IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are planning a Practicum or Internship you must complete a Practicum/Internship Application at least 1 semester prior to taking the class.   Contact the department for specific deadlines.

The Master of Education in Counselor Education is designed to serve college graduates who have selected careers as professional counselors. The program encompasses theory, research, and practice related to professional counseling of children, adolescents or adults in schools and agencies.  Beginning in Fall 2008 the M.Ed. in Counselor Education will be a 48-51 credit degree, depending on emphasis.

• Community Agency Counseling

• School Counseling

• Elementary School Counseling
• Secondary School Counseling
• Dual School (K-12) Counseling

Professional Practicum/Internship

A practicum/internship is a required part of this program. Prior to permitting the candidate to enter the final stage of preparation, which is characterized by participation in a practicum/internship the candidate's advisor will evaluate the student’s performance in the program. Admission into this final phase of professional preparation is a faculty decision and is separate from entry into the graduate program. Difficulties, including minimal academic performance, attitude problems, poor field reports, or other factors may result in denial of entry to practicum/internship.

Performance in practicum/internship is closely monitored, with stated minimum competencies and the development of individual growth objectives. Since this is the practice and application phase of professional development, it is assumed that students will demonstrate maturity in professional actions, attitudes, and performance.

BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN A PRACTICUM OR INTERNSHIP

• Unless currently certificated in Alaska, candidates must submit a statement to the College of Education Office of Clinical Services and Certification as part of the practicum/internship application:
• • setting out the history of any criminal convictions in Alaska and other states in which they have lived (juvenile crime records that have been sealed by the court need not be disclosed)
  • all names by which they have been known
  • all states in which they have lived

• Candidates who are certificated teachers must submit a copy of a current Alaska Teacher Certificate prior to admission to a practicum or internship course.
• Candidates who are not currently certificated in Alaska must receive authorization from EED to participate in a practicum/internship that is school-based.  Practicum/internship applicants must apply for EED student authorization as part of the practicum/internship application process the semester prior to enrolling in the practicum/internship.  NOTE: This application process includes fingerprinting/criminal history background check, which must be initiated about 5 months prior to the first day of fieldwork.  If the background check is not initiated in time for the processing to occur before the first day of fieldwork, the Office of Clinical Services and Teacher Certification may deny the request for the practicum/internship.
• Candidates who are not currently certificated in Alaska and are planning to take a practicum/internship that is agency-based must submit the results of fingerprinting/criminal history background check to the COE office of Clinical Services and Certification the semester prior to enrolling in the practicum/internship.  Applicants do not have to apply for EED 'student teacher' authorization, but they must initiate the criminal history background check through a local fingerprinting agency as part of the practicum/internship application process.  See note above regarding time line for initiating the check and receiving clearance.
• Candidates who are not currently certificated in Alaska and who enroll in a course with a fieldwork component (excluding the practicum/internship courses), must have ASPIN clearance prior to the first day of fieldwork.  This requirement also applies to independent or directed studies with a fieldwork component.
• Failure to comply with the criminal history background requirements, falsification of information, or evidence of a criminal conviction that would preclude State certification will result in denial of access to or removal from field placement settings and programs that lead to State certification.  In addition, conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude may result in denial of access to or removal from field placement settings and programs that lead to State certification.  Refer to the UAA College of Education Student Criminal Background Check Policies and Procedures.
  

Certification and Endorsement Requirements

Students seeking certification and endorsement from the State of Alaska are responsible for assuring they fulfill current state requirements beyond those specified for the master’s degree.

1. Completion of the certification requirements (Note: only courses with a grade of “C” or better may be applied to meet the certification requirement.)
2. Recommendation of the Program Chair.
3. Approval of the Dean of the College of Education.
4. 3 credits of Alaska Studies and 3 credits of Multicultural Communication (for a list of approved courses see the EED website at  http://www.eed.state.ak.us/TeacherCertification/Certification.html)
5. • EDCN A614 now meets the EED Multicultural Communication requirement