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OSU Counselor Education
Information for Incoming Students
2008

Orientation Date: September 23, 2008

Congratulations on your acceptance into The Ohio State University Counselor Education Program!! We have compiled some important information for incoming students to answer some of your questions and get you ready for entrance into the program this autumn. We also will answer questions at the New Student Orientation to be held the day before classes begin.           

In addition, all incoming M.A. students take EDU PAES 773 (Introduction/Foundations of Counseling) during their first quarter on campus, and there are many opportunities within this class to learn more about the counseling profession and the OSU Counselor Education Program. Finally, and most importantly, when in doubt, ask your advisor. Your advisor is your essential contact person in the program, and questions that are specific to your situation are best handled through a discussion or e-mail correspondence with your advisor.
But, in the meantime, here’s some information to get you started…

ORIENTATION AGENDA
DATE: September 23rd
LOCATION: 4th Floor, PAES Building, 305 W. 17th Ave

Frequently Asked Questions about the OSU Counselor Education M.A. Program
How do I register for classes?
All students in the M.A. program are automatically signed up for Counselor Education classes. Incoming students will be signed up for the full academic load. If you plan to go part-time, check with your advisor to see which class(es) you should drop. Do not worry about registering for Counselor Education classes during your “registration window.” All of the Counselor Education courses are open only to Counselor Education students – thus, there is no danger about being “closed out” of the courses you need. For courses outside the program, students must register through the regular OSU registration process. These courses are listed in the program of study. Go to the websites of the departments from which they are offered to find out when they will be offered (hint: do this early in your program so you don’t miss courses you want to take due to limited availability).

Is there an orientation?
A Counselor Education orientation is held each autumn for incoming students.
In addition, there is a picnic held each autumn for incoming Counselor Education students to meet with other students and their families/significant others. The School of PAES also will hold an orientation for incoming Graduate Students, typically held right before school begins in September.  Watch your email for an announcement about the autumn date.

How do I get updated information and announcements?
Throughout your time in the program, you will need to be part of the OSU Counselor Education listserv. The listserv is a way to communicate important information and announcements to all students. This listserv is for students and faculty of the Counselor Education program only. You can sign up for the listserv as soon as you are admitted into the program, or you can do so at orientation.
To sign up for the listserv, send an email to: listproc@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
In the body of the message, type: subscribe COUNSED yourfirstname yourlastname
The School of PAES also has a listserv for graduate students in the school. You will automatically be signed up for this listserv, using your OSU e-mail account.

How do I get an e-mail account?
Once you are admitted and registered for courses, you can activate your email account via the web. It is imperative that you do so ASAP, as almost all university information is conveyed electronically. It is how you will view your class schedule, your grades, and access the library. If you have an e-mail account that you prefer to use, you must still activate your OSU account. When you do so, you will find that you can forward the OSU e-mail to your preferred account. That way you won’t miss anything! To activate your OSU account, go to this website:
http://8help.osu.edu/34124.html

What courses are offered each quarter?
There is a standard schedule, and students are expected to take courses in a standardized sequence. A two-year course schedule is available by clicking here (in pdf format). To take three or four years to finish the degree, students meet with their individual advisors to work out a course plan.

What if I want to take courses from other OSU programs?
There is nothing stopping you from taking courses offered by other academic departments. Counselor Education students have benefited from academic coursework in psychology, family therapy, gender studies, education, and other programs. However, none of these courses can be used to replace the standardized Program of Study that all M.A. students must complete.

What if I want to transfer in credits from other universities?
The Ohio State University Graduate School allows 10 hours of graduate credit to be transferred. However, the decision to transfer specific individual courses into the degree program is ultimately up to the student’s academic advisor. Transferred courses must be graduate level and meet the course objectives for one of the OSU Counselor Education courses. Courses taken as an undergraduate cannot be used to satisfy graduate requirements.

Are Graduate Assistantships available?
The Counselor Education program has a limited number of graduate assistantships. However, many Counselor Education students find assistantships in a wide variety of departments throughout the university. The skills that counseling students bring (e.g., strong interpersonal skills, conflict resolution skills, organizational skills) are useful in many settings. Students wanting an assistantship are encouraged to (a) tell their advisor and ask to be placed on an e-mailing list that forwards any information about assistantships that the program hears about, and (b) conduct an active search on their own of GAs offered by departments and programs throughout the university.

How do I get a Practicum/Internship site?
We know that the determination of a practicum/internship site is stressful for incoming students, but relax! We have a process in place to help get each student into a site that will offer strong preparation for the profession, with professional supervision. The School Counseling and Clinical Counseling tracks use slightly different processes to place students. Students in each of the tracks will have a discussion about the process and what they need to do during the winter quarter before the spring practicum.

What Department is the Counselor Education Program In?
The OSU Counselor Education program is in the Counselor Education and School Psychology (CESP) section, in the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services (PAES), in the College of Education and Human Ecology. There are two tracks in the M.A. program (School Counseling and Clinical Counseling), as well as a doctoral program.

The Following OSU Websites Offer Information About The University
Off Campus Housing
Off Campus Student Services (OCSS) http://offcampus.osu.edu/
This is an OSU site that has information and advice on finding off campus housing.  Features include a housing search, roommate search, and a 12 page renter’s guide that rates local rental agents and properties on things such as promptness of repairs and condition of unit at move in (http://usg.osu.edu/rentersguide/revised.pdf).  There is even information about child care at OSU, transportation, and storage companies (found under “Other Resources).

