Anyone familiar with Wake Forest's online Masters in Counseling program?

[sklineho]

I've decided to enroll and everything looks good but I just wanted some opinions from those who have been or are going through the program.

[frances]

I've decided to enroll and everything looks good but I just wanted some opinions from those who have been or are going through the program.

I just sent you a PM from a different thread, and now see that this thread might answer my question. Sounds like I am undergoing the same exploration as you into a possible online option to get my masters in mental health counseling. I'll check out Wake Forest's program, and follow up. In the interim, have you looked at Adam State University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program? Counselor Education - Adams State If so, in your opinion, what advantages does Wake Forest's program have over Adam State University's?

[sklineho]

I am sure Adam State is probably a great program. All signs point that way, but I think one thing WFU has is really name recognition. It's a ranked school, the only one that I know of that offers an online masters degree.

[frances]

I am sure Adam State is probably a great program. All signs point that way, but I think one thing WFU has is really name recognition. It's a ranked school, the only one that I know of that offers an online masters degree.

It's the only ranked school that offers an online masters degree? What is the out of state tuition? I searched the website and did not find the information.

[fm101]

You might look at these.

Counseling

Seton Hall University
USNews National Universites #131
MA and EdS in Professional Counseling

SUNY University at Buffalo
USNews National Universities #106; state flagship
Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling (designed for candidates with Master's degrees needing additional work to qualifying for licensure)

Rehabilitation Counseling

University of Alabama
USNews National Universities #77; state flagship
MA in Rehabilitation Counseling

SUNY University at Buffalo
USNews National Universities #106; state flagship
MS in Rehabilitation Counseling Advanced Graduate Certificate

West Virginia University
USNews National Universities #165; state flagship
MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

Social Work

University of Southern California
USNews National Universities #24
Master of Social Work

Indiana University Bloomington
USNews National Universities #83; state flagship
Master of Social Work

University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
USNews National Universities #101; state flagship
MS in Social Work

Of course these USNews rankings are for the traditional undergraduate college programs, but here this is FYI.

[sklineho]

Sorry I guess I should have clarified, I was referring to online-only, and according to CACREP, WFU is the only ranked school on the list for online-only.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Well, the programs on fm's list seem to be online or short-residency.

Arguably, any program in counseling based on national standards is a hybrid short-residency program even if the didactic, traditionally classroom-based coursework requirements are fulfilled entirely online.

It looks like the Wake Forest program requires a supervised practicum of 165 hours within one semester, internship I of 300 hours within one semester and internship II of 300 hours within a subsequent semester. Those internships are basically a 0.5 FTE on-site work requirement over two 15-week semesters. Unless you already have a strong assurance of an internship position acceptable to Wake Forest, in your local area and that would work with your schedule, you should expect to have to rearrange your life for two semesters, one academic year, around the internships. Also, there are probably no guarantees in the internship matching process. A federal court ruled last year in a case where a student in an RA, online-coursework master's program in counseling, Plaintiff, sued her school over claims arising from apparently being unable to secure any acceptable internship position:

Dr. Perry advised Plaintiff to "apply to several places. Almost no one is accepted by the first place to which they apply," and cautioned that Plaintiff should "be prepared for a lot of turn-downs." (March 21, 2004 Email from Dr. Perry to Joan Kloth-Zanard, Ex. J to Def.'s 56(a)1 Stmt.) On March 23, 2004, Plaintiff emailed Dr. Perry, stating that she had contacted "over 25 people and places for internship/supervision," all to no avail. (Ex. K to Def.'s 56(a)1 Stmt.) […]

Plaintiff never located a clinical training program, and maintains that Defendant's representatives' "minimal efforts" to assist her in locating a program did not satisfy Defendant's obligations. (See Pl.'s Loc. R. 56(a)2 Stmt ¶ 6.)

Kloth-Zanard v. Amridge University Dist. Court, D. Connecticut 2012 (via Google Scholar)

The court ruled for summary judgment, closing the case in favor of the university.

The Wake Forest online master's programs in counseling launched in fall 2012, so its first classes will be entering their second year now.

sklineho, you almost certainly know all this! I'm only belaboring the point so any new readers – welcome! stay a while! – don't get the idea that there are accredited master's in counseling you can complete entirely online without serious supervised practice requirements.

It does seem possible, in principle, to set up a supervised practice program for a counseling student that does take place online, e.g. by videoconferencing, rather than at a counseling site. There's certainly counseling that takes place online, by phone, etc. I could see online supervision being worked out for a student with a disability that presented a barrier to access to a traditional counseling work environment. I'd be very surprised to see it done for any other student in a master's in counseling. Something similar came up a few months ago on the other board, about the idea of completing an elementary school student teaching placement online from home.

[frances]

– don't get the idea that there are accredited master's in counseling you can complete entirely online without serious supervised practice requirements.

Though my focus is still primarily on completing the BA in psychology from TESC, my feet are a little wet from exploring my options for a CACREP approved LPC masters program. If I had my druthers, I'd do brick and mortar. But for economic reasons, this may not be an option. I've been familiar with the supervised practice requirements for sometime now, and would be quite naive (speaking strictly for myself, so please no offense to anyone else who might be reading this) to think that the requirements would not also apply to an online program -- especially one that is CACREP approved. I have not delved much into Wake Forest's online offering yet. But from reading the Adam State College's Professional Handbooks, the practicum/internship process for the Online Plus program does not seem that different from the on Campus program, except that it requires a little more technology. It is also conceivable I might have an easier time finding practicum/internships here in Eugene, OR than say if I lived in Alamosa, CO.

[sklineho]

Great points, any masters in this field will still require residency and internship, I don't know how it could be done any other way. I'm lucky in that I do have an arrangement that will allow me to complete said internship, but you make a good point: people NEED, let me say that again, NEED to make certain BEFORE starting that they'll be able to accomplish the residency and especially the internship.

For the record, Wake Forest's residency takes place over a few weekends, Thursday night through Sunday on their Reynolda campus so it's not too big a deal. The internship is what is critical.

[frances]

people NEED, let me say that again, NEED to make certain BEFORE starting that they'll be able to accomplish the residency and especially the internship.

For the record, Wake Forest's residency takes place over a few weekends, Thursday night through Sunday on their Reynolda campus so it's not too big a deal. The internship is what is critical.

One distinct advantage in an online option is that classes are for the most part as close as the nearest Internet connection. My daughter is an adult and on her own, I am single, and at this point in my life have no major obligations to anyone but myself. Thus, even if I must relocate, I will make it happen. Adams State's residency requirement is two one-week intensive sessions on the campus in Alamosa, CO in each of the two summer semester sessions. Assuming that I stay put (and that I ultimately apply and am accepted into the program), I know what I'm saving my vacation time for! Internship I and II are completed consecutively, 600 hours combined minimum, of which a minimum of 240 hours must be in direct service with clients at the site. In addition, a minimum of 10 hours must be spent conducting group work and a minimum of 40 hours must be spent conducting individual counseling. Considering where I live currently, which I think may have more social service/mental health agencies per capita than most cities, I don't think I will have a problem securing an approved internship. But again, I will relocate if necessary.

sklineho, I wish you all the best in your aspirations, and I look forward to hearing more from you about your journey into the world of counseling!