All Guidance Counseling and Student Affairs (M.S.Ed.) students, regardless of track, are required to complete a practicum that typically spans the fall and spring semesters. In total, students will complete 700 hours of practical, hands on field work.

Practicum for School Counseling

• The first 350 hours are considered "practicum orientation." During these hours, students are instructed to observe, learn and shadow their practicum site and key personnel working within. After approximately 100 hours, the student is much more hands on and is directly involved in the daily workings of the particular school setting




• At the culmination of the first half of the practicum - essentially toward the end of the first semester of practicum - students complete a capstone project (CCC project). This project essentially represents a capstone experience, allowing students to conceptualize a particular case from start to finish. Students are assigned a grade of Pass, Pass with revisions or are instructed to resubmit a portion or the entire CCC (contingent upon review of two faculty members).
  
  

  In order to proceed to the final 350 hours of practicum, all students must successfully pass the CCC project.




• Once the CCC is completed, students must amass an additional 350 hours, thereby reaching the required 700 hours. Typically, completion of practicum hours aligns with completion of coursework and thus graduation.

Most students enroll in practicum during a consecutive Fall/Spring semester sequence. However, other options may be available at the discretion of the program coordinator.

Students in the elementary or secondary school counseling track will earn all practicum hours in the appropriate school setting. Presently, students in these tracks have placements at the following sites:

Mahanoy Area
Shamokin Area
Lewisburg Area
Keystone Central
Hazleton Area
Williamsport Area
Danville Area
Souther Columbia
Benton Area
Millville High School
Millville Elementary School
Stoudsburg School District
Bloomsburg School District
Berwick School District
Elysburg School District
Crestwood School District
Selinsgrove Area
Milton Area

Practicum for Student Affairs

Students in the college student affairs track, who also hold a graduate assistantship in an appropriate college setting ,may be able to apply their assistantship hours towards their practicum requirements. This can occur only if the student is enrolled in the appropriate practicum coursework (66.596, 598, 599).

Final determination on this provision is contingent upon approval from the faculty. Most students in this track have placements at BU, although students are welcomed and encouraged to seek placements outside of BU.

We have strong relationships with many area colleges including: Bucknell University, Susquehanna University, Penn College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton campus, Northampton Community College and Luzerne Community College to name a few.

All students are encouraged to think about a practicum (1) site and (2) experience early on in their graduate program. Faculty are here to assist as you consider various alternatives and make your selections.