that normally results in restriction or discipline as a mental health professional (moral or ethical violations), any serious misconduct in violation of school policies (ex: plagiarism), or failure to represent the University in a professional manner at a practicum/internship site.

Those who teach and supervise students in the Graduate Counseling Program are encouraged to identify students who they believe may have issues of “suitability” as it relates to entering the mental health profession. Professor/Supervisor Concern Regarding Student Preparation forms are provided to all full-time and adjunct professors and supervisors. Concerns filed by professors and supervisors are passed on to those who advise students in the program to be considered during structured evaluation times.

In cases of remediation, probation, or dismissal, students may appeal the decision of the Director of Graduate Counseling Program to the Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences.

In addition to these formally structured points of contact that are experienced by all students, those who enter the program on academic restriction are counseled by the Director of the Graduate Counseling Program after completing three semesters in the program. Students receiving a grade below B- are also counseled prior to the next course or courses. This counsel may take the form of a letter from the Director of the Graduate Counseling Program.

Grading System

The grading system for doctoral studies includes the letter grades A, B, C, D, and F for all courses except dissertation. The grades of S, U, or I will be assigned to dissertation. Courses with grades of C-, D, F, or U must be repeated. If the student is maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, two course grades of C+ or C will be allowed for the degree purpose.

Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination evaluates the student’s ability to integrate knowledge of counseling or marriage and family counseling/therapy, display critical and independent thinking and research skills, leadership skills, and demonstrate mastery of the field (teaching and supervision). The results of the examination provide evidence of independent thinking, appropriate organization, writing competency, critical analysis, and accuracy of documentation. The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to encourage students who are nearing the dissertation phase of the program to engage in a systematic review of their coursework. The exam also provides faculty with one form of evidence to make determinations regarding the student’s readiness for graduation.

The comprehensive exam will be given in two parts: written and oral (formal student presentation). The written portion of the exam will be composed of four questions and will be completed at two different points of the program: prior to the summer semester of year one (two questions completed) and prior to the summer semester of year two (two questions completed).  During each of the two examination periods, both questions will be scheduled for completion on the same day.

The oral portion of the comprehensive exam will be in the format of a formal student presentation that occurs at the end of the semester in which the written exam is passed. During the Dissertation Proposal Development I course, each student will submit a research topic that will be the focus of his/her oral presentation. The presentation will be delivered after the written comprehensive exam has been passed and prior to the completion of the Dissertation Proposal II course. Any exception to this established schedule for the comprehensive exam process will be made based upon the discretion of the Director of the Graduate Counseling Program. Presentations will be delivered to a committee of faculty members from the doctoral program and will be evaluated based on breadth of knowledge (quantity and quality of the research) and depth of understanding (degree to which the student comprehends and understands the research topic). Furthermore, oral presentation skills and the ability to engage and respond to questions from the committee will be a part of the evaluation.

Three possible grades may be assigned to the written and oral portions of the examination: pass with distinction, pass, or fail. Students who do not successfully complete the comprehensive exam will have a remediation plan developed and enacted before scheduling a second attempt. In some cases, a student will not be permitted to register for further courses until successful completion of the remediation plan and comprehensive exam. If the second attempt is failed, the student will be dismissed from the program. Regarding the written portion, in some cases the retake may include all questions; in other cases, the retake may be limited to select questions.

Doctoral Internship

The doctoral internship is designed to complement the coursework of the Ph.D. program. Students are required to complete six academic hours of internship. The doctoral internship is to be completed in three semesters (two academic hours each semester). There is a minimum requirement of 600 hours of internship (200 hours each semester completed over three semesters). The Doctoral Internship must be taken at the same time as Dissertation Research.

Doctoral students will choose one of the following a combination of internship experience with at least three options. Doctoral students will be able to Doctoral students will be able to participate in teaching, supervision, research, leadership/advocacy, and counseling internship options. The Director of Graduate Counseling will consult with the student to choose the best option for the internship.

