Clinical Mental Health Counseling

DEPARTMENT MENU

The mission statement for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is as follows:  The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MCMH) program has as its mission the professional training of candidates interested in working in mental health settings. Candidates will acquire competencies to perform successfully as clinicians, consultants, advocates, and leaders in the mental health industry of the region and state. The program prepares culturally competent, culturally sensitive and ethical counselors and citizens to work effectively in a pluralistic society. The faculty designs and delivers academic and clinical experiences to all students in ways that recognize, respect and value the diversity of students’ backgrounds, characteristics, beliefs, and abilities. The MCMH program meets the standards established by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners by providing training consistent with requirements for licensure as a “licensed professional counselor” in the state of Louisiana as well as other states.

Careers

Area agencies and businesses who have employed our graduates are:

  • Start Corporation
  • Gulf Coast Family Teaching Services
  • Magnolia Family Services
  • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
  • Assisi Bridge House
  • NSU Counseling Center
  • Meadowridge Treatment Center
  • St. John Clinical Counseling
  • Calais Rehab Options
  • Chabert Medical Psychiatric Unit
  • Fairview Treatment Center
  • Family Services of Greater New Orleans
  • St. Anne Behavioral Health Unit
  • Options for Independence
  • Peltier-Lawless Developmental Center
  • Lafourche Parish Drug Court
  • Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Center,
  • Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority (Juvenile Drug Court)
  • Terrebonne Parish Drug Treatment Court
  • Bayou Mental Health
  • Terrebonne General Medical Center
  • Terrebonne Mental Health Center
  • Advocates for Juvenile and Adult Rights, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Division of Social Services
  • St. Anne Hospital
  • St. Mary Parish Drug Court Treatment Clinic
  • St. James Parish Public School System Intern Membership Program Family Care, Inc.
  • Nicholls State University Counseling Center.
 
 
Dr. Mary Kathryn Rodrigue Gastinel, LPC, NCC
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Psychology, Counseling, and Family Studies
Email: mary.gastinel@nicholls.edu
Office Location: College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Building

To be admitted into the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Nicholls, applicants should possess the following:

  1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  2. A minimum GPA of 2.50 on the final 60 hours of undergraduate coursework attempted.
  3. An applicant with significant and meaningful experience and a strong academic background may request that the GRE be waived as a requirement for admission. The request for the waivers shall be submitted in writing to the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Education and clearly state the basis for the waiver. A current resume shall accompany the request. Admission decisions, in part, are based on the Counseling Program’s Selection Committee. A final decision will be made by the Graduate Program Committee. Applicants who are unable to meet this requirement should submit acceptable score on the GRE. A minimum score of 335 is required on the formula: GPA on last 60 undergraduate hours times 20, plus the GRE General Test score. Acceptable scores must be submitted within the first semester of entering a Master’s program.
  4. Submit completed program application (Download DOC or PDF)
  5. Submit three letters of recommendation
  6. Completion of a Criminal Background Check with “Certified Backgrounds”.

To begin the application process to the Nicholls Graduate School, individuals must submit the following at least one month prior to the semester of admission:

  • Graduate Studies application form (apply electronically).
  • Application fee of $20 (or $30 for international students), in the form of a check or money order payable to Nicholls State University.

Additionally, the following must be submitted to complete the application package:

  1. Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended, must be sent directly from those institutions. Download record request form.
  2. Applicants may be eligible for a GRE waiver, refer to Admission Requirements for information regarding this.  Students who are not eligible for a waiver must have scores sent from the Educational Testing Service to Nicholls State University.  Information about the GRE may be accessed at this site:  GRE website.
  3. Results of a background check with Certified Backgrounds.
  4. Students may be required to schedule a satisfactory personal interview with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling faculty member.
  5. Applicants must be admitted to the Graduate School prior to applying to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.  The following materials must be sent to the program director:
    • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling application form (download form)
    • Three satisfactory letters of recommendation must be sent to:
      Dr. Mary Kathryn Rodrigue Gastinel
      Department of Psychology, Counseling and Family Studies
      P.O. Box 2075
      Thibodaux, LA 70310

Students are encouraged to consider applying for graduate assistantships that are available for students fully admitted to the program. Applications may be accessed at https://www.nicholls.edu/graduate/assistantships/.

