St. Cloud State University

Graduate Programs-Rehabilitation Counseling

Thesis versus non-thesis option

(Plan A versus Plan B)

Before completing “Proposed Program of Graduate Study” blue forms for candidacy (see next section), students need to decide whether to follow Plan A or Plan B, thesis or non-thesis option, respectively. For those planning to pursue a doctorate degree at some time, conducting research and/or publishing a work should strongly be considered. Research can be done with either Plan A or Plan B.

Plan A, thesis option, requires:

CEEP 675, Research Methods in Applied Psychology, 3 Credits
CEEP 678, Introduction to Graduate Statistics, 3 Credits
CEEP 699, Thesis, 6 Credits

Students who are planning to write a thesis should carefully read the Graduate Bulletin, “Field Studies, Theses, Creative Works, and Starred Papers”. Note that the book “A Manual for the Preparation of Field Studies, Theses, Creative Works, or Starred Paper(s)” should be obtained from the Graduate Studies Office in AS-121.

Plan B, non-thesis option, requires:

CEEP 675, Research Methods in Applied Psychology, 3 Credits
CEEP 678, Introduction to Graduate Statistics, 3 Credits

Students may also take CEEP 689, Seminar: Research Reporting. In this class students conduct the research projects planned in CEEP 675. This allows students to conduct research without writing a thesis.

Candidacy

Admission to graduate studies does not constitute candidacy for a counseling degree. Rather, a student who has been admitted to graduate study is advanced to degree candidacy upon the recommendation of the counseling psychology faculty. Advancement to degree candidacy requires that the candidate must:

1. Have completed between 12 and 24 semester hours of graduate study at St. Cloud State University with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
2. Have submitted to the adviser one completed program form signed by the student.
3. Have clearly demonstrated the aptitude and ability to pursue graduate work and exhibited a commitment to counseling as a profession.
4. Have demonstrated potential for a successful career in the field of study selected. Admission to degree candidacy is not an automatic process, but rather the advancement to candidacy is approved by the faculty only after careful evaluation of all pertinent factors.

Admission to degree candidacy is not an automatic process, but rather the advancement to candidacy is approved by the faculty only after careful evaluation of all pertinent factors.

Program forms may be obtained from the department secretary, Room A-253 of the Education Building, phone number 308-3131. Note that it is important to have program forms submitted before or at the time of completing an internship placement request form. (See section on “Supervised Counseling Internship”)