The faculty prepares students to become school counselors who are eligible for certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Students become scholars and practitioners, who think critically and apply their knowledge with skill and compassion.
Admission and Program Information
Beginning with students who start the program in Fall 2018, the Counselor Education Program requires a minimum of 60 hours of course work. Applicants who do not have competencies in curriculum and computer technology will be required to complete courses in those areas. In addition, certification in school counseling by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission requires the completion of a special education course. Admission to the program is not guaranteed, even though an applicant may have met the minimum admission standards.
Go to the Graduate School website and click on Our Programs, then click on School Counseling for information on:
- Specific School Counseling M.Ed. Program Admission Requirements
- School Counseling Program Retention, Dismissal, and Readmission Policies
- School Counseling M.Ed. Program Graduation Requirements
- Accreditation Status
Remediation Process
Steps 1-3, below, constitute “due process.” Student are advised of the areas that need improvement and the actions needed to improve these areas; are given an opportunity to correct the problems they are experiencing; and are made aware of the possible consequences of failure to make improvements in the areas in which they are experiencing difficulty.
Step 1: Faculty regularly confer about the progress of each student in the School Counseling Program. When a student is experiencing difficulties, the student’s advisor gathers relevant documentation identifying any particular problems the student is experiencing. Students are informed that this information is being gathered. The written documentation gathered includes grades, coursework, semester reports, and information from the student’s advisor, instructors, site supervisors, and other school personnel who have had contact with the student.
Step 2: The faculty advisor then meets with the student, summarizes the documentation gathered, and discusses the problem with the student.
Step 3: When appropriate, a written remediation plan will be approved by the advisor and two other program faculty members. This plan will clearly state:
a. specific areas needing improvement
b. specific changes that are expected
c. the steps needed to make the outlined changes
d. the time frame in which the changes must be made
e. that failure to remediate may result in termination from the program
f. the appeals process
Selected Educational Outcomes
Students will:
- demonstrate an understanding of the history, trends, ethical and legal issues, and relevant research in the counseling field and those specific to school counseling.
- demonstrate an understanding of professional counseling organizations, credentialing, licensure, and accreditation.
- develop counseling skills needed to be an effective professional school counselor with the ability to address concerns of students and implement evidence-based individual and group counseling interventions in the K-12 environment.
- understand the role of racial, ethnic, and cultural heritage, nationality, socioeconomic status, gender, and sexual orientation, and equity issues in a multicultural and pluralistic society.
- develop knowledge and understanding of community, environmental, and institutional opportunities that enhance and barriers that impede the academic, career, and emotional success of students.
- develop knowledge and application of current career programming, including program development, career assessment interventions and issues, college and career readiness, and program evaluation.
- demonstrate an understanding of procedures to follow in the case of a crisis, including assessment and intervention.
- develop and evaluate a comprehensive development school counseling program, including a mission statement, objectives, lesson plans, classroom management, and differentiated instruction.
- demonstrate an understanding of the use of data to inform decision making to advocate for students, the school counseling program, and the profession; and in evaluation.
- demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professional school counselor as a leader, an advocate, and a system change agent.
- demonstrate professional dispositions including integrity, openness, commitment, self-awareness, and respect.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
Students will:
- demonstrate content knowledge and skills through individual case studies.
- demonstrate the ability to impact student learning through a project that requires students to use a pre-test, implement an intervention, and conduct a post-test to determine impact.
- demonstrate their ability to effectively conduct a classroom lesson during a faculty observation.
- demonstrate their ability to use data to develop a project that focuses on closing achievement gaps.
Requirements for M.Ed. Degree with a Major in School Counseling
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 54 | |
| COUN 7800 | Orientation to Counseling as a Profession | 3 |
| RSCH 7100 | Research Methodology in Education | 3 |
| PSYC 7020 | Principles of Learning and Classroom Management | 3 |
| PSYC 7030 | Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| PSYC 8250 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| COUN 7010 | Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7400 | Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COUN 7420 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COUN 7450 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7470 | Counseling Culturally Diverse Populations | 3 |
| COUN 7820 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7830 | Consultation and Advocacy in School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7900 | Counseling Skills and Techniques | 3 |
| COUN 7981 | School Counseling Practicum I | 3 |
| COUN 7430 | Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7930 | College and Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 7991 | School Counseling Internship I | 3 |
| COUN 7992 | School Counseling Internship II | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Psychopathology | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | ||
| Expressive Arts in Counseling | ||
| Assessment in Counseling | ||
| Issues in Mental Health Counseling | ||
| Total Hours Required for the Degree | 60 | |
Competency Requirements
Competency requirements in curriculum and computer usage must be demonstrated. Those not meeting the competency requirements by demonstrating skill level or completed course work will take SPEC 3000.
