Orientation to the Program
Students applying to the Master of Counselling or to the Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling programs must be prepared to participate in a five-week program orientation. The orientation is offered entirely online and is designed to prepare students for graduate studies at a distance.
The GCAP 100: Student Orientation course provides students entering the program with additional information about the program and about the GCAP courses. The course is designed to familiarize students with the tools, resources, and procedures that they will draw on throughout their graduate program, as well as the roles and expectations of both students and program staff. We recognize that distance learning and online communication are new to many Campus Alberta students. However, by the end of this course, students should feel more confident in this virtual academic environment and be ready to begin their first GCAP program course.
There is no credit assigned to GCAP 100. Students will be assigned a pass/fail evaluation based solely on completing the tasks involved in the various lessons. Students are required to complete the course prior to taking any other GCAP courses. By applying to the program, you are agreeing to complete the program orientation. Failure to complete the orientation may result in withdrawal of the offer of admission to the program. GCAP 100 is offered over a five-week period starting the last week of June each year. Students are then permitted to begin regular coursework in September.
The Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology expects its graduates to have exceptional critical reasoning and written and verbal presentation skills in addition to developing the competencies associated with the practice of counselling. We will work with you throughout your program to ensure that you are able to communicate at a professional level. We also recognize that success in any graduate course or program depends on your basic foundational writing skills. Because we want to ensure the success of all GCAP students, we have prepared a instructional process for you to assess and enhance your writing competency prior to starting your program.
During the Student Orientation, new students will be required to complete GCAP 550: Introduction to Mastering Professional Writing and Navigating APA Format. This course contains seven lessons that guide students through the process of planning, drafting, revising, and editing a graduate paper. Particular focus is placed on implementation of the American Psychological Association publishing standards. Students will complete the first five lessons during the Student Orientation and will then be required to complete the last two lessons prior to starting their first GCAP program course.
There is no credit assigned to GCAP 550. However, students are required to complete the course prior to taking any other GCAP courses. Students are expected to complete the pretests and posttests for each lesson and to obtain a score of at least 80% prior to continuing to the next lesson. By applying to the program, you are agreeing to complete this writing course. Failure to complete the course may result in withdrawal of the offer of admission to the program. Students who score less than 80% on the writing skills assessments will be strongly encouraged to take steps to improve their level of competency in this area prior to starting their first course.
Page last updated: May 5, 2010 @ 12:32:31 PM
