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Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling

Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling

The Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling strives to provide quality programs with personal attention. Our full-time faculty teach the majority of our courses. The College of Education and Human Services is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and our Master’s degrees in Counseling Services and Clinical Mental Health Counseling are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Other programs that have received national accreditation include School Psychology by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and Educational Leadership.

Classes are scheduled to enable those who work full-time to complete their programs. Class sizes are moderate to small, and many degree programs have internships.

The department offers educational specialist degrees, master’s degrees, a doctoral degree, and certifications and endorsements in a variety of areas. These degree programs of study, their descriptions, and the certifications associated with them appear under programs and certificates. Course descriptions for each program can be found in this catalog and on the Registrar’s Office website. All programs require an application available from the Office of Graduate Admission.

You may also apply as a special standing student in some programs. Students enrolled in graduate programs elsewhere or students seeking course work for professional development not leading to a degree, certification or endorsement from Rider University may take courses as a special standing student. Apply to the Office of Graduate Admission.

Mission and Vision Statement

Mission
The College of Education and Human Services empowers individuals and communities through excellence in education, mental health, and wellness. We prepare practitioners and leaders who are committed to collaboration, engagement, and advocacy, equipping them to drive meaningful change and address the most pressing challenges in their fields.

Vision
The College of Education and Human Services envisions a future where our graduates lead with purpose, fostering transformative change in education, mental health, and wellness. Through collaboration and a commitment to advocacy, we strive to cultivate equitable and thriving communities, shaping leaders who address the evolving needs of society with integrity and innovation. 

This mission and vision statement is based on the Conceptual Framework of the College of Education and Human Services.

Admission Status

Upon completion of the steps in the application procedures described below, the applicant will be assigned to one of the following classifications once admitted:

Graduate Standing

The student is qualified to undertake graduate study and is recognized as a degree or certification candidate upon admission;

Conditional Standing

Students who do not satisfy all of the admission requirements or have not completed all of the undergraduate preparatory requirements or both may be permitted to enroll in studies during a probationary period not exceeding twelve (12) graduate credits with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.  Students who fail to attain a 3.0 grade point average upon completion of up to twelve (12) credits will be subject to dismissal.

Special Standing

This category of admissions applies to those students who may need only several courses, often for the purpose of obtaining certification. If special standing students apply for admission to a master's, educational specialist, or doctoral degree program and are accepted, they may apply for transfer of course credits toward that program according to policy guidelines of the Department. 

Transfer of Credit

Students may request transfer of up to 12 semester hours of graduate credits completed at an accredited institution. These credits must have been earned within six years from the date of acceptance into the program. All transfer credits must be approved by the program director. Courses accepted for transfer must be similar to required or elective courses that are approved for the respective programs, and a grade of at least “B” must have been earned in each of these courses.

Students who are eligible to transfer graduate credits from other institutions must submit official transcripts of these credits if the transcripts have not already been filed with the initial application for admission. Catalog course descriptions and/or syllabi of the course being requested for transfer may be required.

Transfer of Credit for Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Students

The Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling recognizes that students enrolled in an educational specialist program may enter after completing an appropriate master’s program. Consideration is typically given to their prior graduate training and its application to the current degree. The program director/designee and the department chairperson will determine the number of credits to be transferred given the following guidelines.

Guidelines for Transfer of Credits for Ed.S. Students

  • All transfer credits must carry a letter grade of at least “B.”
  • Transfer credits must be taken within six years from the date of acceptance into the program. Exceptions may also be granted by the program director/designee for courses where content remains consistent over time and supports current program objectives.
  • For students in the School Psychology Program up to 36 credits may be transferred so long as course equivalency can be thoroughly documented.
  • Official transcripts must accompany the request for transfer of credit. The program director/designee must approve the credits to be transferred upon admission.
  • Credits approved for transfer will be added to the student’s transcript at the time of admission to the program.
  • Course descriptions and/or syllabi of the courses being requested for transfer may be required.

