Master of Arts in Education/School Counseling

This program prepares counselors for Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certification in K-12 settings, public and private. Whenever possible, internships are done at schools that students choose, usually at schools where they teach, enabling them to continue working while completing the internship. Teacher certification is favored by many school districts for employment as a school counselor, though not required by most. Teacher certification requires at least one additional year of full-time study, including student teaching. Additionally, students will participate in mental health and addictions studies curricula.

Certification

Persons serving as education staff associates in public schools shall hold certificates authorized by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for service in these roles as required by statute or rules of the PESB. The university recommends a student who has successfully completed an approved program to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction which issues the School Counselor Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certification. This certification program is included in the master’s degree in school counseling described below.

Degree Requirements:

I. Basic College of Education Requirements

6 credits, including:

EDUC 5000 - Introduction to Educational Research 3 credit hours
EDUC 5200 - Social Justice in Professional Practice 3 credit hours

II. Counseling Requirements

59 credits, including:

COUN 5070 - Counseling Across the Lifespan 4 credit hours
COUN 5080 - Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling 4 credit hours
COUN 5100 - Fundamental Counseling Skills 4 credit hours
COUN 5110 - Counseling Theories 3 credit hours
COUN 5120 - Career Counseling 3 credit hours
COUN 5130 - Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling 4 credit hours
COUN 5170 - Group Counseling Theories and Practice 4 credit hours
COUN 5190 - Addictions Counseling 4 credit hours
COUN 5270 - Counseling Tests and Measurements 3 credit hours
COUN 5400 - Diagnosis and Assessment 4 credit hours
COUN 5500 - Counseling and Case Management 4 credit hours
COUN 5510 - Counseling Lab 4 credit hours
COUN 5600 - Family Systems 4 credit hours
COUN 5610 - Child and Adolescent Counseling 3 to 4 credit hours (4 credits required)
COUN 5700 - Crisis Counseling 3 credit hours
COUN 5800 - Psychopharmacology for Counselors 3 credit hours

III. School Counseling Requirements

25 credits, including:

COUN 5090 - Introduction to School Counseling 3 credit hours
COUN 5140 - Consultation, Leadership and Advocacy for School Counselors 3 credit hours
COUN 5540 - School Counseling Practicum 4 credit hours
COUN 5550 - School Counseling Internship and Graduate Project I 4 credit hours
COUN 5560 - School Counseling Internship and Graduate Project II 4 credit hours
COUN 5570 - School Counseling Internship and Graduate Project III 4 credit hours
SPED 5400 - Introduction to Disability, Language and Literacy 3 credit hours