COSC 692 School Counseling Practicum

The School Counseling Practicum course is the first field experience for students designed to build both clinical and non-clinical counseling skills at the elementary or secondary school setting under the supervision of licensed school counselor on-site supervisor and faculty supervisor. The practicum experience will include a minimum of 100 hours.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Experiential learning is vital to clinical skills development and the development of professional practice skills. A practicum is required of all candidates seeking state licensure/certification as a professional school counselor. Jesus modeled with his disciples the value of a mentoring relationship. Following His example, both a university faculty supervisor and an on-site supervisor will mentor the candidate over the 100-hour practicum.

Method of Instruction: This 16-week course is delivered in a hybrid format, both online via Canvas®, a digital synchronous platform, as well as via in-person training at a physical site. Students complete one module per week over the duration of the course. Students are required to meet face-to-face with their site supervisor on site as well as face-to-face via digital synchronous platform for weekly group supervision and instruction. 

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Advising Acknowledgement Quiz

After reviewing the School Counseling Advising Guide, each practicum student will acknowledge that he/she has read, understand, and agree to the terms in the Advising Guide. (CLOs: D, J)

Quiz: School Counseling Practicum Manual Review and Acknowledgement

After reviewing the School Counseling Practicum Manual, each practicum student will acknowledge that he/she has read, understand, and agree to the terms in the School Counseling Practicum Manual. (CLOs: D, J)

The practicum student will collect a signature from his/her site supervisor on a document that briefly outlines information about the practicum student and the practicum site.  (CLOs: D, K)

Quiz: Confidentiality Agreement

Each practicum student are required to read and sign the Practicum Confidentiality Agreement. Each practicum student will submit the signed original form to his/her site supervisor and submit a copy to his/her university supervisor. (CLOs: D, E, J)

Quiz: Practicum Plan for Placement Form

The student will complete and submit the “Practicum Plan for Placement” form outlining his/her plan for placement during practicum. The plan will be reviewed by the site supervisor. During this week, the practicum student will also review the confidentiality agreement with his/her site supervisor and submit a signed document in Canvas indicating the practicum student has read, understands, and agrees to the terms of the confidentiality agreement as required by the counseling profession. (CLO: E)

The student will plan and implement one Psycho-Educational Small Group (minimum of six sessions) project which aligns with identified ASCA standards. The small group must include supporting data/needs assessment and pre/post data collection to demonstrate competency in school counseling small group program evaluation and assessment. The student will submit a proposal first. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J)

Each practicum student will complete the Benchmark Case Conceptualization & School Counseling Services Treatment Plan for one client/student the student is counseling at his/her practicum site. The following areas will be addressed in the plan:

1. Case Conceptualization and Appraisal
2. Developmental, Ethical, and Multicultural Considerations
3. Counseling Theory & Techniques
4. Individual Appraisal and Outcomes Assessment
5. Professional/Scholarly Writing

Each practicum student will have the opportunity to discuss and consult his/her case with class peers, under the supervision of the Liberty Faculty Supervisor.

(CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J)

Virginia requires completion of Cultural Competency Training: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/teaching-in-virginia/teacher-licensure/cultural-competency-training

The training focuses on how educators can provide the best-in-class education that helps all students grow as learners by capitalizing on the cultural and linguistic resources that they bring to school. (CLOs: D, F, J)

This quiz is designed for the practicum student, the site supervisor, and the faculty supervisor to review and evaluate the progress of the practicum student at the midway point of the semester. Areas that that have not been met at the midway point should be focused on to ensure all areas are met by the close of the semester.

The student’s site supervisor must complete the Site Supervision & Evaluation of Student Performance (MID-TERM Pre-Advanced Internship Assessment) in CORE (ELMS) at the midway point of the practicum course.

Students are required to download a PDF copy of their MID-TERM Pre-AIA evaluation from CORE (ELMS) portal to upload into Canvas.

 (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K)

Quiz: Child Abuse Recognition and Intervention Training

Virginia requires completion of the Child Abuse Recognition and Intervention Training located at the Virginia Department of Education. http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/mandated_reporters/cwse5691/story.html To pass this course, the student must include a copy of his/her certificate from this training in the course grading area. (CLOs: E, H, I, J)

The practicum student will collect signatures from his/her site supervisor to confirm that the practicum student has permission/consent to record the child/adolescent during a session. The practicum student will have to submit a signed copy in Canvas and at his/her practicum site. (CLOs: D, K)

Recorded Counseling Session Verbatim Transcript Assignment

The student will attach a file (PDF or Word) of a verbatim transcript of the counseling session. At the top of the transcript, the student will include his/her name for the purposes of grading. The transcript will not have the name of the student or counselor in the transcription itself. It will only say “student” and “school counselor” with no identifiable information. The practicum student must demonstrate counseling skill identification and self-reflective comments and/or a rework of the skill. The student will upload the completed 20-minute session transcription into Canvas. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J)

The practicum student will watch their counseling video and reflect on the counseling session transcript of skill identification. The Clinical Counseling Skills Self-Assessment includes numbered self-rating of the skills utilized as well as five short answer self-reflection questions. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J)

Quiz: Clinical Skills Taped Session Site Supervisor Evaluation

This quiz is designed for the practicum student, the site supervisor, and the faculty supervisor to review and evaluate the progress of the practicum student’s basic clinical counseling skills. Areas that that score below proficiency will have targeted skills support for the practicum student. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J)

Benchmark Culminating Project: Psycho-Educational Small Group PowerPoint Assignment

