M.Ed. in School Counseling
The M.Ed. Program in School Counseling is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The 48-semester-hour degree program is designed around the eight core areas of (1) Human Growth and Development, (2) Social and Cultural Foundations, (3) The Helping Relationship, (4) Group Dynamics and Processes, (5) Lifestyle/Career Development, (6) Appraisal of Individuals, (7) Research and Evaluation, and (8) Professional Orientation. The program is aimed to prepare students to design and implement comprehensive developmental school counseling programs in P-12 school settings and to deliver services geared towards enhancing the career, academic, and personal/social development of children and adolescents. Curricular experiences include clinical supervision of a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships in a school setting.
The program leading to the M.Ed. in School Counseling is designed also to prepare students for state certification in School Counseling (neither teaching experience nor teacher certification is required for admission to the program). Students holding a master's degree in community counseling who are interested in school counseling should inquire about the Post-Graduate Certification Program in School Counseling.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Regular Admission
1. An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
3. A minimum score of 800 on the GRE (or proof of a clear, renewable Georgia educator certificate).
4. An evaluation of transcripts.
Provisional Admission
1. An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
3. A minimum score of 700 on the GRE (or proof of a clear, renewable Georgia educator certificate).
4. Students admitted to the program on a provisional basis are limited to and must complete with a grade of B or better two courses to be determined by the program coordinator. Upon satisfactory completion of these two courses, the student will be moved to regular admission status and will be allowed to register for other courses at that time.
Applicants must apply to the CSU Admissions 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, based on assessment of a completed application file.
DEADLINES: All applications are due on April 13th for consideration for Summer admission, July 6th for consideration for Fall admission, and November 9th for consideration for Spring admission.
Advising
Students should meet with their advisors to determine the most appropriate sequence of courses in their program of study and to insure that they are on track for meeting state certification requirements. In addition, the culminating 700-hour clinical experience is considered the most important aspect of this program. The application process for practicum and internship includes prerequisite coursework and pre-registration. Applications for practicum and internship are due by midterm of the semester prior to the anticipated start date of the field experiences. Due to the intensity of the internship experience, a course load of six semester credit hours is considered a full-time load when students are enrolled in internship. Students wishing to exceed this limit must seek permission from the department.
Certification Requirements
Prior to graduation, students must complete the requirements that enable them to apply for state certification in School Counseling. The College of Education and Health Professions Services and Field Experiences (COEHP SAFE) Office provides services related to certification for CSU students seeking certification in counseling, educational leadership, and teaching fields. Information about this office can be obtained at http://safe.colstate.edu/ or by calling 706-568-2191. In addition to passing the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE), students must provide evidence of coursework or an equivalent workshop on educating exceptional children and on computer skill competency. Students can also expect to have to pass a criminal background check in order to become a school counselor. Additional information about requirements for state certification of school counselors can be found at http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/Documents/rules/505-2-.117.pdf and http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/Documents/RULES/505-2-.08.asp
Student Evaluation
Evaluation of the student's performance is continuous and involves consideration of the student's coursework, as well as the student's performance in laboratory, practicum, and internship classes. All of these experiences are considered aspects of the student's academic performance, related to his/her professional development as a counselor. Furthermore, counseling faculty members hold staffing meetings each semester to review students' progress in the program. In order to graduate, students must also complete the required student portfolio assessment and a comprehensive exit exam. A student may be dropped from the program upon the recommendation from program faculty to the Dean of the College of Education and Health Professions or if the welfare of the student's clientele, prospective clientele, or the functioning of a school or agency is, in the judgment of the Counseling faculty, in jeopardy as a result of the student's behavior. These decisions are made in accordance with University policies and state and federal laws, and students are entitled to due process. Dismissal decisions may be appealed to the College of Education and Health Professions Graduate Council.
For more information, please contact: Dr. Lenoir Gillam (Program Coordinator).
Phone: (706) 568-2301
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