Visit the Nicholls catalog for more information regarding admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum includes a 60-hour emphasis to prepare students to enter careers in human service delivery systems or to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.  Note that licensure in Louisiana (and most states) requires completion of additional post-graduate supervised counseling experience and a passing grade on the National Counselor Exam.

Graduate courses required for the degree are as follows:

Required Courses:

COUN 500 (3)- Basic Facilitative Skills
COUN 502 (3)- Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
COUN 504 (3)– Adult and Child Psychopathology and Diagnosis
COUN 505 (3)- Analysis of the Individual
EDFR 501 (3)– Educational Research or
PSYC 507 (3)– Statistical Analysis and Research Methods
PSYC 523 (3) – Crisis Prevention and Intervention
COUN 510 (3)– Theory and Procedure in Group Counseling
COUN 511 (3)- Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
COUN 513 (3)- Applied Psychopharmacology
COUN 519 (3)- Advanced Lifespan Developmental Psychology
COUN 520 (3)- Introduction to Counseling Practicum
COUN 521 (3)- Counseling Practicum
COUN 527 (3)- Career and Lifestyle Development
COUN 526 (3)- Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy
COUN 541 (3)– Cross Cultural Counseling
COUN 545 (3)– Counseling Internship I
COUN 546 (3)– Counseling Internship II
COUN 549 (3)– Professional Issues and Ethics in Counseling
COUN 551 (3) –Applied Theories
COUN 596 (0)- Clinical Mental Health Master’s Comprehensive Exam

Elective Courses – Candidates must complete three hours from the following courses:

PSYC 506 (3)- Applied Behavior Analysis
COUN 509 (3)– Clinical Sexuality for Mental Health Professionals
COUN 512 (3)– Cognitive Behavior Theory & Applications
COUN 522 (3)– Interventions for Diverse Needs
COUN 525 (3)- Problems in Counseling
COUN 530 (3)– Counseling Strategies with Children and Adolescents
COUN 537 (3)- Substance Abuse Counseling
COUN 538 (3)- Theory and Practice of Play Therapy in Counseling
COUN 550 (3)- Special Topics in Counseling: May be taken multiple times if topics differ

 

An internship worth six credits must be completed with 600 clock hours in an approved field placement. In addition, a written master’s comprehensive examination is required upon completion of the program.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDIES

Mission

Graduate Studies at Nicholls was established to provide opportunities for improving professional competency through advanced study and scholarly research, for promoting the welfare of society by developing a broader and deeper understanding of human knowledge, and for preparing for further graduate study. To implement such opportunities the University offers the student the use of its library and laboratories and an acquaintance with scholars ready to guide and inspire. The graduate student must assume far greater responsibility than the undergraduate in selecting a specialized program that will best meet individual needs. Class work at the graduate level can be no more than a guide for extended research and reading. Students are expected to master subjects rather than meet minimum requirements leading toward various degrees.

The Masters of Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

DEGREES AWARDED – Concentrations

  • Master of Arts
    • Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Administration

The Director of Graduate Studies and the Deans of Colleges of Sciences and Technology, Business Administration, Education and Behavioral Sciences, and Nursing; the Coordinators of Graduate Studies for those colleges; and the Graduate Council supervise graduate study at Nicholls State University.

