About the Program

The M.Ed. in School Counseling program is an intensive, 14-month program in which students participate in a tightly knit cohort experience and a yearlong internship that provides deep preparation for success as a school counselor.

Ours is an accredited program that leads you to licensure as a K-12 school counselor in North Carolina, with reciprocity options for other states. Additionally, graduates of the program are eligible to apply for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor after two years of post-master’s supervised counseling experience.

Our 60-credit program integrates a strengths-based approach. We prepare school counselors to implement comprehensive school counseling programs, following the American School Counseling Association National Model.

Our program follows a cohort model and features a year-long internship in a public school. This allows for applied, hands-on learning as part of a supportive, closely-knit cohort.

What does a school counselor do?

School counselors are employed in elementary, middle, and high schools as well as district and supervisory positions. School counselors promote all students’ academic, career and social/emotional development by designing, implementing, and evaluating culturally relevant, comprehensive school counseling programs. Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, school counselors promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students.

Accreditation

Our program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and approved by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

School Counseling Mission and Objectives

Mission

Prepare high quality strengths-based professional school counselors who advocate and promote development and educational equity in diverse school communities within the context of the American School Counselor Association’s National Model and Council for Accreditation and Related Educational Program standards.

Overarching Program Objectives

• Prepare counselors who understand and utilize strengths-based theory and research within a comprehensive school counseling program.
• Prepare culturally competent practitioners who promote educational access and social justice.
• Prepare leaders and advocates within the school and broadly for the profession.
• Produce research and influence policy that enhances the school counseling field

Specific Program Objectives: Student Learning Outcomes

(corresponding to each of the eight core CACREP areas and the school counseling specialty area)

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the history and philosophy of the counseling profession and the profession of school counseling.
2. Students will demonstrate multicultural counseling competencies.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the systemic and environmental factors that affect human development, functioning, and behavior.
4. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and use assessment tools and techniques relevant to career planning and decision-making.
5. Students will demonstrate essential interviewing, counseling, and case conceptualization skills.
6. Students will demonstrate effective group skills, including the abilities to recruit, screen, and select group members.
7. Students will demonstrate the ability to use assessments for intervention planning purposes.
8. Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively evaluate counseling interventions and programs.
9. Students will use data to inform decision making and to advocate for students and programs.