School Counseling - AUNY

Courses for the MSEd/CAS program in Mental Health Counseling through AUNY are listed in our digital Graduate Catalog.

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Courses for the CAS (Bridge) program in Mental Health Counseling through AUNY are listed in our digital Graduate Catalog.

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The MSEd program in School Counseling is structured to allow separate groups of no more than 25 students to enter the program each fall. Groups remain together through the entire program, attending classes year-round for two years, including summers.

First year classes are prerequisites for all other classes in the program. Each student is required to enroll in one summer course on the Alfred University campus in western New York State during each of the two years of the program. Students will be notified regarding the schedule for these summer classes.

All matriculated students in this program are regular Alfred University students. As such, they have access to the University's online resources and to their academic records through Banner. Details regarding these privileges is outlined in the program handbook that students receive at orientation.

Those interested in applying to our AU-NYC programs go through the same admissions screening as do applicants to on-campus programs. All admissions decisions are made by full-time Alfred University faculty. Applicants should review the admissions requirements for off-campus programs as well as the Graduate School application process.

• Standardized tests (if applicable)
• Official transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of intent
• Interview

Applications

Applications may be obtained from CITE, directly from Alfred University's Office of Graduate Admissions, or online. Applicants whose written materials meet the basic requirements for admission will be interviewed periodically during the school year in Brooklyn and Oceanside. CITE will contact applicants to schedule interviews. All students who are admitted to the program begin classes only in the fall of each year. All application materials should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office, Alfred University, Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802 along with a $60 application fee.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to Downstate students by applying directly to the Alfred University Office of Student Financial Aid. Downstate students who are registered for a minimum of 6 credits per semester are eligible for financial aid in the form of loans. The Alfred University Office of Student Financial Aid qualifies eligible individuals for financial aid when they apply. However, due to federal regulations, loan checks cannot be released to students until they begin attending their second class each semester.

Practicum For Students Enrolled In Downstate/Extension Programs

Downstate students are required to complete two practicum experiences during their second year in the program. During the first practicum in the fall, students must be engaged in school counseling related activities for seven hours per week. The second practicum in the spring requires that students be involved in 14 hours per week or school counseling activities. Both of these experiences must be supervised by permanently certified school counselors.

Students in the Downstate program are responsible for identifying potential school sites (and the field supervisors) at which they may complete their practicum experiences. Once a site is identified, the university's practicum coordinator makes direct contact with the supervisors to inform them about the practicum structure and requirements. Students who are not working in school settings will be assisted in locating practicum sites by the Downstate practicum consultant and will be responsible for scheduling practicum times with their field supervisors.

During both practica, class meetings will be scheduled in a different format than most regular Downstate counseling courses. Practicum seminar activities require that classes be smaller in size and meet more frequently. While students can expect that classes early in the semester may meet in the standard one-day format, classes will eventually be split into smaller groups that will meet with the instructor at alternate times more frequently as the semester progresses. Seminar activities include reviewing audio and videotapes of counseling sessions, case discussions, and tracking of each student’s practicum activities.

At the completion of the second year, students should have completed approximately 300 contact hours of supervised school counseling experience.

• Practicum Handbook
• Counseling Consent Form
• Activity Log Form
• Process Notes Form
• Case Summary Form
• Practicum Evaluation Form

The faculty who instruct Downstate courses in Brooklyn and on Long Island are experienced New York City area school counselors, school psychologists, and pupil personnel administrators. They are selected by Alfred University based on their professional qualifications, experience, and ability to instruct specific, practical course content. Regular faculty from the Division of School Psychology will also instruct Downstate courses, primarily those that are scheduled on campus each summer.

Full-Time Faculty

Robert K. Bitting, PhD, University of Buffalo

Associate Dean External Programs, Associate Professor of Counseling and Director, Public Administration Program and Associate Director for Academic Affairs. Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Leadership and organizational consultant and trainer/facilitator. Downstate Field Experience Coordinator. Courses: Organizational Processes, Profession of Counseling, Group Counseling, Career Development, Practicum, Special Topics in Counseling, Consultation, Program Development and Grantsmanship, Multicultural Counseling.

