Education Specialist degree in School Counseling
The Special Education, Counseling, and Student Affairs graduate program offers an Education Specialist degree in School Counseling. The 60-hour program is pending accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
The program’s conceptual framework emphasizes development of knowledgeable, caring, ethical decision-makers within the context of groups and institutions, client development and learning, counseling of students leading to theory-driven and research-guided practice in school counseling. Curricular experiences include professional orientation, counseling and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling and helping relationships, group counseling and group work, assessment and testing, research and program evaluation, and foundations. All courses are 3 credit hours.
See the Cashiers and Student Accounts website for tuition and fee schedules.
Core Requirements (51 credit hours)
- EDCEP 810 Mental Health in Schools
- EDCEP 815 Using Tests in Counseling
- EDCEP 816 Research Methods
- EDCEP 822 Counseling Adolescents
- EDCEP 823 Counseling Theory
- EDCEP 824 Development Across the Lifespan for School Counselors
- EDCEP 832 Counseling Techniques
- EDCEP 852 Career Development for School Counselors
- EDCEP 855 Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
- EDCEP 856 Counseling Children
- EDCEP 857 Counseling Program Management
- EDCEP 858 Group Processes
- EDCEP 860 Trauma and Crisis Counseling
- EDCEP 867 Counseling Mental Health Disorders
- EDCEP 871 Leadership, Advocacy, and Consultation for Counselors
- EDCEP 886 Critical Issues in Counseling
- EDCEP 951 Multicultural Counseling
Clinical Requirements (9 credit hours)
- EDCEP 877 Counseling Practicum
- EDCEP 887 Counseling Internship
- EDCEP 887 Counseling Internship
Counseling Practicum and Counseling Internship will have assigned placements.
The practicum will consist 100 clock hours in approved school settings arranged by the program coordinator and internship faculty member.
The internship will consist of 600 clock hours over two semesters in approved school settings (elementary and secondary) arranged by the program coordinator and internship faculty member. A minimum of 240 hours over the two semesters is required for direct service counseling with clients with weekly supervision held by a licensed school counselor and faculty professor. Students attend class for group supervision weekly with an additional one hour for individual supervision. Internship placements are approved only following successful completion of Counseling Practicum and submission and approval of the Internship application.