Overview
Program Description
The Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) Certification is a 27-credit program for counseling professionals preparing them to assist K-12 students in coping with emotional, psychological, and/or behavioral issues. The SAC provides in-school assessment, crisis intervention, and counseling and referral services to any student who may be experiencing personal, family, and/or peer difficulties. The goal is to support the students and prevent personal difficulties from interfering with their success in school. This program meets the certification requirements for the New Jersey Department of Education.
Program Goals
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the role of SAC, the expectations of the position and how to implement policies and programs with other professionals in the school.
- Acquire an appreciation for the role of the counselor in society and an understanding of the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with that role.
- Evaluate programs and the available resources of the SAC
- Demonstrate an understanding of the statistics of substance abuse and the resources available to the students in their community.
- Understand substance abuse and the resources available to the students in their community.
- Evaluate case studies and applying the law, policies and counseling strategies.
- Acquire extensive practical experience in counseling under supervision in appropriate field settings
Program Requirements
- Comply with the academic policies and procedures of Centenary University
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of “B” (3.0) or better in courses completed for the degree
- Complete a residency requirement consisting of a minimum of 21 credit hours at Centenary University
- Complete the program within 4 years from the date of initial enrollment
- Demonstrate throughout the program course of study behavior consistent with the American Counseling (ACA) Code of Ethics.
Grading Policy for Counseling Programs
Graduate students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above in order to receive a degree. Any graduate student who receives more than one grade of C (to include C+, C, and C-) will be dismissed from the program. No grades of D will be given (anything lower than a C- is an F). A grade of F will result in dismissal from the program.
Audit
Students who are required to complete undergraduate foundation courses may request that they be taken as an official audit. Students choosing this option must designate such at the time of registration or by the end of the first week of the respective semester in which the courses are taken. Audited courses are recorded on the student’s permanent record as an “AUD,” and cannot be converted to a letter grade.
Admissions Requirements
- Master’s Degree
- Minimum GPA 3.0
- Personal Statement
- Interview
Curriculum Requirements
Child and Adolescent Development-3 credits
Curriculum Planning, Implementation and Staff Dev I Chemical Health Ed.-3 credits
School law related to substance abuse and related problems-3 credits
| GED-619 | Students, Teachers, Social Policy & the Law | 3 |
Coordination, delivery of intervention and referral services in school setting, including multidisciplinary intervention teams-6 credits
| GCO-582 | Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| GCO-591 | Substance Use in the School Setting | 3 |
Fundamentals of drug/alcohol abuse and dependency and related problems-3 credits
| GCO-590 | Substance Use Disorders Counseling | 3 |
Assessment and counseling of drug and alcohol affected students and families-3 credits
| GCO-594 | Substance Use and the Family | 3 |
Coordination of research-based prevention program services in school and community settings-3 credits
| GCO-593 | Prevention Planning, Program Evaluation, & Community Resources | 3 |
University-supervised SAC practicum (150 hours)-3 credits
| GCO-605 | School Assistance Coordinator Practicum | 3 |