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New Student Orientation and First Quarter Requirements

You will recieve a copy of the current Student Handbook at orientation. We have also included a copy here for your convenience. This will be your basic guide to all aspects of the program.

New student orientation is normally held one week prior to the start of fall quarter and is a requirement of all new, incoming students.

To do before/during your first quarter in the Counselor Education Program:

  • If you are not able to take classes during the term you are admitted, contact the Office of Admissions (503-725-3512, 104 Neuberger Hall) to avoid invalidation of your admission, and contact the Counselor Education Department for permission to postpone (permission is not often granted).
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to winter term of your first year. Prerequisites include:
    • One upper division undergraduate or graduate level psychopathology course, such as COUN 510: Introduction to Psychiatric Diagnoses (formerly Abnormal Personalities), or PSY 434: Introduction to Psychopathology;
    • AND a graduate level introduction to counseling course, such as COUN 541: Introduction to Counseling.
  • Create yourOdin account, and set up yourPSU email account, through the Office of Information Technologies (OIT) User Support Services, before enrollment in your first term of classes. For further assistance you may contact them in any of the following ways:
    • By emailing help@pdx.edu
    • By phone 5-HELP (503-725-4357)
    • On a walk-in basis at Smith Memorial Student Union room 18
  • Please note: Use of your PSU email account is required for all correspondence with the program, including all faculty and staff.
    • It is important to regularly check your account for notices that may only be communicated via your PSU email or cohort listserv.
    • PSU email messages MUST be viewed through the pdx.edu webpage, as messages that are forwarded to another account often get lost.
  • Meet with your assigned advisor as soon as possible after receiving your notice of admission.
    • Clinical Mental Health; Rehabilitation; Marital, Couple and Family tracks: Discuss your program, goals and your choice of culminating activity: either written comprehensive examination, thesis, or project.
    • For School Counseling track: Discuss program and verify license requirements if you are combining a TSPC license with your degree. It may be advisable to draw up tentative degree and license programs at this time and your choice of culminating activity: either written comprehensive examination, thesis, or project.

Transfering Credits, Conditional Admission, MA vs. MS

  • If you have taken coursework at any other university and want to count it toward your PSU degree, including prerequisite coursework, ask your advisor for assistance in completing a GO-11 (Transfer of Credit) form. Upon completion of the GO-11 form, obtain your advisor's approval and then take it to the department in 204 GSE. NOTE: Courses graded P/NP may not be transferred.
    • You may request transfer of up to 24 graduate credits, providing a grade of B or better was earned, subject to approval by the Graduate School of Education and the Office of Graduate Studies
  • Courses taken at PSU prior to admission count as transfer credits but need not be indicated on a GO-11. Please remember that no coursework more than seven years old at the time of graduation may be counted toward a master's degree.
  • If you have been conditionally admitted to the master's program, please bring evidence of meeting those conditions to the department when completed. Evidence may consist of grade slips or copies of test scores as specified on your letter of admission. You cannot be recommended for a license or degree until you have regular admission status and a GO-7 (Petition for change of status) form has been completed by you.
  • If you have been admitted to the MA in Education program and decide not to complete the written foreign language proficiency exam, please contact your advisor for assistance in changing your proposed degree to the MS. The demonstration of foreign language competency is the only difference between the MA and an MS degree.