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DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, AND ADULT AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Master of Arts Degree in Adult and Higher Education

The Adult and Higher Education Program serves a diverse group of students with unique professional developmental needs. The program offers opportunities for advanced study in four specialties: continuing education, social/community agency, college teaching, and higher education administration. Following is an overview of each specialty. Certificate program available (see description following program options).

Continuing Education

Intended for persons who desire instructional and administrative positions in continuing education and continuing professional education settings. Course offerings include instructional methods, program planning, adult learning, adult development, multicultural issues, and program assessment.

Social/Community Agency

Intended for persons who desire instructional and administrative positions in diverse community and social service settings. Course offerings include community development, adult literacy, instructional methods, program planning, multicultural issues, and program assessment.

College Teaching

Intended for persons who desire instructional positions in higher education, particularly community colleges. Students must have a Bachelor’s degree in the subject that they intend to teach; additional Master’s level courses may also be required. Course offerings include college student development, effective teaching, higher education curricula, multicultural issues, and an overview of higher education in the United States.

Higher Education Administration

Intended for persons who desire middle and senior administrative management positions in higher education in academic and student personnel services. Course offerings include governance, finance, legal issues, program assessment, multicultural issues, enrollment management, college student personnel, and student personnel administration.

Degree Requirements. The course of study consists of a core of required courses and an area of specialization. Additionally students select research hours in combination with a thesis or hours in a designated support area for the nonthesis option.

A. Core courses:

Foundations course (select one with advisor approval):

AHE 5003 The Development of Higher Education in the United States
AHE 5013 Foundations of Adult Education

B. Common core courses (all three required):

AHE 5343 Theory and Practice of Adult Learning
AHE 5633 Multicultural Issues
EDU 5003 Research Methods (or equivalent)

C. Field Experience (select one with advisor approval):

AHE 6943 Internship in Adult and Higher Education Advisor-approved Adult and Higher Education course (Independent Study or Service Learning)

D. 12 semester credit hours in the specialty:

Continuing Professional Education (select 4 with advisor approval):

AHE 5403 Adult Development
AHE 5603 Development and Organization of Adult and Continuing Education
AHE 5613 Instructional Procedures in Continuing Education
AHE 5623 Adult and Continuing Education Management Systems
AHE 6123 Effective Teaching in Higher Education II

Social/Community Agency (select 4 with advisor approval):

AHE 5403 Adult Development
AHE 5613 Instructional Procedures in Continuing Education
AHE 5643 Adult Education for Community Development
AHE 5813 Adult Literacy
AHE 6123 Effective Teaching in Higher Education II

College Teaching (select 4 with advisor approval):

AHE 5203 The American College Student
AHE 6003 The Community College
AHE 6103 Effective Teaching in Higher Education I
AHE 6123 Effective Teaching in Higher Education II
AHE 6203 The Professorate C&I 5903 Higher Education Curricula

Higher Education Administration (select 4 with advisor approval):

AHE 5103 Contemporary Thought in Higher Education
AHE 5313 Seminar in Governance of Higher Education
AHE 5323 Financing Higher Education
AHE 5333 Legal Issues in Higher Education
AHE 6003 The Community College

Support: Support work may be taken in educational technology, nonprofit management, program planning, or college teaching. Other areas of support may be developed with advisor approval.

Summary of Degree Options

Option I. Thesis option (36 semester credit hours):

A. Core: 15 hours
B. Specialty: 12 hours
C. Research: 9 hours

  1. Advanced Research Course
  2. Thesis: AHE 6983 (6 hours)
Option II. Non-Thesis option (36 semester credit hours):

A. Core: 15 hours
B. Specialty: 12 hours
C. Support: 9 hours

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Certificate of Professional Development in Adult and Higher Education

The Certificate of Professional Development in Adult and Higher Education (AHE) will provide additional training in the skills and knowledge important to today’s educators and trainers of adults. The certificate will assist the development and application of instructional capacity in various educational settings in San Antonio and surrounding areas, including continuing professional training, adult literacy and community development, and college teaching.

Program Requirements

Students may choose one of two routes to earn a Certificate of Professional Development in Adult and Higher Education:

1. Specialization to supplement the Master of Arts in Adult and Higher Education. As a supplement to the existing graduate program, students pursuing an AHE degree would be eligible for certificate credit after completing their required degree specialization hours (12 semester credit hours) and two advisor-approved courses (6 semester credit hours) for a total of 18 certificate hours. A grade of “B” or higher must be earned in each course counted toward certificate credit.
2. Specialization only. To earn a stand-alone Certificate of Professional Development, participants must hold a bachelor’s degree and meet entrance requirements for the AHE program.

