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 Counselor Education for information on:
- Specific Counselor Education M.Ed. Program Admission Requirements
- Counselor Education Program Retention, Dismissal, and Readmission Policies
- Counselor Education 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 school counseling or clinical mental health counseling fields.
- demonstrate an understanding of professional counseling organizations, credentialing, licensure, and accreditation.
- develop counseling skills needed to be an effective professional school counselor or clinical mental health counselor with the ability to address concerns of students or clients and implement evidence-based individual and group counseling interventions.
- 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 or clients.
- 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 either a comprehensive development school counseling program, including a mission statement, objectives, lesson plans, classroom management, and differentiated instruction; or a comprehensive clinical mental health counseling treatment plan.
- demonstrate an understanding of the use of data to inform decision making to advocate for students or clients, the counselor education program, and the counseling profession; and in evaluation.
- demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professional school counselor or clinical mental health 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 or clients to use a pre-assessment, implement an intervention, and conduct a post-assessment to determine impact.
- demonstrate their ability to effectively conduct a counseling session during a faculty observation.
- demonstrate their ability to use data to develop a project that focuses on closing achievement gaps or develop a treatment plan.
Requirements for M.Ed. Degree with a Major in Counselor Education:
School Counseling Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 27 | |
| EDUC 5999 | Professional Orientation | 0 |
| COUN 7400 | Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COUN 7800 | Orientation to Counseling as a Profession | 3 |
| COUN 7820 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7450 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7900 | Counseling Skills and Techniques | 3 |
| PSYC 7030 | Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| PSYC 8250 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| RSCH 7100 | Research Methodology in Education | 3 |
| School Counseling Concentration | 27 | |
| COUN 7430 | Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7010 | Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling | 3 |
| PSYC 7020 | Principles of Learning and Classroom Management | 3 |
| PSYC 7020 | Principles of Learning and Classroom Management | 3 |
| COUN 7420 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COUN 7930 | College and Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 7830 | Consultation and Advocacy in School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7981 | Practicum | 3 |
| COUN 7991 | Internship I | 3 |
| COUN 7992 | Internship II | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Psychopathology | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | ||
| Expressive Arts in Counseling | ||
| Assessment in Counseling | ||
| Issues in Mental Health Counseling | ||
| Behavior Modification | ||
| Crisis Counseling | ||
| Total Hours Required for the Degree | 60 | |
Competency Requirements
Additional Competency Requirement Course: SPEC 3000 Serving Students with Diverse Needs.
Requirements for M.Ed. Degree with a Major in Counselor Education:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 27 | |
| EDUC 5998 | Professional Orientation | 0 |
| COUN 7400 | Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COUN 7800 | Orientation to Counseling as a Profession | 3 |
| COUN 7820 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7450 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7470 | Counseling Culturally Diverse Populations | 3 |
| COUN 7900 | Counseling Skills and Techniques | 3 |
| PSYC 7030 | Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| PSYC 8250 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| RSCH 7100 | Research Methodology in Education | 3 |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration | 27 | |
| PSYC 7200 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| COUN 7420 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COUN 7430 | Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7850 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7950 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7890 | Issues in Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7981 | Practicum | 3 |
| COUN 7991 | Internship I | 3 |
| COUN 7992 | Internship II | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| COUN 7020 | Expressive Arts in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7830 | Consultation and Advocacy in School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 7930 | College and Career Development | 3 |
| Total Hours Required for the Degree | 60 | |