General Requirements for Masters Degrees

To fulfill the requirements for a Masters degree, the candidate must:

  • Attain regular student status.
  • Be admitted to candidacy for the degree upon having earned at Nicholls twelve hours toward a degree with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.
  • Complete all course work prescribed for the student.
  • Complete the residence requirements.
  • Satisfy the specific degree requirements.
  • Pass a written comprehensive final examination and/or portfolio, except for the Masters of Business Administration degree, and an oral defense of the thesis if a thesis is written.
  • Submit a formal application for graduation to the Office of Records and Registration during the registration period of his or her final semester or session.
  • Pay all graduation fees at the time of final registration.
  • Clear all university accounts.
  • Be recommended for the degree by The Graduate Council.

Specific requirements for graduate degrees are discussed later in this section.

All candidates who are to receive degrees are required to be present at the commencement exercises for the conferring of the degrees, unless excused by their academic dean.

Admission to Graduate Studies

An applicant for admission to Graduate Studies on a credit or audit basis must:

  • Satisfy all general admission requirements of the University,
  • Hold a Bachelors degree or graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university,
  • Submit to the Office of Admissions a formal application at least 30 days in advance of registration,
  • Submit to the Office of Admissions complete transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate work attempted, whether or not credit was earned

Minimum Scores

Education and Clinical Mental Health Counseling:

  • An applicant with significant and meaningful experience and a strong academic background may request that the GRE be waived as a requirement for admission. The request for the waivers shall be submitted in writing to the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and clearly state the basis for the waiver. A current resume shall accompany the request. A final decision will be made by the Graduate Program Committee. If the applicant is required to submit a GRE score, a minimum score of 335 is required on the formula: GPA on last 60 undergraduate hours times 20, plus the GRE General Test score.
  • A student who fails to earn the minimum score required, or does not meet other program admission requirements, may be classified as a pre-program student until all criteria are met.
  • Admission to Graduate Studies does not imply admission to candidacy for a degree.
  • All applicants for graduate study in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences will undergo a criminal background check; specific programs may require additional criminal background checks after matriculation. All background check(s) will be performed by the College’s designated provider and paid for by the student.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be granted to students who are in the process of obtaining transcripts or copies of their teaching certificates (a requirement for most curricula in Education). Students admitted provisionally normally are dropped from the rolls of Graduate Studies if subsequently found ineligible for admission or if all admission requirements are not met within 30 days. In such cases, there is no refund of fees. The student’s dean, at his or her discretion and with justifiable cause, may grant waivers to such students allowing completion of the current semester only.

Enrollment for subsequent semesters will not be permitted at the graduate level until all admissions criteria have been met.

All applicants for graduate study in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences will undergo a criminal background check; specific programs may require additional criminal background checks after matriculation. All background check(s) will be performed by the College’s designated provider and paid for by the student.

Admission of Transfer Students

To be admitted to Graduate Studies at Nicholls State University, a student who has attended another graduate school must be eligible for readmission to the graduate school of the college or university from which the student transfers. A student thus admitted must meet all requirements listed under Procedure for Admission.

Admission of International Students

International graduate students must submit all college and university records at least 60 days prior to the semester of admission. Applicants from non English speaking countries must submit the following minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before being considered for admission:

  • Total score of 500 (computer-based total 173).
  • For admission to graduate studies in Biology, Business, or Mathematics, the minimum score is 550 (computer-based total 213).
  • Listening comprehension score: 55.

Admission as an Alternative Certification Student

In order to be admitted to the alternative teacher certification program the applicant must meet the following criteria:

  • Bachelors Degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • 2.5000 GPA according to your official transcript
  • Successful completion of PPST of Praxis Series (reading, writing, mathematics).
  • Undergo a criminal background check; specific programs may require additional criminal background checks after matriculation.  All background check(s) will be performed by the College’s designated provider and paid for by the student.

Admission as a Non Degree or Pre-Program Student

A non-degree, or certification-only, student is one who has been admitted to Graduate Studies, but does not wish to pursue a graduate degree at Nicholls. A pre-program student is one who has been admitted to Graduate Studies, and who wishes to pursue a degree, but has not met all of the requirements for admission to a graduate program (e.g., no GRE score, insufficient GMAT score, or no teaching certificate).