The doctoral internship will provide practical experience and supervision in areas consistent with academic and professional goals of the doctoral student working toward an enhanced professional counselor identity. In addition, the internship can provide direct experiences in counselor education, supervision, research opportunities beyond the dissertation process, leadership within the field, and advanced clinical experiences.

The students in all five potential doctoral internship experiences will participate in individual as well as group supervision experiences with a faculty supervisor. The university faculty supervisor, as the instructor of note, will meet weekly with the students whether through individual or group supervision. Individual supervision will occur on a biweekly basis. Group supervision will occur five times over the course of the semester. These supervision experiences will provide the students with an opportunity to develop their own professional counselor identity, as well as have the experience presenting multicultural, ethical, and case-related situations. The student will also have an additional supervisor; counseling will be with a supervisor off site, counselor education and supervision, leadership, and research will be with a mentor. All of these additional supervision experiences will be weekly individual for one hour.

Depending on the previous clinical experience of the student, one of the three semesters of internship may be required to be in counseling. Academic advisors will determine the organization of a student's internship.

Dissertation

Each student will write and defend a dissertation before their doctoral committee and any faculty of the Graduate Counseling program who choose to attend. The doctoral committee will consist of three members: The first of these will be the dissertation chair. The dissertation chair will be a core, full-time faculty member. Following the standards and procedures of the doctoral program, the dissertation chair will supervise the dissertation and chair the dissertation defense. The other committee members are considered the second reader and the third reader. One of the committee members may be from an institution other than Trevecca Nazarene University but must hold a doctoral level degree and be pre-approved. It is the student’s responsibility to secure the committee members. Dissertation will occur over 4 semesters (three credit hours each semester).

The dissertation must contribute new knowledge or a reinterpretation of existing knowledge to the area being investigated. The dissertation must demonstrate high standards of scholarship and the ability to engage in independent research resulting in a substantial contribution to knowledge or practice in the field.

Students may not begin the dissertation research course until all coursework (with the exception of internship) is completed and all portions of the doctoral comprehensive examination have been passed. The dissertation process begins with an approved proposal. The proposal must be approved by the student's dissertation chair and the student's dissertation committee members.

The student should be guided by the following principles:

1. The dissertation should reflect an advanced understanding of the disciplines of counseling, counselor education and supervision, or marriage and family counseling/therapy.
2. The dissertation must engage its topic critically and constructively.
3. The dissertation may engage a problem and reevaluate prior approaches and propose a new approach.
4. The dissertation must illustrate both creativity and originality.
5. The dissertation must demonstrate writing that is both professionally and academically appropriate to the field. For students who require further assistance with APA formatting and/or writing style, it is their responsibility to secure and pay for any assistance.
6. Upon successful defense of the dissertation, three professionally bound copies must be furnished to the graduate counseling office paid for by the student. The student may also request his or her own bound copy or copies as well. The student will procure appropriate photocopies of each bound document prior to professional binding. All dissertations must then be published through UMI. Students are required to contact the Director of the Graduate Counseling Program for information related to the final steps of the dissertation process.

After the twelve hours of dissertation have been completed, the student must continually work on the dissertation project.  Students who have not completed the dissertation at the end of the fourth semester of dissertation research may be enrolled in a one semester credit hour dissertation research continuation course. 

The Director of the Graduate Counseling Program will register students eligible for dissertation research continuation on a semester-by-semester basis. Continual enrollment in this one credit hour semester course will allow students to continue progress on the dissertation including engagement with the dissertation chair and committee.  All requirements for the degree, including the dissertation process, must be completed within the six-year time limit.  The student may be required to provide evidence of active progress on the dissertation in order to be enrolled in the dissertation research continuation course.

Only those students in the Ph.D. Clinical Counseling program will be eligible to register for the one credit hour CSL 7399 Dissertation Research Continuation course.  Students enrolled in this one-credit hour course, Dissertation Research Continuation, will be considered half-time for enrollment purposes, allowing students continued access to University services (ITS & library) as well as eligibility for financial aid.  The Ph.D. Clinical Counseling program is the only University graduate-level program at Trevecca that offers a one-credit hour continuation course as sufficient to maintain part-time student status.

