Degree Title: Master of Education

Program Name and Number: School Counseling - ME6274

Department/Unit: Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus with an annual fall program start. Students may begin elective coursework in the summer. May be offered as a cohort program at Ohio University regional campuses, but not annually.

Terms of Entry: [Fall | Summer]

Program Mission: 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.

Program Learning Objectives: Successful completion of the M.Ed. program specialization in school counseling prepares students to:

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.

Program Overview:  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 counselling 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. 

Concentrations: Students completing the school counseling specialization may elect to add a specialization in clinical mental health counseling or clinical mental health/clinical rehabilitation counseling. This would require additional coursework and internship experiences.

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.

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/education/academic-programs/counseling-and-higher-education/counselor-education/school-counselor-education.cfm

Graduation Requirements:

• Minimum of 60 semester credit hours
• Counseling Practicum of 100 clock hours
• Counseling Internship of 600 clock hours to be completed in a K-12 school under the supervision of a licensed school counselor
• Expected time to degree if studying full-time is 6 semesters

Culminating Experience: Students completing the M.Ed. degree in Counselor Education complete a counseling portfolio in a capstone Seminar in Counseling course.

Admission Requirements: Applicants for the Master’s (M.Ed.) degree in Counselor Education specializing in School Counseling must apply online to Ohio University’s Graduate College http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/apply/

Beyond Ohio University requirements for graduate admission including a minimum of a 4-year undergraduate degree, the following materials are required to be submitted:

• Transcripts showing a Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.9 or higher
  • Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.9 may still apply, but must submit Verbal and Quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  • Applicants with less than a 2.9 GPA may address past academic performance and aptitude for graduate study in the Personal Statement.
• Three (3) 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. If your references prefer to submit hard copies, please contact the Graduate College for submission procedures. Program faculty may contact 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 believe enable you to become an effective counselor?
  • Describe your culturally relevant interpersonal experiences with individuals or groups who differ from you (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation, age, spiritual beliefs, ability).
  • 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?
  • Describe anything else you wish the program faculty to consider with your application.
• For non-native English speakers, please see the Ohio University Graduate College website for most current information. Requirements for unconditional admissions with eligibility for funding include one of the following:
  • TOEFL iBT of 80 Composite, all Section Scores of 17
  • IELTS of 6.5 Composite, all Bands 6.5