18 semester credit hours in AHE coursework are required:

AHE 5343 Theory and Practice of Adult Learning
AHE 5633 Multicultural Issues
12 semester credit hours of AHE coursework approved by the program advisor.

Areas of Specialization

1. Adult Learning and Training
Provides specialized instruction for prospective and current educators of adults in continuing professional education, community development, and adult literacy. See advisor for available courses.
2. College Teaching
Assists current and prospective teachers in understanding the nature of the colleges in which they teach; cultivates effective teaching methods and strategies, including the appropriate use of technology in the classroom; and facilitates understanding of the particular needs of college students and total college curriculum. See advisor for available courses.

Master of Arts Degree in Counseling

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Counseling offers the opportunity for advanced study and professional development in the fields of Community and School Counseling. Students may earn credit toward a state-level counseling license to practice in community settings (Licensed Professional Counselor). Credit may also be earned toward a School Counselor endorsement on a Teacher’s Certificate. A thesis option emphasizes the development of research competencies critical to continued graduate-level study.

Program Admission Requirements. Applicants without adequate background for counseling may be required to complete preparatory courses as a condition of admission. Individuals who do not meet the University-wide graduate admission grade point average requirement may be required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for consideration in admission decisions. Letters of recommendation, a written statement of goals, and a personal interview may be required. Contact the Graduate Advisor of Record for the M.A. in Counseling for more information. The number of students admitted to this program may be limited.

Degree Requirements. Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in Counseling must earn a minimum of 48 semester credit hours. Students must pass a comprehensive written examination toward the end of their formal coursework. The comprehensive examination may be repeated, but students who fail the examination two times must have permission from their supervisory committee to take the examination additional times. Students who fail to pass the examination should take coursework or other work to remedy deficiencies before they retake the examination.

A. 36 semester credit hours of required courses:

COU 5103 Introduction to School Counseling (for students specializing in School Counseling) or COU 5203 Introduction to Community Counseling (for students specializing in Community Counseling)

COU 5213 Counseling Theories
COU 5223 Psychological Assessment for Counselors
COU 5233 Group Theory and Process
COU 5243 Counseling Individuals with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders
COU 5263 Child and Family Counseling (for students specializing in School Counseling)
COU 5283 Counseling in a Multicultural Setting
COU 5393 Development of Counseling Skills
COU 5683 Practicum in Counseling
COU 5693 Field-Based Internship (for students specializing in Community Counseling)
COU 6153 Career Development and Choice
EDP 5033 Human Development Across the Life Span
EDU 5003 Research Methods

B. 12 semester credit hours of elective courses:

Option 1. Thesis Option: 6 hours of thesis, a 3-hour elective, plus a 3-hour research methods or statistics course to be approved by Thesis Committee Chair (Total of 48 semester credit hours).

Option 2. Non-Thesis Option: 12 hours of electives (Total of 48 semester credit hours).

Standards and Procedures

In order to complete counselor preparation programs and to be eligible to take certification or licensing examinations, students must:

  • maintain scholastic performance meeting or exceeding department standards
  • demonstrate the acquisition of and ability to apply counseling skills necessary to work effectively with persons having diverse needs, as generally accepted by practitioners in counseling
  • demonstrate emotional and mental fitness in their interactions with others, and
  • conform with the codes of ethics of professional associations in counseling and of the State of Texas (Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 247, Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators).

    • It is the duty of faculty members in the counseling program to evaluate all students according to these standards in all settings in which faculty members and students interact, in classes, in advising and counseling settings, and in personal conversations.

    It is expected that students will respond to evaluations, formal or informal, in appropriate ways; in all cases, attempting to conform to standards as explained to them. Conformance with standards must be demonstrated by students throughout the period of time spent in the program; events of nonconformance must be followed by faculty judgments that satisfactory adjustments have been made.

    Admission to the program does not guarantee fitness to remain in the program to completion. Only those students who meet program standards will be allowed to continue in the program. If and when a student is judged not to meet program standards sufficiently to be allowed to engage in counseling others, that student will be removed from continuation in the program. Refer to the Graduate Counseling Handbook for a detailed outline of the due process procedures related to this policy.

    Only two courses with the grade of “C” will be accepted toward this degree. A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average will be required for graduation. Those who obtain more than two grades of “C” will be put on probation and may be required to do appropriate remedial work.

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    Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision

    The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision is intended to prepare professionals for future careers in research, academic and clinical settings. Graduates of this program will be given the opportunity to acquire both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills needed to work in counselor education programs and to supervise the next generation of counselor educators as they practice their own skills. Students will be expected to formulate their own philosophy and approach to the counseling education field. The need for multicultural competencies in applied clinical settings will be emphasized throughout the program.