No more than twelve semester hours of graduate credit (and no grade less than B) earned while in a non-degree, certification-only, or pre-program classification may later be applied toward a degree at Nicholls. In Business Administration, however, no graduate credit earned as a non-degree or pre-program student may later be applied toward the M.B.A. degree at Nicholls.

Admission on Visitor Status

Visitor status is designed for part time students who enroll without formal credentials and who seek to pursue non traditional academic studies rather than a degree. While enrolled in visitor status, the student may earn college credits, and an official transcript of these credits will be available upon written request to the Office of Records and Registration. While a student is thus classified, a maximum of twelve semester hours of graduate work may be applied to a Masters degree. However, credits earned under this type of admission may not be used automatically toward any graduate degree. All requirements for regular admission must be met prior to petitioning for graduate degree credit. Petitions must be submitted in writing.

An appointment for registration will be prepared for the next regular semester or session following initial enrollment in visitor status. If the student does not re enroll as a visitor for that particular semester or session, he or she must file an application for readmission before being allowed to return to the University.

Admission of Seniors to Part Time Graduate Study

A senior may petition to register for a maximum of 12 hours of graduate coursework by completing the appropriate petition form with his or her academic dean prior to registration. Form can be found at https://www.nicholls.edu/graduate.

The petitioner must meet the following requirements:

  • Have at least a 3.20 cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) on all undergraduate work pursued.
  • Lack no more than 30 semester hours to complete baccalaureate degree requirements.*

If granted permission to enroll in graduate coursework while pursuing an undergraduate degree, the student must adhere to and/or be aware of the following:

  • Student may earn no more than 12 graduate credit hours while completing baccalaureate requirements.
  • Student may not carry more than 15 semester hours (both undergraduate and graduate) during a regular semester or ten semester hours during a summer session. This shall include all baccalaureate requirements and no more than six semester hours of graduate credit for a semester or four for a summer session.
  • Courses taken for graduate credit CANNOT be used to satisfy undergraduate requirements.
  • Undergraduate status is retained until the baccalaureate degree is earned.
  • While taking undergraduate and graduate courses as an undergraduate student, the student must maintain a minimum of 3.0 on all graduate courses AND must maintain a minimum of 3.2 cumulative undergraduate GPA. If these grade conditions are not met, then the student will not be allowed to petition for enrollment in other graduate courses while pursuing his or her baccalaureate degree.
  • Taking graduate courses as an undergraduate does not imply or guarantee that the student will be accepted into any specific graduate program at Nicholls State University. After receiving a baccalaureate degree, a student must apply for graduate school admission and meet all admission requirements as outlined for a specific program and be accepted into a program to apply previously taken graduate courses to the program.

NOTE: This option is not available for courses offered through the executive MBA program due to specific admission requirements.

Admission to a Masters Degree Program

Regular Status

An applicant may be admitted to regular status as a graduate student if the applicant (1) holds a Bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 on all undergraduate work attempted or 2.75 on the final 60 hours of undergraduate work pursued, (2) has attained the minimum combined GPA/GRE or GPA/GMAT score required for his or her degree program, or is eligible for a waiver, (3) is not applying as a Transient or undergraduate senior student.

Probational Status

An applicant may be admitted on academic probation if the applicant meets all criteria for admission to regular status except grade-point average requirements. An applicant whose GPA is at least 2.0 on all undergraduate work attempted, or 2.50 on the final 60 hours, may be admitted on probation.

