Students from grades preK–12 face unprecedented challenges, from academic struggles to bullying, self-esteem, and family issues. As a licensed or certified school counselor,* you can help children and adolescents overcome obstacles and achieve success while building a rewarding career.
The CACREP-accredited MS in School Counseling program is offered by Walden University, an institution accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Through online coursework, two in-person residencies, and field experiences, you will prepare to provide critical guidance and support to diverse student populations in preK–12 settings.
The accelerated track in the school counseling program is designed for students who are interested in taking three courses per quarter and finishing their program in a shorter time frame. The accelerated track has the same curriculum, residencies, and field experience requirements as the general track, but requires a strong time commitment and is best suited for students who can dedicate themselves full time to their studies.
Graduates of this program will be prepared to:
The competent and confident counseling professional will:
Walden’s MS in School Counseling features a General Program and four specializations to help you meet your professional goals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 8% employment growth for school and career counselors by 2022.*
Earning an MS in School Counseling from Walden can prepare you for a variety of rewarding career roles, including:
Career positions may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, School and Career Counselors, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm (visited September 07, 2016). National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
The primary mission of the UTC Counseling Program is to train knowledgeable, competent, skillful professional counselors to provide services in clinical mental health and school settings. Based on a developmental process of personal and professional wellness, this program emphasizes skill acquisition at early stages, progressing towards a strong theoretical and ethical foundation, and cultural competence in order to work with a variety of individuals.
The objectives listed below represent the major program objectives for all students in the counseling program. The more specific objectives related to each one of these provide the skeletal framework for the coursework offered to students and thus will be found in each course syllabus.
The concentration in school counseling is designed to prepare beginning counselors to work within a school environment. Successful completion of the program and exit exam results in Pre-K through 12 certification as a school counselor.
Methods of instruction in the School Counseling Program include: classroom teaching/lecture, student led presentations, hybridized course delivery with content pushed out to students, engaging with the institution’s learning management system, Blackboard, independent reading and research, and clinical placements in the appropriate field setting. In accordance with established graduate school matriculation policies, known in the Graduate Catalog as “Continuation Standards” students are expected to maintain a B average in order to remain in the program. Students who earn a C in one class must repeat it for a better grade. Earning two Cs will result in program dismissal.
Core Courses
Leveling courses (non-teachers only)
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE)
The comprehensive exam is an exit examination required of all master’s degree students. It is ordinarily taken during the student’s last semester of study in the program. The purpose of the exam is to assess the student’s knowledge of counseling to ensure minimum competence in the field. The CPCE will also provide collective feedback that can be used by the program in developing/adapting curriculum.
Nova Southeastern University offers an innovative academic program designed for the working professional actively involved in or entering the field of counseling. The College offers individuals the opportunity to earn a degree in counseling with specializations in mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling and education, applied behavior analysis, and advanced applied behavior analysis. The program is designed to serve the training needs of practitioners who seek advanced training, but who cannot access quality training without the interruption of demanding schedules.
Programs will develop the skills and leadership abilities of counselors who have a desire to provide, create and maintain high quality service delivery. The online instruction offers accessibility and flexibility along with a quality educational opportunity for the mature (independent) student.
The master’s degree in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration (60 credit hours) provides education and training for those who will seek employment in such diverse settings as social agencies, mental health clinics, hospitals, personnel offices, and schools. This program is offered on the main campus in a ground-based semester format, at one of five other NSU regional campuses in an intensive weekend format, or fully online. Currently, there are regional campus programs offered in Florida at Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Palm Beach. Many graduates go on to seek licensure in Florida as mental health counselors.
The master’s degree in Counseling with a School Counseling concentration (48 credit hours) provides training to individuals seeking positions as school counselors in Pre-K to 12 grade school systems. The program is offered in Fort Lauderdale/Davie, Orlando, and Tampa, in an intensive weekend format. The School Counseling program curriculum is approved by the Florida Department of Education (DOE). Upon degree conferral, School Counseling graduates qualify for Florida certification in Guidance and Counseling.
