School Counseling, M.Ed.

A Professional, Compassionate Master’s Program in School Counseling

Prepare to meet children and adolescents at critical points in their lives and start them on a positive path for years to come.

INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.

The M.Ed. in School Counseling leads to endorsement for the AA license as a school counselor, issued by the Department of Education.

Mission of the Program

The mission of the School Counseling Program is to help students acquire core competencies, as well as specialized knowledge and skill, necessary to perform effectively as school counselors. Completion of the program will assist graduates in making application for licensure as a school counselor, National Counseling Certification, and, licensure as a professional counselor (LPC).

The program wishes to recruit students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate character, maturity, scholarship, leadership, church/community involvement, and interest in the counseling profession. Students participating in the School Counseling Program receive training in the theories, models, and techniques of professional counseling with specialized preparation in work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators in the school setting. Students are expected to complete supervised clinical training in approved sites.

Students will develop the knowledge, skills, and practices of school counseling in order to provide competent care for differing populations within a multicultural and pluralistic society informed by the ASCA model.
Students will promote a safe learning environment, develop interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with peers, adults and the community around them, and help students to recognize their individual strengths and challenges in the school setting.

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

A minimum of 60 semester hours must be completed by taking the following courses:

Tier I – Pre-practicum (courses must be taken prior to Practicum)
Tier II – Pre-Internship I (courses must be taken prior to Internship I)
Tier III – Pre-Internship II (courses must be taken prior to Internship II)
Tier IV – Pre-graduation (courses must be taken prior to graduation)
CC - Core Courses: (courses must be taken prior CPCE)

*once registered for a COU course after the semester starts or later, no course can be changed to PSY

Tier	CC		TITLE	HOURS
Tier I	CC	COU 6501	Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Counseling	3
Tier I	CC	COU 6502	Theories of Personality and Counseling (cross-listed with PSY 6502)	3
Tier I	CC	COU 6506	Multicultural Counseling (cross-listed with PSY 6506)	3
Tier I		COU 6668	Foundations, Contextual Dimensions, and Knowledge and Skills of School Counseling	3
Tier I	CC	COU 6515	Lifespan Development (cross-listed with PSY 6515)	3
Prerequisites for COU 6503: COU 6501, 6502, 6506, 6668, 6515
Tier I	CC	COU 6661	Use and Interpretation of Tests (cross-listed with PSY 6661)	3
Tier I	CC	COU 6503	Helping Relationships (Methods and Techniques in Counseling)	3
Tier II	CC	COU 6662	Techniques of Group Counseling	3
Tier II		COU 6663	Practicum in Counseling and Therapy (requires completion of 18 hours in practicum prerequisites including COU 6503 Helping Relationships)	CR/NC
Tier II	CC	COU 6504	Research-Methods and Procedures (cross-listed with PSY 6504)	3
Tier II/III		COU 6536	Psychopathology III – Assessment & Treatment	3
Tier III	CC	COU 6665	Lifestyle and Career Counseling	3
Tier III		COU 6817	Crisis Counseling (cross-listed as PSY 6817)	3
Tier III		COU 6701	Internship in Counseling I	CR/NC
Tier IV		COU 6702	Internship in Counseling II	CR/NC
Tier IV		COU 6999***	Comprehensive Exam	CR/NC
Can be taken during any semester prior to graduation
		COU 6666	Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling	3
		COU 6667	Addictions Counseling	3
		COU 6810	Play Therapy (cross-listed as PSY 6810)	3
		COU 6818	Counseling Children and Adolescents	3
		SPECIALIZED COURSEWORK: 3 SEMESTER HRS	TITLE	HOURS
		Elective	In consultation with advisor (electives may vary each semester)	3

***COU 6999 is the exit exam course. This is not a physical or on-line class; however, you must enroll in COU 6999 and successfully complete this comprehensive exam (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam; CPCE) 1-2 semesters prior to your expected graduation semester.

For the most up-to-date list of courses and requirements, please consult Mississippi College’s course catalog.