Master of Education (Certification) School Counseling

Program Admission Requirements

Phase I: Graduate School Admission

Meet the requirements to be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
Provide verification of background clearance/fingerprints.
Hold valid baccalaureate level certification in a teaching field or valid master's level professional educator certificate in another area of instructional support. Two years of satisfactory educational experience is required prior to admission.

Note: Educational experience is defined as: teaching experience and instructional support experience, including full-time educational work in: (1) any state or local public school, regionally accredited postsecondary school, educational agency, or educational association; (2) an accredited, state registered, state-approved, and/or church-related nonpublic school; and (3) rehabilitation facilities for P-12 students. Education experience as an intern, graduate assistant, student teacher or in positions such as substitute teacher, aide, or clerical worker, shall not be considered.

Phase II: Counseling Program Admissions Portfolio

Candidates must submit a portfolio to the Counselor Education Program for review. The portfolio affords a candidate to provide valuable information regarding:

Relevance of career goals
Aptitude for graduate-level study
Potential success in forming effective counseling relationships
Respect for cultural differences.

Resume including educational background, a record of employment, and volunteer activities.
Professional goals essay
Three completed Recommendation for Admissions Forms.

I. Professional Courses: 9 hours

II. Certification Area: 39 hours

Total Required: 48 hours

Note(s):

*Educator candidates who have not previously met the special education requirement must take a general survey course in special education SE 500 or if they have credit for a previous general special education course they will need to take CO 547 .
This program is also offered online.

Program Completion Requirements

A grade-point average of not less than 3.25 on a four-point scale on all work attempted with no grade less than "C."
A satisfactory score on a comprehensive examination (Praxis II) covering all the content of the program.
Satisfactory performance in two full-time internships for a combined 600 clock hours.

Requirements for Alabama Class A Certification in School Counseling

Meet all program completion requirements.
Hold at least a valid Class B Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field, a valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field or in another area of instructional support, or a valid Class A Professional Leadership Certificate.
Have an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution documenting an earned master's degree.

Governance

The Educator Preparation Program and the Educator Certification Program are governed by the Alabama State Department of Education, and the College of Education reserves the right to change requirements in these programs at any time when such changes are mandated by the State Department.