An applicant who does not meet the minimum GPA requirement may petition the academic dean for admission on probation. The petition may be approved by the dean provided the applicant presents appropriate Graduate Record Examination or Graduate Management Admission Test scores and such other evidence as may be required by the dean to indicate the applicant’s prospects for success at the graduate level. Approval will be granted only in cases of unusual and justifiable circumstances.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to Graduate Studies does not admit a student to candidacy for a degree. Admission to candidacy indicates a judgment by the Graduate Council that the student has shown sufficient promise to be permitted to complete work toward a degree. For admission to candidacy for a Masters degree, a student must submit a formal application to his or her Graduate Studies Coordinator after satisfying each of these requirements for candidacy: (1) have met successfully all applicable admissions formulas, foundation courses, and teaching certificate requirements; (2) be classified as a regular student; (3) have completed 12 semester hours of graduate work at Nicholls; (4) have earned at least a 3.00 average on all graduate work.

Additionally, a candidate for the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling must have been recommended for candidacy by the Clinical Mental Health Counseling faculty. Formal admission to candidacy will be granted by vote of the Graduate Council upon recommendation of the student’s dean.

For the Specialist in School Psychology degree, a student will be admitted to candidacy upon having: (1) met all applicable admissions requirements; (2) been classified as a regular student; (3) completed twelve hours of graduate work in the School Psychology program with a minimum GPA of 3.0; (4) been recommended for candidacy by the School Psychology faculty. Formal admission to candidacy will be granted by vote of the Graduate Council upon recommendation of the student’s dean.

Appeals

Appeals for readmission to Graduate Studies must be made to the Graduate Council. Academic grievance appeals may be brought to the attention of the coordinator of Graduate Studies or the dean of the academic college in which the graduate student is enrolled.

Class Scheduling Policy

The needs of graduate students and the limitations imposed by administrative factors determine course offerings. During any given semester or session, the university does not guarantee the offering of courses not justified by sufficient enrollment. Depending upon availability, students may schedule late afternoon, evening, or day classes. Evening classes are conducted Mondays through Thursdays.

Expenses and Fees

Please refer to the section on expenses in the front of this Catalog.

Full-Time and Part-Time Course Loads

During a regular semester or summer session, a full time graduate student is one who schedules nine or more semester hours, or the equivalent of scheduled work (thesis research or other work certified by the student’s academic dean or graduate coordinator to be a full load). Any graduate student taking less than nine semester hours of course work during a regular semester or in the summer session is considered a part time student. The course load of a student may be reduced at the discretion of his or her academic dean. Full time status for graduate assistants is defined under Graduate Assistantships.

Grading System

Grades for graduate students have these meanings:

  • A grade of A indicates superior work and has a value of four quality points per credit hour. A grade of B indicates satisfactory work and has a value of three quality points per credit hour. A grade of C indicates work of borderline quality and has a value of two quality points per credit hours. No more than six semester hours of C grades may be counted toward a degree. A grade of D indicates work below the minimum standard expected of a graduate student and has a value of one quality point per credit hour. Courses with D grades may not be counted toward a degree. A grade of F indicates unsatisfactory work and has neither quality point nor credit hour value.
  • A grade of I indicates that the student has been doing satisfactory work, but because of circumstances beyond his or her control the student has been unable to complete all course requirements. A grade of I is not given to a student doing unsatisfactory work and is not counted in the grade-point average until it is resolved into a final grade. The procedure used to change an I grade is as stated under Change of Grade in the Bulletin section devoted to University Academic Procedures and Requirements. A grade of I must be resolved within one calendar year following the semester in which the I grade was received, or the I grade will automatically be changed to F. In the event the faculty member assigning the I is temporarily not on campus that following calendar year, an appeal for a time extension may be made to the Graduate Council. A graduate student is expected to complete all requirements for each course within the semester during which scheduled unless prevented from doing so by circumstances beyond the student’s control. If this occurs, it is the responsibility of the student to make known to the instructor these circumstances as soon as possible. An instructor who is not so notified proceeds under the assumption that failure to complete course requirements is due to student negligence and uses normal procedures for assigning a permanent semester grade.
  • Grades of S and U for graduate students are assigned only for designated courses for which this grading procedure is specified. These grades and grades of I are not used in the computation of the grade-point average because the student does not receive quality points for these grades. When the I grade is resolved into a permanent grade, quality points are earned and the student’s scholastic standing is adjusted to reflect the influence of the permanent grade.

