Master of Education in Counselor Education

School Counseling – ME6274

Department of Counseling and Higher Education
McCracken Hall
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701-2979
740.593.4400
education.graduate@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall

Program Overview

The mission of the master’s program in School Counseling is to prepare highly competent professional school counselors to effectively serve the pre-K-12 population by assuming leadership and advocacy roles to promote optimum development for all students, including those from low income and culturally diverse populations.

The master’s program consists of core counseling coursework in each of the following eight curricular areas: (a) Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice, (b) Social and Cultural Diversity, (c) Human Growth and Development, (d) Career Development, (e), Counseling and Helping Relationships, (f) Group Counseling and Group Work, (g) Assessment and Testing, and (h) Research and Program Evaluation. The school counseling program specialization includes additional coursework in professional school counseling, counseling children and adolescents, and counseling assessment of children and adolescents. All students must complete a supervised counseling practicum of 100 hours and a counseling internship of 600 hours. A counseling internship for the school counseling specialization should be completed in a K-12 school under the supervision of a licensed school counselor.

Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure as School Counselors in the state of Ohio, and would have to pass the school counseling examination required by the Ohio Department of Education. Upon successful completion of the academic requirements in the school counseling program, the counselor education program will formally endorse the student for the School Counselor license and/or employment appropriate to the school counseling program. The Master’s program in school counseling at Ohio University is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). By maintaining CACREP accreditation, the program strives to provide the highest quality of faculty and curriculum standards. 

Expected time to degree for full-time study is 6 semesters.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Become familiar with the requirements for a professional school counselor, the body of literature and research that is central to the field, and professional preparation standards which impact the field as a whole as well as school counseling.
2. Develop an understanding of the school counseling program in relation to the academic and student services program in the school setting.
3. Learn the role, function, and professional identity of the school counselor in relation to the roles of other professional and support personnel in the school.
4. Learn to develop strategies of leadership designed to enhance the learning environment of schools.
5. Acquire knowledge of the school setting, environment, and pre-K-12 curriculum
6. Identify current issues, policies, laws, and legislation relevant to school counseling
7. Understand the role of racial, ethnic, and cultural heritage, nationality, socioeconomic status, family structure, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual beliefs, occupation, physical and mental status, and equity issues in school counseling
8. Develop knowledge and understanding of community, environmental, and institutional opportunities that enhance, as well as barriers that impede, student academic, career, and personal/social success and overall development.
9. Develop knowledge and application of current and emerging technology in education and school counseling to assist students, families, and educators in using resources that promote informed academic, career, and personal/social choices.
10. Acquire an understanding of ethical and legal considerations related specifically to the practice of school counseling.

Opportunities for Graduates

Graduates are eligible to apply for school counseling positions, sometime referred to as guidance positions, within K-12 schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Graduates may also be eligible to apply for advising positions in two- and four-year universities.

Further Information

Link to Program:  https://www.ohio.edu/education/counseling-higher-education/counseling2

Admission Requirements

• Transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.9 or higher
  • Students with a GPA lower than 2.9 may apply by submitting Verbal and Quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

• Three letters of recommendation written by current or former professors or supervisors, or others in the field who can address the applicant’s suitability for a graduate program in counseling.
  • Note that letters of recommendation must be submitted online by the authors of the letters. However, if your references prefer to submit hard copies please contact Graduate College to check on how to submit hard copies. Program faculty may contact your references for further information.
• Personal Statement of approximately 5 double-spaced typed pages from the applicant addressing specific questions including:
  • What are your career goals? What experiences and/or persons in your life have influenced your career goals?
  • What experiences have you had that you believe would help you be successful in a graduate program in counselor education?
  • Describe your personal characteristics that will be assets and challenges to your study in counselor education. What qualities do you possess that you think would enable you to become an effective counselor?
  • Describe your culturally relevant interpersonal experiences with individuals or groups who are different from you (race, gender, age, disability status, etc.).
  • Counselor preparation involves a great deal of self-exploration and discovery. How will you manage your personal and professional boundaries in this process?
  • What distinguishes you from other candidates for the counselor education program?

International Students

The Athens-based program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.

Graduation Requirements

Complete a minimum of 60 semester hours as follows: