MS Guidance and Counseling

Program Overview

The MS Guidance and Counseling Program, accredited by CACREP, prepares students to provide counseling services in P-12 educational settings. The online program features 60 credit hours of coursework, including practicums and an internship, and focuses on areas such as psychopathology, counseling techniques, and crisis intervention. Graduates may pursue careers as school counselors or in similar roles, subject to state regulations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Program Objective: Prepare individuals to serve students in P-12 educational environments as school counselors.
• Program Description: This online master's program is an exact replica of the MEd in School Counseling certification program, but designed for students who lack a teaching certificate.
It is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), ensuring industry-standard instruction.
• Program Outcomes: Graduates will be able to provide advocacy, assessment, evaluation, and a range of counseling services to students.
• Program Delivery: Fully online, at one of the most affordable institutions in the state.
• Important Note: The program may not lead to a job as a school counselor.
Candidates must check with their own state for guidance on pursuing a career in this field.

Outline:

• Program Length: 2-3 years
• Credit Hours: 60
• Course Length: 8 weeks
• Course Structure:
• Professional Courses (9 hours):
• CO 506 Life-Span Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
• ED 504 Techniques of Educational Research (3 credit hours)
• ED 506 Educational Statistics (3 credit hours)
• Concentration Courses (45 hours):
• CO 500 Professional Orientation (3 credit hours)
• CO 509 Pre-Practicum in Counseling with Residency (3 credit hours)
• CO 520 Psychopathology (3 credit hours)
• CO 540 Introduction to School Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 541 Theories and Techniques of Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 542 Career Development and Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 543 Counseling Children and Adolescents (3 credit hours)
• CO 544 Strategies for Crisis Intervention (3 credit hours)
• CO 545 Diagnostic Techniques in Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 546 Group Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 547 Counseling Multicultural Populations (3 credit hours)
• CO 548 Practicum in School Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 552 Foundations of School Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 579 Internship in School Counseling (6 credit hours)
• Electives (6 hours):
• CO 510 Theories and Treatment of Addiction (3 credit hours)
• CO 511 Issues in Addiction Recovery (3 credit hours)
• CO 512 Family Issues in Counseling Addicted Clients (3 credit hours)
• CO 513 Techniques of Addictions Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 531 Law and Ethics in Distance Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 532 Administration and Practice of Distance Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 533 Distance Counseling with Special Populations (3 credit hours)
• CO 549 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 credit hours)
• CO 550 Theory and Treatment of Trauma (3 credit hours)
• CO 551 Counseling with Special Populations: Grief, Trauma, or Crisis (3 credit hours)
• CO 554 Technology and the Counseling Profession (3 credit hours)
• CO 556 Human Sexuality (3 credit hours)
• CO 560 Theory and Treatment of Grief (3 credit hours)
• CO 571 Introduction to Play Therapy (3 credit hours)
• CO 572 Advanced Play Therapy (3 credit hours)
• CO 573 Adult/Child Relationship (3 credit hours)
• CO 598 Selected Topics in Counseling (1-3 credit hours)
• PY 526 Marriage and Family Therapy (3 credit hours)

Assessment:

• Program Completion Requirements:
• Minimum GPA of 3.25 on a four-point scale on all work attempted with no grade less than "C."
• Satisfactory score on a comprehensive examination (Praxis II) covering all the content of the program.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• School counselor in P-12 educational environments
• Other similar settings
• Important Note: The program may not lead to a job as a school counselor.
Candidates must check with their own state for guidance on pursuing a career in this field.

Other:

• Mentor Collective Program: Enhances the online learning experience by linking students one-on-one with a mentor.
Students learn what to expect in school, while mentors build their networks and develop skills to become better professionals and leaders.
• Residency Requirement: The program is offered online with a residency requirement.