*Note: If a student is not eligible to be registered for the one credit course, that student must seek approval for time off from the program.  In summary, a student must be actively working on his/her project (as determined by his/her chair) to be eligible for the CSL 7399 Dissertation Research Continuation course.  If a student is not approved to be registered for this course, that student must request time off from the program. It is important that students remember that time off from the program may not be approved depending on the reason for the request.

The student will either be enrolled in the one credit dissertation research continuation course or have approved time off each semester until the dissertation has been defended and the final document has been sent to the bindery.

A dissertation abstract must be included with the bound copy.

The dissertation must be defended before the student's committee; with the exception of program faculty, the defense is not open for other guests to attend. The date and time should be communicated to the Director of the Graduate Counseling Program at least three weeks prior to the actual defense. In order to defend the proposal or final document, the final draft of the required chapters must be approved by the student’s chair, then sent to and approved by the student’s dissertation committee at least 3 weeks prior to the proposed defense date. Any committee member can delay the defense process if they determine the document is not ready for an official defense.

If the student fails the defense, a second opportunity will be given to the student. A second failure will result in the denial of the degree to the student.

*Note: In order for a student to proceed into the final year of the six-year time limit, the initial proposal (Chapters 1 and 2) must have been successfully defended by at least one year prior to timing out of the program.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation from the doctoral program, students must:

1. Submit a graduation application and fee by the required date.
2. Complete all requirements of the curricula.
3. Maintain a grade point average of 3.0. Complete the required number of semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Students earning a C- or below on any course will be required to repeat that particular course.
4. Make no more than two C+ or C grades in the program.
5. Repeat courses with grades of C-, D, F or U.
6. Pass the Comprehensive Doctoral Examination.
7. Successfully defend the dissertation. *Doctoral degree candidates must successfully defend their final dissertation by April 1st of the year they intend to participate in the May commencement activities. Students must defend their final dissertation by July 1 in order to be considered for August degree conferral and by November 1 in order to be considered for December degree conferral. *Note: A complete version of a proposal or final draft must be submitted and approved by the chair at least three months prior to a proposed defense date. The student may not rush or expedite the process by bypassing required turnaround times, needed draft revisions, etc. in an attempt to finish the process more quickly.
8. Once the student has successfully defended the dissertation he/she will:
   • obtain APA editing of the final dissertation document
   • obtain three photocopies of the dissertation document
   • obtain professional binding for three copies, and
   • submit the three bound dissertation documents to the graduate counseling office. 

   The above steps are described in detail in the dissertation handbook, which is available to all doctoral students.

9. Make up dissertation hours with a grade of "I".
10. Satisfy all financial obligations to the University.

Probation/Suspension Policy

Any student making a grade of C- in any course will be automatically placed on academic probation. He or she may continue in the program but must repeat that course with a later cohort group.

Each student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) each semester to remain in academic "good standing”. If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, after the completion of nine semester hours, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. Upon regaining the required cumulative average (3.0), the student will again be in good standing; however, if the student does not increase the cumulative average to 3.0 during the probationary semester, he or she will be placed on academic suspension for the subsequent semester and may reapply to the Admissions Committee for reinstatement after a three-month waiting period. The student will be assigned to a later group if reinstated by the Admissions Committee.

Any student making a grade of D+ or below in any course will be automatically placed on academic suspension. Any student suspended, removed, or not allowed to complete internship will earn a grade of F for that semester/course and placed on academic suspension. After a three-month waiting period, the student may petition to be reinstated to the program. However, if the three-month waiting period ends in the middle of the next semester, the student will need to wait until the beginning of the following semester to petition to be reinstated to the program.

If reinstated by the Admissions Committee, the student must repeat the course and achieve a grade of C or better. A maximum of two course grades of C+ or C are permitted.

Any student receiving more than one grade of D+ or below will be permanently dismissed from the program.

