M.Ed. in Counseling – School Counseling

Completion of the School Counseling concentration requires 60 semester hours of coursework, typically completed in two years (including one summer semester). The course sequence integrates classroom instruction with supervised clinical experiences. Coursework covers an introduction to the profession, prevention and intervention in public schools and theories for counseling school-aged children.

Students complete a 100-hour practicum (one semester) and a 600-hour internship (over two semesters) across multiple school levels and settings. Clinical experiences provide opportunities to work directly with students, families, educators and community partners while developing competencies aligned with national school counseling standards. Students may also participate in Project Empower, a community-engaged initiative that provides support services to K-12 students while strengthening practical counseling skills.

During the Program

Students complete all required coursework and clinical hours (100 hours at PreK-6 level and 100 hours at grades 7–12) as part of their degree. No prior teaching experience is required – our program fulfills all Virginia Department of Education classroom and clinical requirements for school counselor licensure. Additional required trainings (child abuse and neglect intervention, emergency first aid/CPR, and dyslexia awareness) can be completed during the program.

After Graduation

Graduates apply for a Pupil Personnel Services License with an endorsement in School Counseling (PreK-12) through the Virginia Department of Education. The license is valid for ten years and is renewable. Students do not need to pass the Praxis before enrolling; however, some school divisions may require it for employment.

Note: For licensure outside Virginia, students should consult their state’s Department of Education for specific requirements. Our CACREP accreditation is widely recognized and meets licensure requirements in many states.

Our graduates are highly sought after and consistently secure positions as school counselors in public and private schools across Virginia and beyond. Recent graduates have been employed by public school divisions and independent schools throughout the region. Graduates serve at all grade levels with many advancing to leadership roles as department chairs and district supervisors.

Graduate students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on funded research projects, participate in the William & Mary Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE), present at national conferences such as AERA, ASCA and ACES, and contribute to publications in peer-reviewed journals. Associate Professor Robert Martinez currently serves as Associate Editor for the “Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development” and on the editorial boards of “Professional School Counseling” and “Journal of College Counseling.”

Application materials include your unofficial transcript(s), a personal statement, a resume/CV, and three recommendations. We encourage prospective students to begin an application, as the portal provides a clear overview of all application requirements, including the personal statement prompt.

All of our on-campus programs in School Psychology and Counseling Education (SPACE) invite top candidates to interview as part of the admission criteria. Interviews are held via Zoom.

Looking for the application deadline? See our Deadlines & Decisions page.

Students may apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA. If you have questions about your financial aid package, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@wm.edu.

All applicants are automatically considered for available scholarships, and recipients will be notified directly if selected for an award.

Some assistantships are available each year for students in the Master's in Counseling programs. The School of Education gives priority to doctoral applicants when awarding assistantships before considering master's students. Applicants can indicate their interest in being considered for an assistantship directly within the application by selecting the appropriate checkbox and responding to a few questions about their relevant skills and experience.