    The Doctoral program objectives include:

  • providing students with opportunities to initiate and contribute to existing research projects
  • supervised clinical internships
  • opportunities for providing counseling services to members of underrepresented populations in surrounding communities
  • opportunities for students to focus on areas such as culture, literacy and counseling, student affairs, community and school
  • counseling
  • advanced theoretical knowledge and applied training in clinical supervision
  • creating new knowledge through the dissertation research process
  • providing students with classroom teaching experience, including course development.

    • Program Admission Requirements. Admission to the program is limited and competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Competitive applicants often exceed minimum requirements.

    1. A master’s degree in counseling or in a related mental health field involving a minimum of 48 semester credit hours equivalent to the master’s degree requirements of the UTSA Counseling program. Students with fewer than 48 semester credit hours may be considered for admission to the program with conditional status pending completion of the deficient hours.
    2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in master’s level courses in counseling or in a related mental health field.
    3. A portfolio consisting of the following items, which will be evaluated by the Doctoral Program Committee:
      1. A 48-hour (or greater) master’s degree transcript documenting a grade point average of 3.0 or better in counseling or an approved related mental health field;
      2. For applicants whose native language is not English, a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL);
      3. Three letters of recommendation attesting to the student’s academic and personal attributes for success in the program and potential for contributing substantially to a field of study related to the degree;
      4. A written personal statement/essay describing research interests and purpose for pursuing the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision;
      5. GRE test scores not older than five years;
      6. Documented experience in a work environment (formal positions or internships) where counseling was the primary professional emphasis (may include but not limited to one-on-one counseling, counseling for couples, psychological assessment and testing, group or community counseling);
      7. Professional résumé listing prior experiences in the field of Counseling.

    4. Successful completion of a finalist interview with the admissions committee.

    Degree Requirements. Students pursuing the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision will be required to pass a qualifying examination prior to admission to candidacy. All candidates will be required to submit a scholarly contribution in the form of a dissertation as partial fulfillment of requirements for this Doctorate (see Dissertation handbook). All students will be evaluated by the fitness to practice policy of the department (see Doctoral handbook).

    A. Foundation courses

    48 semester credit hours Master’s degree or equivalent

    B. General core courses (40 semester credit hours)

    BBL 5043 Ethnography of Communication
    or
    BBL 6223 Anthropology and Education in Multicultural Context

    COU 5323 Advanced Psychological Assessment
    COU 6003 Consultation and Program Evaluation
    COU 7121 College and University Teaching Seminar
    COU 7133 Seminar in Professional Development
    COU 7213 Advanced Theories of Counseling
    COU 7283 Advanced Multicultural Counseling
    COU 7313 Practicum in Counseling (must be taken twice for a total of 6 hours)
    COU 7413 Internship I
    COU 7513 Internship II
    COU 7583 Supervision of Counseling
    COU 7593 Practicum in Counseling Supervision
    COU 7893 Research in Counseling

    C. Research courses (9 semester credit hours)

    AHE 6053 Qualitative Research Design
    EDU 7053 Inferential Statistics
    EDU 7113 Educational Research Statistics: Descriptive and Comparative

    D. Approved emphasis curriculum area courses (9 semester credit hours)

    E. Dissertation (9 semester credit hours)

    COU 7993 Dissertation
    COU 7996 Dissertation

    Standards and Procedures

    In order to complete counselor preparation programs and be eligible to take certification or licensing examinations, students must:

  • maintain scholastic performance meeting or exceeding department standards.
  • demonstrate the acquisition of and ability to apply counseling skills necessary to work effectively with persons having diverse needs, as generally accepted by practitioners in counseling.
  • demonstrate emotional and mental fitness in their interactions with others.
  • conform with the codes of ethics of professional associations in counseling and of the State of Texas (Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 247, Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators).

    • It is the duty of faculty members in the counseling program to evaluate all students according to these standards in all settings in which faculty members and students interact, in classes, in advising and counseling settings, and in personal conversations.

    It is expected that students will respond to evaluations, formal or informal, in appropriate ways; in all cases, attempting to conform to standards as explained to them. Conformance with standards must be demonstrated by students throughout the period of time spent in the program; events of nonconformance must be followed by faculty judgments that satisfactory adjustments have been made.

    Admission to the program does not guarantee fitness to remain in the program for completion. Only those students who meet program standards will be allowed to continue in the program. If and when a student is judged not to meet program standards sufficiently to be allowed to engage in counseling others, that student will be removed from continuation in the program. Refer to the Graduate Counseling Handbook for a detailed outline of the due process procedures related to this policy.

    Courses in which the student has earned a “C” will not be accepted toward this degree. A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average and a successful defense of a dissertation will be required for graduation.

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