This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.valdosta.edu.

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:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the history, trends, ethical and legal issues, and relevant research in the school counseling or clinical mental health counseling fields.
  2. demonstrate an understanding of professional counseling organizations, credentialing, licensure, and accreditation.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. develop knowledge and application of current career programming, including program development, career assessment interventions and issues, college and career readiness, and program evaluation.
  7. demonstrate an understanding of procedures to follow in the case of a crisis, including assessment and intervention.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. demonstrate professional dispositions including integrity, openness, commitment, self-awareness, and respect.

Examples of Outcome Assessments

Students will:

  1. demonstrate content knowledge and skills through individual case studies.
  2. 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.
  3. demonstrate their ability to effectively conduct a counseling session during a faculty observation.
  4. 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

Required Courses27
EDUC 5999Professional Orientation0
COUN 7400Counseling Theory and Practice3
COUN 7800Orientation to Counseling as a Profession3
COUN 7820Career Counseling3
COUN 7450Group Counseling3
COUN 7900Counseling Skills and Techniques3
PSYC 7030Measurement and Evaluation3
PSYC 8250Developmental Psychology3
RSCH 7100Research Methodology in Education3
School Counseling Concentration27
COUN 7430Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling3
COUN 7010Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling3
PSYC 7020Principles of Learning and Classroom Management3
PSYC 7020Principles of Learning and Classroom Management3
COUN 7420Counseling Children and Adolescents3
COUN 7930College and Career Development3
COUN 7830Consultation and Advocacy in School Counseling3
COUN 7981Practicum3
COUN 7991Internship I3
COUN 7992Internship II3
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 Degree60

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

Required Courses27
EDUC 5998Professional Orientation0
COUN 7400Counseling Theory and Practice3
COUN 7800Orientation to Counseling as a Profession3
COUN 7820Career Counseling3
COUN 7450Group Counseling3
COUN 7470Counseling Culturally Diverse Populations3
COUN 7900Counseling Skills and Techniques3
PSYC 7030Measurement and Evaluation3
PSYC 8250Developmental Psychology3
RSCH 7100Research Methodology in Education3
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration27
PSYC 7200Psychopathology3
COUN 7420Counseling Children and Adolescents3
COUN 7430Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling3
COUN 7850Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
COUN 7950Assessment in Counseling3
COUN 7890Issues in Mental Health Counseling3
COUN 7981Practicum3
COUN 7991Internship I3
COUN 7992Internship II3
Electives6
COUN 7020Expressive Arts in Counseling3
COUN 7830Consultation and Advocacy in School Counseling3
COUN 7930College and Career Development3
Total Hours Required for the Degree60