Preliminary Examination Policy, Counseling
  Psychology Doctoral Program

 All Counseling Psychology doctoral students are required to complete the preliminary examination near the end of the their course work.  The program's Preliminary Examination is designed as a portfolio system with a combination of:

        (a)  experiences / projects completed in the doctoral program
              and 
        (b)  sit down written examinations over specific, basic areas of 
              preparation. 
                  
The written exam includes five (5) hours of writing time and consists of questions developed by the Counseling Psychology preliminary examination committee. The examination will be scheduled twice a year, during the week preceding Fall and Spring semesters. The faculty recommends the students strive to take the written examination in the Spring semester of the off-site practicum year, to facilitate internship applications the following Fall.

 Experiences / Projects -- Completed in the Doctoral Program

1. Research Hours (200)
2. Completed Research Project and Paper in APA (5th ed.) submission style
3. Regional / National Refereed Conference Presentation or Publication in a refereed professional journal - completed after matriculation
4. Work Sample

 Written Question Areas

1. Ethics and Legal / Professional Standards
2. History of Counseling Psychology / Professional Issues
   

In each written area, the examination may consist of (a) a single question, (b) a single multi-part question, or (c) multiple questions. Students will use computers, with disks supplied. All materials, the written question, the disk, a hard copy of the answer, and any scratch paper must be turned in.

Oral Preliminary Examination

The student also has an oral preliminary examination following the written portion of the examination. The student meets with his or her advisor and committee members (i.e., plan of study committee). Passing the oral prelim admits the sutdent to doctoral candidacy.  Consult your advisor and see the College of Education Preliminary Examination Policy.

Evaluation of The Preliminary Examination Portfolio System

Evaluation of all written performance will be guided by the following considerations.

Does the student:

1.      Focus specifically on the basic question(s)?

2.      Present his or her own thinking about issues and information?

3.      Demonstrate a knowledgeable and balanced awareness of
         pertinent literature by cogently citing references regarding more
         than one aspect of an issue?

4.      Demonstrate evidential reasoning by:

• Identifying the basic issue or issues that need to be examined in order to answer the question
• Presenting assumptions, premises, or hypotheses
  
• Citing evidence that bears directly on the issues
• Stating conclusions
• Demonstrating how the conclusion follows from the evidence and relates to the basic issues and assumptions
• Demonstrating an understanding of the relativism of knowledge

5.      Express himself or herself clearly and specifically by:

• Using qualified, descriptive statements rather than global generalizations
• Writing in a synthesized, integrated, organized, and coherent fashion
• Demonstrating depth, breadth, and specificity of knowledge in professional counseling psychology
• Using critical thinking, scientist-practitioner skills

6.     Use APA style (5th edition), which includes clear written
        expression characterized by:

• Accurate punctuation and grammar, including parallel structure in phrases and subject-pronoun agreement
• Non-sexist language
• Appropriate and varied sentence structure
• Citations and reference style
  

Written examination elements (i.e., Research Paper, Work Sample, Written Prelim) are scored in 11 categories covering content and presentation (see Preliminary Exam Scoring Criteria). A separate scoring sheet is used for each question by each individual committee member. Scores are rounded to the nearest one hundredth out of the 6-point Likert-type scale for each question. The mean rating is the score used for evaluations. Pass = 3.7 to 6.0. Unsatisfactory (fail) = less 3.7 (i.e., 3.69 or below).

In evaluating written preliminary examination products, the faculty uses a competency model. In this model, the student's response needs to meet a minimum knowledge level in particular domains (e.g., a specific question or part of a question) deemed to be professionally basic and important. If a domain does not meet the minimal competency, the student cannot compensate with a high overall score. Thus, a student could score high in one area but be deficient and not pass on another basic skill element. In this case, the student may not pass the preliminary examination, or may be asked to remediate/rewrite a particular element or an entire question.  That is, the student may be asked for a referenced, written response to an aspect of a question or to an entire question.  Or the student may fail the question or the overall examination, depending on the quality of other aspects of the response and their professional importance.

In evaluating the written preliminary examination, independent evaluations will be made by two Counseling Psychology faculty members. A third reader may be requested if the faculty are not in agreement about the quality of the student's response. The two or three member faculty committee will make a decision of: PASS, NO PASS, or Remediation/Rewrite Required.

The Prelim Coordinator informs faculty and students of Prelim outcomes.  If the student is asked to rewrite or if failed, the advisor gives students feedback from their exam.  Students may review their exam and may ask faculty for specific feedback.

When students do not pass a preliminary component, re-examination must be taken within one calendar year. The examination can be retaken only once. If a student fails any preliminary exam component two times, he or she will be dismissed from the counseling psychology doctoral program.

Goals of the Counseling Psychology Doctoral
Program and Requisite Preliminary Exam Procedures

To train scientist-practitioners in inquiry skills for use in advancing knowledge of psychology. 

             Successful completion of the empirical study and research paper in EDPS 61900, including: (a) research proposal, (b) completion and approval of IRB application, (c) data collection, (d) completion of data analysis, and (e) completion of a final manuscript including abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures in APA (5th ed.) style.

To train scientist-practitioners in inquiry skills for use in psychological conceptualization, diagnosis, intervention, and other counseling professional services to clients and consumers resulting from a sound theoretical and research knowledge base.  

            Successful completion of Work Sample in EDPS 61400.

To develop scientist-practitioners who can demonstrate ethical and professional behavior consistent with the standards of counseling psychology. 

            In-house Written Preliminary exams over (a) Ethics and Legal/Professional Standards and (b) History of Counseling Psychology/Professional issues.

To prepare scientist-practitioners who can provide culturally sensitive and compatible services to diverse clientele in a multicultural environment. 

            Satisfactory inclusion of appropriate diversity-relevant considerations in the Work Sample., Research Paper, Conference Presentation/Publication, and  Written and Oral Prelims. 

The Preliminary Exam Committee will strive to complete evaluation of the exam and report results to students within two weeks of the product's submission.

Additional Procedures Required to Achieve Candidacy

1.  All students have established an advisory committee in filing the
     plan of study by, at least, the Spring semester of their first year. 
     This committee administers the oral preliminary exam. For more
     specific information about advisory and dissertation committees
     see:  Advisory and Dissertation Committees. 
 
2.  After the Written Preliminary Examination has been completed and
     evaluated by the counseling psychology examination committee,
     students must schedule a one-hour Oral Preliminary Exam
     administered by the advisory committee (declared on the POS). The
     faculty advisor determines the scope of the oral examination; so
     students should consult with their advisor on expectations for this
     exam.
 
3.  Students must complete Graduate School Form 8 Request for
     Appointment of Examining Committee and submit it to the COE
     Graduate Studies Office at least three weeks prior to the oral exam
     date. Upon receiving the request, the Graduate School will
     forward Graduate School Form 10 Report of Preliminary Examination
     to the student's advisor. The advisor reports the outcome of the 
     oral exam on the Graduate School Form 10. After the oral exam has
     been passed and the exam report has been returned to the Graduate
     School by the advisor, the student officially becomes a doctoral
     candidate. Students must achieve candidate status in order to apply
     for internships.