Educational Specialist in School Counseling
The College of Education and Health Professions at Columbus State University prepares highly qualified teachers, counselors, and leaders who promote high levels of learning for all P-12 students by demonstrating excellence in teaching, scholarship, and professionalism. Teachers, counselors, and leaders continually acquire, integrate, refine, and model these qualities as they develop proficiency, expertise, and leadership. COEHP faculty guide individuals in this developmental process.
Program Description
In addition to the M.Ed. and certification programs in School Counseling, the department offers an advanced degree in School Counseling, the Ed.S. degree. This degree program is designed to prepare students to refine their expertise in school counseling and to develop leadership within educational settings.
The M.Ed. program in School Counseling is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Ed.S. program is based on the expectation that candidates will have a CACREP-equivalent master's-level experience. While CACREP does not accredit Ed.S. programs, the guidelines that have been established for master's preparation are believed by faculty to be a solid professional base upon which to build the curriculum for training at the Ed.S. level. The department will admit a new cohort of students to begin the program each summer term.
Unique/Special Features
The program leading to the Ed.S. degree in School Counseling is designed to prepare students to integrate leadership skills and abilities and to provide students with an elective, specialized focus of training to enhance their knowledge base in school counseling. Furthermore, students are given the opportunity for didactic coursework in clinical supervision, a feature that is typically unique to doctoral-level training.
Admission Requirements
In order to be eligible to apply to the Ed.S. School Counseling program, applicants must hold a masters degree in Counseling or closely-related mental health field. In addition, they must either (1) have a clear, renewable certificate in Georgia as a school counselor OR (2) have recently completed a masters degree in School Counseling or post-graduate certification in School Counseling and are, therefore, eligible to apply for a clear, renewable Georgia certificate in school counseling.
Further eligibility for the program is based on a transcript review of prior graduate studies. Applicants with a master’s degree in School Counseling from a CACREP-accredited institution are exempt from the transcript review process. The transcript evaluation process may be initiated by contacting the College of Education’s Office of Student Advising and Field Experiences (SAFE) at 706-568-2191. The SAFE Office will collect the relevant materials, including a fee of $25 for the transcript review, and then forward the information to the School Counseling program coordinator. A transcript review will be conducted and then a letter will be sent to the applicant noting the outcome of the review, including eligibility and/or outlining any additional coursework required.
After the transcript review is completed, applicants must apply to the CSU Enrollment Services Office AND complete a departmental application that may be obtained from here. In addition, successful completion of an interview with departmental faculty is required for entrance into the program. Interviews will be conducted only after potential candidates have applied for admission and are qualified for further review.
In addition to degree, certification, and transcript evaluation requirements, applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:
1. A graduate GPA (on all attempted graduate coursework) of 3.25/4.0 or higher;
2. A GRE score of 900 or higher (OR proof of a clear, renewable certification in Georgia as a school counselor); and
3. Satisfactory completion of CSU and departmental admissions processes.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Applicants who meet the requirements for GPA and test scores are not guaranteed admission. Admissions decisions are based on multiple assessment factors, including graduate GPA, test scores, and the departmental application and interview processes. There is no provisional admission for the Ed. S. degree program. All applications are due on April 13th for consideration for Summer admission.
Also, please be aware that decisions to grant certification lie ultimately with the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). These decisions may include an assessment of your previous degree(s) and criminal background checks. If you completed degrees at institutions that are not approved by the PSC, then you may be subject to having your certification application denied, even if you complete the courses indicated above. Please consult with the Professional Standards Commission to insure that your prior degrees, especially your previous graduate degree(s), are from programs that are approved by the PSC if you wish to ultimately add 6th-year certification. Because certification requirements are subject to change, the most current information can be found at: www.gapsc.com.
Download and Print Application Form Here
For more information, please contact: Dr. Lenoir Gillam (Program Coordinator).
Text-only version
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