The master’s degree in Counseling with a Substance Abuse Counseling concentration (48 credit hours) or Substance Abuse Counseling and Education concentration (60 credit hours) is an innovative academic program designed for the working professional actively involved in or entering the field of Substance Abuse Counseling or related fields. The online format is particularly designed to serve the training needs of administrators and practitioners who seek advanced training, but who cannot access quality training without the interruption of ongoing work responsibilities.
The master’s degree in Counseling with an Applied Behavior Analysis concentration (51 required credit hours) is an innovative academic program designed for the working professional actively involved in or entering the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The online format is particularly designed to for those who seek advanced training and the convenience of distance education. The program focuses on developing clinicians informed by science, with classes taught by professors who are active clinicians and researchers in the field. The Applied Behavior Analysis concentration meets the academic and experience certification requirements as per the BACB.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is pleased to be a participating institution of the Southern Regional Education Board's Electronic Campus. The Electronic Campus certifies that the programs and courses it lists comply with its comprehensive set of Principles of Good Practice. The school's online Master of Science degree program is part of the Electronic Campus.
The College of Psychology offers an innovative academic program designed for the working professional actively involved in or entering the field of counseling or related fields. The institute offers individuals the opportunity to earn a degree in counseling with concentrations in mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, substance abuse counseling and education, applied behavioral analysis or advanced applied behavioral analysis. The online institute is particularly designed to serve the training needs of administrators and practitioners who seek advanced training, but who cannot access quality training without the interruption of ongoing work responsibilities.
The program's strengths include a distinguished faculty, a cutting edge curriculum, and a flexible online curriculum. NSU is a dynamic, not-for-profit independent institution dedicated to offering high quality educational programs from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. It offers a total of 87 degree programs, 23 in undergraduate disciplines and 64 in graduate and professional disciplines. Located on a beautiful 314-acre campus in Fort Lauderdale, NSU has approximately 24,000 students and is the largest independent institution of higher education in the Southeastern United States.
Online students use Web pages to access course materials, announcements, the electronic library, and other information/resources, and participate in a range of activities that facilitate frequent interaction with their professors and fellow students. Online activities may include forums using threaded discussion boards, chat rooms, email, and electronic classroom sessions. In addition, the program provides a system that enables the student to submit assignments online in various formats and to receive his or her professor's online review.
Focus on the intellectual, emotional, and biological aspects of human behavior and learn to foster psychological health in individuals, families, groups, and organizations.
Advance your career by studying current theory and practices associated with major human behavior. In Walden’s clinical psychology graduate program, you will be positioned to work with diverse individuals in a broad range of settings, including healthcare, education, government, and business environments. Coursework in this clinical psychology master’s program offers an excellent foundation for pursuing clinical psychology and applying theory and research as a clinical psychology professional.
For international students who may need a master’s degree to practice psychology in their home countries, Walden’s online MS in Clinical Psychology provides the opportunity to become practitioners without requiring a U.S.-based residency requirement. For both international and U.S.-based students, supervised field practicum provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and make a difference in their own communities.
Graduates of this program will be prepared to:
Additional Learning Outcomes for the Counseling Specialization
Find detailed information for this program including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt. This information will vary depending on whether the program (1) reflects the California counseling specialization or (2) reflects the counseling specialization for states other than California or (3) reflects the general specialization.
The MS in Clinical Psychology general degree is not designed to prepare students to become a licensed psychology or counseling professional.
The MS in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Counseling and California Counseling specialization (for California residents only) are designed to prepare graduates for professional counseling practice at the master’s level. Graduates completing the Counseling specialization may qualify to sit for licensing exams and meet the academic licensure requirements of some state counselor licensing boards. However, the Walden University MS in Clinical Psychology program is not accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body, which is a requirement for licensure as a counselor in many states. Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance on licensure issues, state-by-state educational requirements, and internship and practicum requirements; however, it remains the student’s responsibility to evaluate and understand the licensure requirements for the state or international location in which the student intends to work as requirements vary widely. Walden University makes no representation or guarantee that the completion of a degree or coursework for graduate credit will permit the learner to obtain licensure.
In this clinical psychology degree program, you can choose the General Program or a specialization in Counseling, as well a California Counseling specialization that’s specifically designed for those who plan to seek licensure in the state of California.
