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Prospective Students

Counseling Readiness Exam

Introduction
Students entering the Counseling Program are expected to bring a foundational knowledge of psychology. Proficiency in this foundational knowledge will be confirmed through a “Readiness Exam,” required of all incoming counseling students. If deficiencies are indicated, remedial work will be required. Counseling students may satisfy these deficiencies in one of the following two ways: Complete appropriate undergraduate course(s) at an approved institution, or complete a self-guided instructional program provided through the Department of Counseling Studies of Western Seminary. Keep this guideline paper until you have completed your exam and received your scores.

Deadlines
The Readiness Exam (and any subsequent remedial work) must be completed before an interview is granted. It is recommended that you take the exam as early as possible in the event that you would need to complete any remedial work.

Exam Content
The Readiness Exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions. The exam is self-administered via computer in the third floor Bueermann Hall testing room. Check with the Counseling Administrative Assistant for assistance. The exam covers five areas:

  • Personality and Counseling Theory
  • Research and Evaluation
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Historical Foundations & Considerations.

Procedure
Each sub-section of the exam will be scored separately. A 50% score on each section will be necessary for a passing score. Scores of 49% or less on a particular sub-section will indicate a need for remedial work in that subject matter. For example, if a student receives scores of 50% or better on all subsections except Human Development, where he or she receives a 40%, that student would then complete the remedial work in Human Development only, not all 5 sub-sections.

The following checklist will guide you through the readiness exam process:

  • Complete all five sections of the exam.
  • After completing each section of the exam, write your scores and return them to the Counseling Administrative Assistant.
  • If you do not pass one or more sections, follow the “Remedial Work” instructions on the back of this paper.

Remedial Work Instructions

  • Check out the necessary remedial items, on reserve in the library (See materials list below)
  • After completing the remedial work re-take the subsection(s) on the computer.
  • Write you passing score and bring the score sheet to the Counseling Administrative Assistant.

Suggested Study Materials
The following sourses are recommended study materials for the Counseling Readiness Exam

-Davison, Gerald C., Neale, John M, (1994). Abnormal Psychology. New York : John Wiley and Sons.
- Zimbardo, Philip G., (1992). Psychology and Life. New York. New York: Harper Collins.

Personality and Counseling Theory
-Read Zimbardo ch.14
-Read Zimbardo ch.18
-Read Davison ch.2
-View "The World of Abnormal Psychology" part 12: Psychotherapies

Research and Evaluation
-Read Davison ch.5
-View "Discovering Psychology" part 2: Understanding Research

Human Growth andDevelopment
-Read Zimbardo ch.5&6
-View "Discovering Psychology" part 5: The Developing Child
-Listen to "Seasons of Life" audio part 1: Seasons, Stories and Lives

Abnormal Psychology
-Read Zimbardo ch.17
-Read Davison ch.3
-Vew "Abnormal Psychology" part 1: Looking at Abnormal Behavior

Historical Foundations and Considerations
-Read Davison ch.1
-View "Discovering Psychology" part 1: Past, Presesnt, and Promise