On Campus Housing
OSU Housing:  Columbus Campus http://housing.osu.edu/
Although the majority of on-campus housing is geared toward undergraduates, there are options for single graduate students and even married students or those with children (see Buckeye Village below).  At this site, you can find information about graduate housing in Jones Tower and Neil Avenue.
OSU Family Housing:  Buckeye Village http://www.buckeyevillage.com/
Information and application forms for on-campus family and married housing available at OSU. 

Transportation and Parking http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/
In addition to the basic information about purchasing permits and where to park, visitors can find route and stop information about the Campus Area Bus Service (CABS).  There is also information about campus construction and how it could impact traffic and parking. Information on transportation for students with disabilities also is located at this site. Students can use Columbus Area Bus Service (COTA) anywhere in Columbus free with a BuckID.
NOTE: Transportation & Parking will be part of Orientation. Students should know that there are a limited number of DAYTIME GARAGE PASSES available for students with GTAs, and those are available on Saturday, August 20, first come, first served. For more detailed information, check out the parking & transportation website.

Student ID Cards
BuckID https://buckid.osu.edu/index.asp
This card is indispensable!  It is the official OSU identification card that can be used for a variety of purposes such as checking out books, making copies, riding the COTA bus for free, and buying food.  Cards are purchased at Lincoln Tower and can be managed using this web site. 

Registration
Buckeye Link http://buckeyelink.osu.edu/
The site is for general academic management.  Here students can register for classes outside of the Counselor Education program, check for class availability, view grades and schedules.  There is also a link to allow students to change their address and check their financial aid status.

Buying Textbooks
The Counselor Education program uses Long’s Bookstore http://www.longsbooks.com/
Many students use on-line booksellers to save money (e.g., Amazon.com; half.com) – if you do this, be sure to order the correct edition of the book!

Office for Disability Services
The Counselor Education program welcomes students with disabilities and supports equal access to education. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office for Disability Services (ODS) early in their academic programs (even better, before the beginning of autumn quarter!) to learn about academic support services, adapted transportation, specialized equipment, accessible housing, appropriate documentation, and available support from disability counselors. Students who believe they may have a learning disability are encouraged to contact ODS to learn more about being tested. www.ods.ohio-state.edu

Libraries
The Education, Human Ecology, Psychology, and Social Work Library (EHS) http://library.osu.edu/sites/ehs/
The EHS Library is located at 1813 North High Street in Sullivant Hall, which is just a few blocks from Arps, next to the Union Garage.  This library houses a wide variety of journals and books that are indispensable to the CERSSP graduate student.  It is also a convenient location to have books ordered from Ohio LINK delivered.
OSU Libraries:  Main Page http://www.osu.edu/libraries/
This site has information about all OSU libraries and details such as special collections, hours, and locations.A library orientation will be included in the Counselor Education program orientation. Students who cannot attend the Counselor Education program orientation should know that a library orientation is a requirement for EDU PAES 773 and should make arrangements to attend a university-sponsored library orientation (information available at the EHS library website).

Library Searches
University Libraries:  http://www.library.osu.edu/
Make friends with this site!  Here you can search for just about anything in the OSU libraries, as well as books you can check out from other campuses through Ohio LINK.  There are links to E-Journals and databases that can be accessed on or off campus (with your user ID).  One of our favorite databases, PsychInfo, can be accessed through this page.

Things to Do in Columbus
Metro Parks:  http://www.metroparks.net/
There are many beautiful parks surrounding Columbus, and they are free so take advantage!  Many offer miles of walking trails, picnic shelters and playgrounds.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium:  http://www.colszoo.org/
Ever see a manatee up close?  Here’s your chance.  Go spend the day wandering around the zoo and aquarium, and be sure to feed the Lorikeets!
COSI Columbus
A hands-on science center, with lots to do, and an extreme screen theatre. http://www.cosi.org/index.asp
Franklin Park Conservatory
A must-do in the winter! Come inside when it’s cold outside, and tour the beautiful tropical gardens. In the spring, don’t miss the butterfly exhibit, and the Asian festival (typically held over Memorial Day Weekend) features wonderful food and dancing! http://www.fpconservatory.org/
Sports
Columbus is home to many sports teams, including the Blue Jackets (hockey), Columbus Crew (soccer), Columbus Comets (women’s professional football), Columbus Destroyers (arena football), and the Columbus Clippers (AAA team for the Yankees). http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/event-calendar.cfm
Of course, we also have a football team J and lots of other sports on campus. Becoming an OSU Buckeye is an important part of the graduate experience for many students.
And Now for Something REALLY different…
The Topiary Garden
If you are an art lover (if you are, Columbus has a great art museum http://www.columbusmuseum.org/) and an outdoor lover, then the topiary garden is right up your alley! Located at The Old Deaf School Park, the garden is a topiary interpretation of Georges Seurat’s A Sunday On The Island Of La Grande Jatte. It is the only topiary interpretation of a painting in existence, and it is a fun and unusual treat! http://www.topiarygarden.org/
American Whistle Corporation
Did you know that Columbus is home to the only manufacturer of metal whistles in the USA? Tour the factory and get a whistle! http://www.americanwhistle.com/
The Santa Maria
Well, after all, it is Columbus, so why not have a replica of one of Columbus’s ships? The Santa Maria docks downtown during the summer and you can take a tour (nope, it doesn’t leave the dock…not quite the exploration aspect that Columbus had, but you can climb around this working wooden tall ship). http://www.santamaria.org/index.php