International applicants should contact an enrollment advisor to review requirements and completion options. The MS in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Counseling can augment the general degree in international settings where there are additional requirements of field placement and content areas specialized to practice.
Our highly personalized graduate program prepares you to be a responsive, effective advocate for the academic, social, emotional, and career success of pre-K, elementary, and middle and high school students. Complete the program in two years full-time or in three years on a part-time basis, in a blended format (online and on campus) and in the field.
Coursework topics include counseling theory and techniques, working in schools, leadership, group counseling, working with special needs students, post-secondary planning and college counseling, consultation, human development, social justice, ethics, and school violence prevention. In our Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)-accredited program, you will participate in practicum and internships under the mentorship and supervision of a tenured school counselor in a P-12 school setting.
Upon completing your studies, you will possess these core competencies:
We also offer a Bilingual Extension, which can be completed simultaneously with your school counseling degree. The extension includes includes a minimum of six additional credits, as well as bilingual practicum experience to prepare you to work specifically with bilingual/ELL students and their families. NYSED certification will require documented proficiency in the target language by independently passing the New York State Bilingual Assessment (BEA).
Complete undergraduate prerequisites or become a more competitive candidate for graduate or professional school in counseling and psychology.
Career and self-fulfillment opportunities are rewarding and plentiful in the health and helping professions: counseling, psychotherapy, social work, clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing and health education. The Preparatory Program for Counseling and Psychology Professions is ideal if you are a career changer who needs to complete undergraduate course prerequisites or if you want to gain a deeper understanding of the counseling and psychology field. The curriculum comprises a range of upper-division psychology courses that are required or strongly recommended for professional or graduate school admission and for careers in social work, counseling and psychology.
Required Courses
Sample Elective Courses
The Master's in Counseling Psychology program with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) prepares students to be socially and culturally responsive relationship and family therapists and mental health counselors. At its core, the MFT’s clinical training program upholds values of equity, social justice, community and cultural wealth, and collaborative problem solving.
Self-Awareness and Contextual Understanding: The MFT program will prepare students to become culturally competent therapists who can critically analyze themselves and their clients across ecological contexts. Students will be able to:
Theoretical Grounding: The MFT program will prepare students to identify and critically analyze theory to address a wide range of clinical counseling and mental health issues, such that students will be able to:
Diagnosis, Assessment, and Research: The program will prepare students to become culturally competent therapists who understand socio-cultural complexities associated with diagnosis, assessment, and research. As culturally responsive therapists, students will be able to:
Therapeutic Interventions and Clinical Practice: Students in the program will be able to understand, develop, identify, and demonstrate the foundational components of culturally competent counseling in marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, and relationship therapy. As practitioners, students will be able to:
The Florida A&M Counselor Education Program is a master’s degree program offered in the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Services in the College of Education. The program provides the educational requirements for graduates to become eligible to become professional school counselors and clinical mental health counselors in diverse settings, namely public schools K-12, and community and other mental health settings.
This program offers graduate study which emphasizes both didactic and affective experiences as necessary dimensions in the growth and development of professional learners. Special effort is made to sensitize and provide the candidate with experiences and skills to be relevant in working with individuals, groups, couples, families, and populations representing varied backgrounds and motivations. Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural effectiveness constitute a pervasive focus in all program studies. Overall, the Counselor Education program seeks to prepare candidates with skills and competencies that result in excellent leaders of schools and other educational entities.
The Master of Education degree sequence in Counselor Education requires a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of graduate coursework in the areas of school and mental health counseling. School Counselors are certification eligible by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Division of Certification. Clinical Mental Health Counselors are licensure eligible by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling.
The Master of Science degree for School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires a written thesis and 3-6 additional credit hours.
The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to train prospective school and mental health counselors for the new century as agents of change, who have the ability to assess, develop, implement, and sustain up-to-date counseling initiatives that are representative of a multicultural and pluralistic society. We support our students as they become critical thinkers, innovative practitioners, and leaders in the counseling profession and in their particular specializations. We promote the following ideas:
Criteria for awarding the degree require that candidates demonstrate the following program goals (applicable and other program objectives are found on each course syllabus). The learner will be able to:
