Master of Education in School Counseling with 30 credits Graduation Requirement
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling program is designed to develop counseling skills and school counselor preparation for individuals who are seeking a graduate degree in school counseling. The program is a non-thesis, 30 credit hours including a practicum for graduation. Coursework features individual and group counseling theories to help, support and advocate for all students, applying research for data- driven decisions, research methods in support of school counseling programs, legal issues and ethical principles, and developing the design implementation, management, and evaluation of a comprehensive developmental school counseling program. The program prepares students to become a skilled school counselor for K-12 schools, helping students in group and individual counseling.
Program Goals
Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling program enables students to:
- Appreciate the need for observing legal and ethical practices in counseling
- Provide students with knowledge of learning theories and human development across lifespan.
- Recognize the relationship between human growth and development and options for counseling interventions
- Use individual and group counseling techniques to facilitate treatment planning and implementation for diverse student populations
- Research career development options and create a personal career plan.
- Understand the various roles of the school counselor, including standards and behaviors as defined in Texas Education Agency’s Comprehensive and Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program.
Degree Requirements
This program requires 30 credit hours of coursework to earn the degree including a practicum course, COUN 5317. All financial obligations to the university must be satisfied before the university can issue a diploma or an official transcript to a student.
Keep in mind that this program with a 30 credits graduation requirement does not qualify the graduates to get the school counseling certification in Texas. For the school counseling certification in Texas, Texas Education Agency requires a master’s degree with 48 credit hours.
| Course Number | Courses (30 credits) | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 5311 | Foundation of School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5312 | Individual Counseling Theories and Techniques | 3 |
| COUN 5313 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COUN 5314 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5315 | Developmental Guidance and Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5316 | Career development and Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5317 | Practicum for School Counseling ** | 3 |
| COUN 5318 | Group and Family Counseling Theories and Techniques | 3 |
| COUN 5319 | Mental Health & Community Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5320 | Counseling for Special Population | 3 |
COURSE SEQUENCE
| Year | Semester | Duration | Course 1 | Course 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall | 15 weeks | COUN 5317- Practicum for School Counseling | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | COUN 5318-Group and Family Counseling Theories and Techniques | COUN 5319-Mental Health & Community Counseling | |
| Fall 2 | 8 weeks | COUN 5311-Foundation of School Counselling | ||
| Spring | 15 weeks | COUN 5317- Practicum for School Counseling | ||
| Spring 1 | 8 weeks | COUN 5312-Individual Counseling Theories and Techniques | ||
| Spring 2 | 8 weeks | COUN 5313- Counseling Children and Adolescents | COUN 5320-Counseling for Special Population | |
| Summer 1 | 6 weeks | COUN 5314-Multicultural Counseling | ||
| Summer 2 | 6 weeks | COUN 5315- Developmental Guidance and Counseling | COUN 5316- Career Development and Counseling | |
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements for online School Counseling Master Program:
- A completed application form
- An application fee
- Letter of intent (Statement of Purpose)
- At least one year of classroom teaching experience
- Curriculum Vitae
- Two letters of recommendation
- Copy of current ID
- Official Transcripts of all academic work completed at the bachelor level or beyond
- Minimum 2.5 GPA*
- For international students: Proof of English Language proficiency**
*Students whose GPA is less than 2.5 must have an overall graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher after completing 9 graduate hours. Failure to achieve the minimum 3.0 GPA after completing 9 graduate hours will result in suspension from the program.
**English Proficiency must be met if undergraduate degree was received outside the U.S. from a non-English speaking country.
Option 1: 2 years of teaching experience in an English speaking country
Option 2: TOEFL (IBT 79) or equivalent nationally recognized standardized tests