*** No candidate having an unresolved I will be cleared for graduation until the grade has been changed to a permanent grade.

A student may drop a course or courses or may resign from the institution with a grade W prior to a date specified in the official university calendar. After that date a student may not drop a course or resign from the institution. After that date in extraordinary circumstances the academic dean having jurisdiction may authorize resignation from the institution or dropping a course with the grade W. Extraordinary cases do not include dissatisfaction with an anticipated grade or the decision to change a major.

Minimum Grade Point Average

To be awarded a graduate degree, a student must have an average of at least 3.0 on all work pursued for graduate credit at Nicholls State University as well as a minimum overall average of 3.0 on all work pertaining to the degree. A candidate who fails to meet either minimum average requirement shall take additional graduate courses as necessary to earn the required average or must repeat one or more courses in which credit has been earned.

Probation and Suspension

Probation. A student whose graduate cumulative GPA or semester GPA falls below 3.0 shall be placed on probation. Probationary status is removed at the end of a subsequent semester in which a cumulative and semester GPA of 3.0 is attained.

Suspension. A student on probation who fails to earn a minimum graduate semester GPA of 3.0 shall be suspended from graduate studies for one semester, after which the student may re-enroll.

A second suspension shall be for an indefinite period of time. A student who has served a time of suspension of at least one semester may appeal to the Graduate Council for readmission. To be readmitted, the student must petition the Council for a hearing through their graduate program coordinator.

A third suspension will result in permanent dismissal from graduate studies. For the purpose of determining graduate student eligibility to return to the University, a semester and summer session are considered to the same. Suspensions may not be appealed.

Graduate Assistantships

Application forms for graduate assistantships may be obtained from the offices of the Coordinator of Graduate Studies of each college. Students with full time employment are ineligible for graduate assistantships, except in cases of individuals on leave from full time employment.

A graduate assistant is defined as a graduate student who has been accepted into a graduate program and who is receiving compensation in return for the performance of assigned duties. A graduate assistant is expected to earn a minimum of six hours of course work from their degree program (three hours during a summer session) with a maximum of  12 hours from their degree program during a semester (six in a summer session). The only acceptable courses outside of the degree program are courses described as “foundation” courses or program prerequisite courses AND will only be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies with a letter of explanation from the graduate assistant’s program coordinator or major professor. If a graduate assistant enrolls in any other courses, he/she will be responsible for the associated tuition and fees. In the final semester of the degree program, a graduate assistant must register for at least one hour. For graduate assistants, six semester hours during a semester and three semester hours during a summer session will constitute a full-time load.  Students enrolled in graduate programs may hold an assistantship for a maximum of six semesters.

Non-master’s Alternative Certification students with NMCP classification may hold an assistantship for a maximum of three semesters. NMCP students holding assistantships must meet the same minimum course progress toward completion of certification as other graduate assistants pursuing a specific master’s degree.

Nicholls assures equal opportunity for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and similar considerations. (Please refer to the section on Student Rights and Responsibilities in the front of this Catalog.)

Graduate Assistantship Reappointment Policy

 Reappointment is not guaranteed, but a student is eligible to be reappointed provided the following criteria are met and/or based on the recommendation of the student’s program coordinator and assistantship supervisor:

  • Satisfactory completion of work duties as determined by department supervisor(s)
  • Maintenance of a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Completed at least 6 hours of graduate credit applicable to the degree each regular semester OR completed at least 3 hours of graduate credit applicable to the degree each summer semester
  • Enrolled full time (at least 6 hours applicable toward the degree during regular semester and at least 3 hours applicable toward the degree during summer semester) each semester
  • Availability of funding

Honors

The University graduates with Honors a student who attains an overall grade point average of 4.0 on all course work for a graduate degree. For this purpose, repeated courses are considered as separate courses.

