School Counseling

The School Counseling program prepares its graduates to be effective, collaborative and community-minded leaders ready to assume positions as counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools. Our comprehensive and balanced program challenges students to consider both the developmental needs of school-aged children and the best mechanisms of support for children dealing with developmental challenges. Our program emphasizes social justice, preparing students to become advocates for families and highly skilled counselors who facilitate evidence-based and data-driven school counseling practices.

Our curriculum stresses the cognitive, affective, and physical growth and development of children, with a particular concentration on utilizing counselors' knowledge and skills to maximize student learning. Within the School Counseling curriculum, students acquire competencies for the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling programs. Our graduates are well-prepared and highly sought after, and they go on to pursue rewarding careers as school counselors.

Program of Study

Completion of the School Counseling Concentration requires a total of 60 semester hours of course work that is typically completed in two years (including one summer semester). The course sequence integrates classroom instruction with field-based practica and internship experiences. See the M.Ed. in Counseling - School Counseling Concentration Program of Studies for more details.

Clinical Sequence

During the clinical sequence, students are assigned placements in public school settings where they learn from trained school counseling supervisors. Over three semesters, students complete practicum and internships in different school levels and in diverse districts. Each student creates a portfolio that documents school counseling competencies.

Master's students can become involved with Project Empower, a community engaged collaboration between the School of Education and a local public school district to provide support services that address the interpersonal, emotional and academic needs of students.

Accreditation

Our School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The curriculum also adheres to guidelines prescribed by the National Standards for School Counselors, an initiative undertaken by the American School Counselors Association (ASCA).

Additional Licensure Requirements

Students seeking licensure in Virginia will need to complete training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). Students will need to provide documentation of completion of this training, which is usually an official card. Training courses are offered by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.

Students will also need to provide a social security number (SSN) in order to be eligible for a VA license.