The student will plan and implement one Psycho-Educational Small Group (minimum of six sessions) project which aligns with identified ASCA standards. The small group must include supporting data/needs assessment and pre/post data collection to demonstrate competency in school counseling small group program evaluation and assessment.  After the implementation of the small group, the student will present a PowerPoint of his/her psycho-educational small group in class of his/her project. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J)

Quiz: Dyslexia Awareness Training

Virginia requires completion of the Dyslexia Awareness Training Module at the Virginia Department of Education website. To pass this course, the student must include a copy of his/her certificate from this training in Canvas. (CLOs: D, J)

Practicum students must read and acknowledge the school counseling licensure or certification eligibility requirements for their state. Students are required to research their state department of education agencies to ensure they complete additional requirements/ regulations of that state to be eligible for their full School Counseling license/certification where they plan to be employed. (CLOs: D, J)

Quiz: Faculty Supervision and Time-Log Check (16)

The student must participate in an average of 1.5-2 hours per week of face-to-face group supervision facilitated by the faculty supervisor using a virtual synchronized component (the student’s faculty supervisor will provide the student with the supervision link).

Participation in all group supervision sessions is required for the successful completion of this course.

Fully engaged attendance (AUDIO and VISUAL) is mandatory to pass this COSC 692 Practicum. NO EXCEPTIONS. Students can miss up to two classes and still pass the COSC 692 course. (Participation and attendance points are deducted only). Please note that missing three faculty supervision classes WILL RESULT in a failing grade. There are no exceptions. If you already know that you will have a standing conflict with ANY PORTION of the day/time of your weekly supervision class that cannot be moved, please contact the school counseling field experience office to request a different section that meets during a time/day that you can be fully present. Missing 15 minutes of class (coming late 15 minutes, leaving early for 15 minutes, or stepping away from class for 15 minutes) constitutes as a full absence. There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences. Practicum students are either present for class or absent from class.
Practicum students are required to treat this synchronous course as if they were in person on Liberty campus. Points are deducted and/or absences are issued if students are unable to be fully present.

*Virtual backgrounds are prohibited due to the confidential nature of the supervisory sessions. Faculty must ensure practicum students are in a private location without other individuals in the room. Headphones are encouraged to ensure confidentiality.

Supervision is critical for evaluating the student’s mastery of the learning objectives for this course. Weekly supervision sessions will consist of teaching and meaningful discussion topics relevant to the school counseling setting.

1. The student must complete one Case Conceptualization & School Counseling Services Plan. The student must prepare to discuss his/her case and treatment plan during synchronized group supervision during his/her designated week. This form will also be submitted in the course assignment area.
2. Site Supervision & Evaluation of Candidate Performance (Mid-Term Pre-AIA and Final Pre-AIA).
3. The student must complete and record one 20-minute individual counseling session. The session will be transcribed for the Recorded Counseling Session Verbatim Transcript Assignment and viewed during supervision for peer and faculty feedback regarding the use of counseling skills in the session.
4. The student must complete a Dispositions Reflection self-reflection assignment at the conclusion of the practicum course. The Dispositions Reflection is also completed by the faculty supervisor as well as the site supervisor.

The site supervisor must be a licensed school counselor with at least 2 years of experience and training in school counseling supervision. Site supervisors verify his/her training and/or participate in an online counselor supervision training module provided by the School Counseling Practicum and Internship Field Experience Office. The practicum student will complete the Information and Overview form with his/her site supervisor and upload this document to Canvas.

The student must participate in an average of 1 hour per week of supervision facilitated by the school counseling site supervisor. Supervision is critical for evaluating the candidate’s mastery of the learning objectives for this course. The site supervisor will evaluate the candidate at the mid-term and at the end of the 100 hour practicum experience (using the Pre-Advanced Internship Assessment Form COSC 692).

The student must sign into CORE (ELMS) each Module to document attendance and the hours served in his/her practicum site for the Module. At least 100 hours must be accrued during the semester of practicum. At least 40 hours of direct service with the student must be accrued in during the semester. While the time log is completed in CORE (ELMS), the Field Experience Summary (FES) is submitted into Canvas at the end of COSC 692. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J)

Forms Completion and Submission

The student is required to review all practicum forms with the school counseling site supervisor and submit forms according to the timeline noted in the Course Schedule. Each practicum student is to complete all forms and assessments in Canvas and CORE (ELMS).

(CLOs: D, J)

This quiz covers the required competency standards of the Pre-Advanced Internship Assessment (Foundations, Counseling Prevention & Intervention, Diversity & Advocacy, Assessment, Research & Evaluation, Academic Development, Collaboration & Consultation, and Leadership). 

The student’s site supervisor must complete the Site Supervision & Evaluation of Student Performance (FINAL Pre-Advanced Internship Assessment) in CORE (ELMS) at the conclusion of the practicum course.

Students are required to download a PDF copy of their FINAL Pre-AIA evaluation from CORE (ELMS) portal to upload into Canvas.

(CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K)

Quiz: Field Experience Summary (FES)

A minimum requirement of 100 hours must be accrued during the semester of practicum (at least 40 of these hours must be direct service). The Field Experience Summary (FES) form is submitted in Canvas at the end of the course to document the 100-hour practicum experience. (CLOs: D.J.)

The student will rate him/herself on the nine dispositions required for this program. The quiz will contain 9 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay question and is limited to 60 minutes. The student is allowed 1 attempt to complete the quiz. (CLOs: D, K)