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Pre-practicum & practicum experiences

Pre-Practicum: Students complete a 60-hour pre-practicum experience in a public school. This experience is embedded in the course, PSYC 645: Prevention & Group Counseling in Schools. Throughout the semester, students maintain a journal documenting their experiences and also write a series of short papers on prevention and intervention issues related to their pre-practicum sites. Pre-practicum placements are available at the elementary, middle and secondary levels.

Practicum: Students complete a practicum of at least 450 hours in an educational setting, usually a public school. Students are supervised by licensed school guidance counselors. To be eligible for the Practicum, students must pass the Communication and Literacy Skills components of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Along with their Practicum, students are required to enroll in PSYC 683: Ethical School Counseling Practice Seminar which is a course that meets weekly to provide peer supervision, a forum to discuss practicum experiences, and an opportunity to study school law and the ethics of school guidance counseling practice. Practicum placements are available at the elementary, middle and secondary levels.

Requirements to Enroll in Practicum

1. A grade of B or better in :

• PSYC 601: Developmental School Guidance
• PSYC 622: Principles of Counseling
• PSYC 645: Prevention & Group Counseling in Schools
• PSYC 685: Counseling Practicum
2. Completion of at least three additional Springfield College graduate courses required for the School Guidance Counseling Program with a grade of B or better.

3. A minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average for all graduate courses taken.

4. Scores of 70 or higher on the Communication and Literacy Skills Tests of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).

5. Passing the communications and literacy portions of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure.

6. Gaining the approval of the School Guidance Program Director to begin the practicum.