Counselor Education Program

The Mission of the M.Ed. Program in Counselor Education is to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effective practice as professional school counselors in a technologically advanced, culturally diverse, and global society.

Program Objective 1: Graduates will have introductory understanding of theory and concepts regarding human behavior, human service systems, and problems in human behavior at all developmental levels.

Program Objective 2: Graduates will be able to provide individual and group counseling on personal concerns, community services, education and human growth and development, and career planning in diverse settings.

Program Objective 3: Graduates will be well-prepared for the Praxis II Professional School Counseling examination as a prerequisite for internship experiences, graduation, and initial certification as a school counselor in elementary and/or secondary schools.

Program Objective 4: Graduates will demonstrate professional identity needed to be successful as professional school counselors in elementary and/or secondary schools.

Program Objective 5: Students will develop professional skills focused on multicultural and diverse populations in a pluralistic society, inclusive of a robust program of students and faculty.

Program Objective 6: Graduates will develop professional dispositions necessary for success as professional school counselors.

• The program offers options in elementary and/or secondary school counseling.
• Program graduates are eligible for initial South Carolina state certification as professional
  school counselors.
• The M.Ed. Program in Counselor Education is a 48 to 51 hour degree program.
• The primary purpose of this program is to produce individuals who are well qualified personally and professionally to perform effectively as counselors in elementary or secondary schools.
  Program is CACREP approved.
• Program offers the Career Development Facilitator Certificate.

• The counselor education program courses are offered in a face-to-face format.
• Classes meet one time a week and students benefit with weekly live interaction with their instructor and peers.
• The courses are delivered in the evening for working students, usually from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm with some courses meeting from at 5:30pm-8:00pm.
• Some classes are weekend courses offered 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm.

• The counselor education program requires students to complete 48-51 credit hours of coursework; log 700 hours of practicum/internship experience.
• Obtain a passing score of 156 on the Professional School Counselor Praxis test; engage in personal growth experience es such as individual and group counseling (as clients).
• Students also must take the professional comprehensive examination during the program after they have completed all the foundation core education courses and the subject matter oral examination at the end of the program based on the subject-matter core counseling courses.
• Program graduates complete all requirements for certification with the SC Department of Education while enrolled in the program and apply for the certification credential in elementary and/or secondary after graduation.

• School Counselor
• Career Counselors
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• Community Counselor
• Mental Health Counselor
• Social Services
• Employee Assistance Counselors
• Career Development Facilitator