Resiliency in the Helping Professions

• Identify the factors of resilience and supporting research from advances in positive psychology.
• Understand the neuroscience of traumatic experience, recovery and resilience.
• Implement skill building practices that support resilience through social emotional learning interventions.
• Promote post traumatic growth.
• Practice resonant leadership to foster resilience capacity across systems.
• Implement skill building practices to support personal resilience against empathetic distress and burnout.

What can I expect to learn in this program?
At the end of the program, students will:

1. Identify the factors of resilience and supporting research from advances in positive psychology.
2. Understand the neuroscience of traumatic experience, recovery and resilience.
3. Implement skill building practices that support resilience through social emotional learning interventions.
4. Implement skill building practices to support personal resilience against empathetic distress and burnout.
5. Promote post traumatic growth.
6. Practice resonant leadership to foster resilience capacity across systems. 

What are the professional backgrounds of people who have enjoyed this program?
This program is designed to support professionals engaged in a wide variety of helping professions. Most of our students are educators including school counselors, teachers, and administrators; physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists and applied behavior analysts working with elementary and secondary education students. Clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors and psychotherapists are also welcome.

How many credits is the Resiliency in the Helping Professions program?
The Resiliency in the Helping Professions program is an 18-credit program. The six (3 credit) courses earn students either a Certificate of Graduate Studies (C.G.S.) for those holding a Bachelor’s degree, or a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (C.A.G.S.) for students holding a Master’s degree.

What if I need more than 18 credits for a C.A.G.S.?
Students interested in earning a 30-credit C.A.G.S. to meet the requirements of some school districts are invited to apply to the C.A.G.S. in School Counseling Program (SCP). All the courses in the Resiliency in the Helping Professions program are available to students matriculating through the SCP C.A.G.S. Those students may also take courses electively from programs that include  Special Ops: Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), Transition Specialist C.A.G.S. (with Endorsement) and Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorders C.A.G.S. (with Endorsement Option).

Do check with your school district administrators and colleagues about specific contractual stipulations, if any, needed to meet their C.A.G.S. requirements/expectations.

Are courses held online or on campus? What time and how often do courses meet?
Because many of our students work full time in public schools, we have designed course formats that are sensitive to those constraints by offering courses that meet occasionally over the weekend or in mid-summer. The unique formats for courses follow below, generally with some coursework in the classroom (virtual, as needed) and some coursework exclusively online. 

What is the cost of the program?
You can find current cost per credit and fee information on our website at www.assumption.edu/gradfinaid.

Do you have both full-time and part-time options?
Students can take our program part-time only. Generally, two courses are offered every semester (fall, spring, summer) for students to enroll in one or both at a time.

What is the average length of time to complete the program?
Our program can be completed in one year by taking two courses each semester, or over two years by taking one course at a time.  All courses must be completed within 7 years after being accepted in the program. 

How many classes do students take per semester who plan to access financial aid?
In order to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid in the form of student loans, students must be enrolled in at least 6 graduate credits (2 graduate courses) per semester.

What are the start terms for the program?
With rolling admissions for this program, students may begin courses the semester of their choice. Furthermore, they can enroll in courses as a non-matriculating student to get a feel for whether this program is a good fit for them or to simply get started while they complete the application process. Please note that financial aid requires students to access their assistance only after being formally accepted into a program and there is a maximum number of two courses that can be taken as a non-matriculating student. 

What are the deadlines to apply?
Application deadlines will vary by program and can be found on the upper left column on the main program page. 

Do applicants need to take the GMAT/GRE to apply to a graduate program?
We do not require the GRE/GMAT. Our applications are reviewed more holistically focusing on an applicant’s transcript, letters of recommendation and personal statement. 

Do you offer financial aid to graduate students?
Federal Financial Aid is offered in the form of unsubsidized student loans. Student’s must be accepted in a program of study and enrolled in a minimum of two courses per semester to be eligible.

What are the GPA/application requirements?
A 3.0 GPA is required. However along with the official transcript, all application materials are considered including three professional letters of recommendation, personal statement and resume. Applicants are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with the program director for mutual discussion while applying.

How long does it take to receive a decision after applying?
Typically applicants will be notified within a couple of weeks after application completion (including the submission of all materials). This is an approximate time and may vary.