John D. Cerio PhD, Boston College

Dean, External Programs and Professor of School Psychology. Certified School Counselor and School Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist. Courses: Profession of Counseling, Principles of Counseling, Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling, Techniques of Family Therapy, Techniques of Play Therapy, Assessment in Counseling, Assessment in Mental Health Counseling, Foundations of Mental Health Counseling, Psychopathology, Consultation, Multicultural Counseling.

Part-Time Faculty

Alfred University employs a number of part-time faculty members who are or were practicing school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, pupil personnel administrators and veteran faculty from other graduate programs (courses taught are included).

Jacqueline Agresta, MSW, Fordham University

Certified Social Worker. Courses: Multicultural Counseling.

Joseph Celetano, MS, Long Island University

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Courses: Principles of Counseling, Introduction to Family Therapy.

Effie Coyle, MA, New York University

Certified School Counselor. Practicum consultant. Courses: Topics in Counseling, Practicum I and II.

Ama Darkeh, MS, Queens College

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified School Counselor, Certified School Building Leader, Certified School District Leader. Courses: Advanced Theories and Techniques, Practicum I and II, Topics in Counseling.

Shoshana Findling, PsyD, Walden University

Certified School Counselor. Courses: Principles of Counseling, Career Development

Eric Fields, PsyD, St. John's University

Certified School Psychologist. Courses: Principles of Counseling, Group Counseling, Family Therapy, Human Development, Issues in School Counseling.

Mehri Fryzel, CAS, Hofstra University

Certified Special Education Teacher, Certified School Administrator and Supervisor, Certified School District Administrator. Courses: Exceptionality.

Andrea Green, MSW, Fordham University

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Administrator and Supervisor. Courses: Group Counseling, Advanced Theories, Topics in Counseling, Practicum I and II.

Stuart Grossman, EdD, Hofstra University

Certified School Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified School Administrator and Supervisor, Certified School District Administrator. Courses: Principles of Counseling, Advanced Theories and Techniques, Practicum I and II, Topics in Counseling.

Raymond Holz, MEd, St. Lawrence University

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified School Counselor. Courses: School Violence Prevention.

Janet Johnson, MS, C.W. Post College

Certified School Counselor. Courses: Issues in School Counseling

Tulsa Knox, PsyD, New York University

Certified School Psychologist. Courses: Exceptionality, Human Development

Michelle LaForest, PsyD, Yeshiva University

Certified Bilingual School Psychologist. Courses: Exceptionality, Assessment in Counseling.

Denise Lanier, MSW, Adelphi University

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker, Certified School Administrator and Supervisor, Certified School District Administrator. Courses: Advanced Theories and Techniques, Practicum I and II, Topics in Counseling.

Cris Lauback, PsyD, Alfred University

Assistant Professor of School Psychology. Certified School Psychologist and teacher. Courses: Human Development, Profession of Counseling, Consultation.

Alfred Mancuso, PsyD, Alfred University

Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Courses: Research and Statistics I, Topics of Counseling, Practicum I and II.

Francine McNamara, MSW, Adelphi University

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker. Courses: Introduction to Family Therapy, Counseling Special Populations.

Anne McNeill, MS, Brooklyn College; MS South Carolina State University

Certified School Counselor, Certified School Administrator and Supervisor. Courses: Group Counseling, Multicultural Counseling.

Steven Rose, MSW, Hunter College

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, CPP. Courses: Issues in School Counseling

Jean Schlegel, PhD, Hofstra University

Certified School Psychologist. Courses: Assessment in Counseling.

Paul Walia, MSEd, Queens College

Certified School Psychologist. Courses: Principles of Counseling, Group Counseling, Research and Statistics I, Advanced Theories and Techniques, Practicum I and II, Topics in Counseling.

Hannah Young, PsyD, Alfred University

Assistant Professor of Counseling. Certified School Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist. Courses: Assessment in Counseling, Profession of Counseling, Multicultural Counseling.