An Examination of Final Evaluation Methods Used in Master's Level Counseling Programs

✍ Scribed by JAMIE S. CARNEY; DEBRA C. COBIA; DAVID M. SHANNON

• Publisher: American Counseling Association
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 656 KB
• Volume: 37
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-0035
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1556-6978.1998.tb00541.x

✦ Synopsis

This article reports the findings of a national study examining methods used for final evaluation in master's level counseling programs.

The American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics (ACA. 1995) states that evaluation is an essential aspect of counselor training: "Counselors clearly state to students and supervisees. in advance of training, the levels of competency expected, appraisal methods, and timing of evaluations for both didactic and experiential components" (p. 15). Olkin and Gaughen (1991) further clarified that counselor educators have a professional responsibility to evaluate the competency and appropriateness of their students to provide counseling services. This evaluation process may occur on many levels throughout a student's training. One cornerstone of this evaluation process has been the final evaluation of a student upon completion of their coursework or specific fieldwork (Carney, Cobia, & Shannon, 1995; MacCluskie. Toman. & Barlow, 1996).