Course Repeat Policy

Students may not repeat any graduate course for credit that they have already taken, except a course in which they have received a grade lower than “B” or one from which they withdrew. Any exceptions must be approved by the program director and department chair. Each course may be repeated only once. 

Comprehensive Examination

Students who are pursuing a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts in counseling services, clinical mental health counseling, or to an Educational Specialist degree in school psychology must successfully pass a comprehensive examination covering knowledge of a specialized field; major concepts, theories and ideas; techniques for applying to a problem area knowledge of the specialized field and/or the related areas of foundations and research; adequate communication of ideas in light of the question(s) posed.

The date, location, and time of the Comprehensive Examination is determined by the appropriate program director. Only those students who have achieved the following requirements for the Master's or EdS degree are eligible to sit for this exam:

  • A cumulative average of 3.0 or better by the time of application for the comprehensive exam.
  • Completed all required prerequisite coursework. For an exception, permission of the program director/designee is required.

Dismissal

Any one of the following situations will result in the automatic dismissal of a student working toward a graduate degree or certification program in the Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling:

  • Receiving two grades of “F” in graduate course work in either the same graduate course or in two different graduate courses;
  • Receiving any grade of C (C+, C, or C-) or lower in more than two graduate courses;
  • Not attaining a grade point average of 3.0 for the Master's degree and certificate programs or a grade point average of 3.3 for the Educational Specialist degree or the Ed.D. degrees after taking twelve or more graduate credits at Rider University;
  • Failing the comprehensive examination for the second time (pertains only to students enrolled in degree programs that require the examination);
  • Failure to complete degree or certification requirements in six years (with the exception of the Ed.S. in School Psychology, which is 10 years from the date of acceptance into the program).
  • Failure to earn a grade of B/3.0 or higher after two attempts in any of the following courses (Counseling students only): COUN 550, COUN 503, Practicum (COUN 585 or CNDT 585 or COUN 580 or COUN 581 or CNSC 580 or CNSC 581).

The Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling reserves the right to dismiss any student when, in the judgment of the faculty or the officers of Rider, such action seems advisable.

Honors Graduates

Students who graduate with an overall grade point average of 3.85 or better are designated as graduating with distinction. This term appears on the student’s official transcript, below the student’s name in the commencement program, and on the diploma.

Programs of Study

Degrees Offered

The Education Doctorate (Ed.D) is offered in the following area:

The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is offered in:

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is offered in the following areas:

In addition, the department provides opportunities for study leading to teacher certification and other types of educational and human services certification.

Certificates Offered

The Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling provides an opportunity for study leading to teacher certification and other types of certification and credentialing in the following areas:

Endorsement to Existing Teaching Certificates

General Master’s Degree Application Requirements

All programs require an application available from the Office of Graduate Admission. A decision is made about an application for admission only when all required credentials have been submitted. Application deadlines and requirements are specified by graduate admissions for specific programs. Completed applications received after the official deadline may be given consideration pending program capacity.

The faculty encourages prospective students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to apply. 

General Degree/Certification Requirements

To qualify for the degree or certification, the candidate must:

  • Comply with the general requirements concerning graduate study;
  • Enroll in graduate study at Rider for no fewer than two academic semesters or the equivalent thereof (with the exception of the students seeking Life and Career Coaching certificate);
  • Complete the number of semester hours of graduate credit required by the degree or certification program;
  • Successfully pass a comprehensive written examination or other approved exit requirement, as required by individual programs;
  • Complete an internship/practicum as required by individual programs;
  • Attain and maintain an average grade of “B” (3.0) or better for work submitted for the Master’s degree, a certification program or a 3.3 grade-point average for the Educational Specialist degree and the Ed.D;
  • Complete the program within six years of the enrollment date of the first course (with the exception of the Ed.S. in School Psychology, which is 10 years from the date of acceptance into the program).