Second Degree

A graduate student shall be awarded a second Masters degree whenever all requirements for that degree have been fulfilled. The student will be required to satisfy all demands of the second degree which are different from those of the first degree. Credits from the first degree applicable to the second degree shall not exceed one half of the total credit required for the second degree. A Comprehensive Examination and/or a thesis required for the first degree shall not be acceptable as meeting requirements of the second degree.

Student Advisory Committee

When a student is admitted to graduate study for the first time in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, a temporary advisor is appointed by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies for the student’s curriculum. The temporary advisor will assist the student in preparing a tentative program based on the requirements of that curriculum. Upon earning twelve hours of graduate credit, the student must request appointment of a major professor of the student’s choice to guide further study. Additional graduate faculty members will be appointed as needed to complete the student’s committee.

Substitution of Courses

All course substitutions must be approved in writing by the student’s academic dean, preferably before the course to be substituted is scheduled.

Transfer Credits

A student may transfer from a regionally accredited college or university a maximum of one third of the semester hours of degree program credit, with no grade lower than B, provided that such transfer credit shall be applicable to the degree program. Both resident and extension credits are thus acceptable. Transfer credits are subject to the six-year limitation. The student must formally petition his or her academic dean for acceptance of transfer graduate credit. Final authorization of transferred credit is made by the student’s academic dean. Credit earned at another institution while under academic or non academic suspension will not be accepted by Nicholls for transfer. In order to have transfer credits accepted by the University, the applicant must be eligible to re-enter the institution from which he or she wishes to transfer.

University Contact with Students through Electronic Mail

Electronic mail (e-mail) is an official method of contact between the University and students. This e-mail contact applies to all forms of communication including but not limited to matters concerning admissions, registration, financial aid, and academic affairs. Students are given e-mail addresses after their initial registration. Students should check e-mail at least once a week. The university provides computer access for all students by way of open computer labs. For information concerning the use of e-mail and the availability of computers, check the Academic Computing website at https://www.nicholls.edu/information-tech/ for more information.

Program Faculty

Chantrelle Varnado-Johnson, PhD, LPC-Supervisor (LA), Board Certified-Telemental Health Provider (BC-TMH), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), National Certified Counselor (NCC) Assistant Professor & School Counselor Specialization Coordinator

Title: Assistant Professor & School Counseling Specialization Coordinator
Department: Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Studies
Email: chantrelle.varnado-johnson@nicholls.edu
Phone: 985.448.4349
Office Location: 255 Dr. O Cleveland Hill Hall

Tiffany Polite Henderson, PhD, LPC, NCC

Title: Assistant Professor, Data Analysis & Management
Department: College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Email: tiffany.henderson@nicholls.edu
Phone:
Office Location: 246 Dr. O Cleveland Hill Hall

Walt Hammerli, PhD, LPC-S

Title: Assistant Professor, Practicum & Internship Coordinator
Department: Psychology, Counseling, and Family Studies
Email: walt.hammerli@nicholls.edu
Phone: 985 448-4350
Office Location: 256 Dr. O Cleveland Hill Hall

Mary Kathryn Rodrigue Gastinel, PhD, LPC, NCC

Title: Assistant Professor, Clinical Mental Health Specialization Coordinator and Program Coordinator
Department: Psychology, Counseling, and Family Studies
Email: mary.gastinel@nicholls.edu
Phone: 985-448-4357
Office Location: 269 Dr. O Cleveland Hill Hall

Graduate Student Program Handbook

CACREP Annual Program Outcomes Reports

Accreditation

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) effective July, 2014.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Psychology, Counseling
and Family Studies

Office Location:
216 College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Building
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2075
Thibodaux, LA 70310
Phone: 985.448.4352
Fax: 985.448.4435

LOCATION

The owner of this website has made a committment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.