Remediation Procedure

1. A student can be placed on a remediation plan for reasons including but not limited to the following concerns: academic performance, academic honesty (i.e., plagiarism), unethical and/or unprofessional behavior, emotional well-being, pattern of inflexibility/rigidity, suitability for the profession, tardiness/absences (class or practicum/internship), writing skills, interactions with cohort/faculty, or insufficient progress (including missed deadlines) completing degree requirements/dissertation, and professional dispositions.  While this list is not exhaustive of all issues that could necessitate a remediation plan, it reflects some scenarios.  In some cases, the severity of an issue may not allow for remediation and may necessitate immediate academic probation or dismissal from the program.
2. Concerns regarding a student that could lead to a remediation plan will be communicated to the program director either through the candidacy application/review process or at any point during the program via the Professor/Supervisor Concern Regarding Student Preparation made accessible to faculty.  Faculty may also communicate concerns to the program director at any point and are not limited to the candidacy process or Professor/Supervisor Concern Regarding Student Preparation form.  
3. Student is notified by the program director and/or academic advisor through either a face-to-face meeting, phone call, or in writing (email or mailed letter) of concern(s) that have necessitated the development of a remediation plan.  The purpose of the remediation plan is to support the student’s progress in the program.
4. Regardless of how the student is notified of the remediation plan (verbal or written), the plan will ultimately be communicated in writing and provided to the student with a copy maintained in the student’s academic file.
5. A written remediation plan will include a time limit for completion.
6. When the time limit for completion of the remediation plan has been reached, the student’s success in fulfilling the requirements of the remediation plan will be reviewed and noted by the program director and/or academic advisor.
7. If the student successfully fulfills the remediation plan, the student will continue in the program, but future concerns may result in immediate dismissal from the program without a degree.
8. If the student fails to fulfill the remediation plan, the student will be considered for dismissal from the program without a degree.

Program Dismissal

While failure to fulfill a remediation plan could result in dismissal from the program, a student can be dismissed from the program without a prior remediation plan for reasons including but not limited to the following concerns:  academic performance, academic honesty (i.e., plagiarism), unethical and/or unprofessional behavior, emotional well-being, pattern of inflexibility/rigidity, suitability for the profession, tardiness/absences (class or practicum/internship), writing skills, interactions with cohort/faculty, or insufficient progress (including missed deadlines) completing degree requirements/dissertation.  This stated list of concerns is not exhaustive of all issues that could necessitate dismissal from the program.

In cases of dismissal from the program, students may appeal a dismissal decision to the Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences.  Appeals must be made in writing and received by the Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences within 15 days of the dismissal decision date. The decision of the Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences is final.

Course Evaluation and Assessment

A Course and Instructor Evaluation is completed by students at the end of each course. The Graduate Counseling Program administrative assistant receives and compiles these evaluations into an anonymous summary report. In order to maintain high quality instruction in all classes, instructors receive the results of the evaluations after all grades have been submitted. Evaluation of the program takes place at the Comprehensive Exam

Doctoral Student Professionalism

Membership in Professional Organizations

To promote students' professional development, the Graduate Counseling Program identifies specific professional organizations of which students will become active members. Doctoral students are required to become members of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES) through ACA and maintain these memberships while in the program. In an effort to further develop leadership skills that will enhance the mental health community, it is expected that students will not only join ACA and ACES but that they will also actively participate and pursue leadership opportunities within these professional organizations.

Professional Classroom Environment

A professional classroom environment is necessary for the growth and development of counselors. In an effort to encourage a healthy teaching and learning environment, students are to exemplify the professionalism expected of counselors. Characteristics such as attentiveness, curiosity, humility, approachability, flexibility, and mutual respect among peers and instructors are expected. In an effort to encourage such teaching environments, all students are expected to:

• listen attentively, ask relevant questions, and demonstrate a positive attitude toward learning
• respond in a positive manner to questions, suggestions, and/or constructive feedback
• deal with classroom concerns directly/privately with the professor
• be on time for all scheduled classes, including timely return from breaks
• demonstrate cooperation with and mutual respect for peers
• appropriately use computers and any other mobile devices for classroom purposes only and in a manner that would not distract from any activity such as devotionals, lecture, or other class presentations.

Special note: These standards of professionalism are not limited to the classroom environment; students are expected to maintain this professionalism while in the dissertation process as well.