Master of Education (Certification) School Counseling

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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. One year 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
Video Interview

I. Professional Courses: 9 hours

CO 503. Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling Credits: 3
CO 506. Life-Span Development and Learning Credits: 3
ED 504. Techniques of Educational Research Credits: 3

II. Certification Area: 45 hours

CO 500. Professional Orientation Credits: 3
CO 509. Pre-Practicum in Counseling with Residency Credits: 3
CO 520. Psychopathology Credits: 3
CO 540. Introduction to School Counseling Credits: 3
CO 541. Theories and Techniques of Counseling Credits: 3
CO 542. Career Development and Counseling Credits: 3
CO 543. Counseling Children and Adolescents Credits: 3
CO 544. Strategies for Crisis Intervention Credits: 3
CO 545. Diagnostic Techniques in Counseling Credits: 3
CO 546. Group Counseling Credits: 3
CO 547. Counseling Multicultural Populations Credits: 3
CO 548. Practicum in School Counseling Credits: 3
CO 552. Foundations of School Counseling Credits: 3
CO 559. Internship in Counseling I Credits: 3
CO 569. Internship in Counseling II Credits: 3

Six (6) hours of approved electives from the following:

CO 510. Theories and Treatment of Addiction Credits: 3
CO 511. Issues in Addiction Recovery Credits: 3
CO 512. Family Issues in Counseling Addicted Clients Credits: 3
CO 513. Techniques of Addictions Counseling Credits: 3
CO 531. Law and Ethics in Distance Counseling Credits: 3
CO 532. Administration and Practice of Distance Counseling Credits: 3
CO 533. Distance Counseling with Special Populations Credits: 3
CO 550. Theory and Treatment of Trauma Credits: 3
CO 551. Counseling with Special Populations: Grief, Trauma, or Crisis Credits: 3
CO 554. Technology and the Counseling Profession Credits: 3
CO 556. Human Sexuality Credits: 3
CO 560. Theory and Treatment of Grief Credits: 3
CO 571. Introduction to Play Therapy Credits: 3
CO 572. Advanced Play Therapy Credits: 3
CO 573. Adult/Child Relationship Credits: 3
CO 598. Selected Topics in Counseling Credits: 1-3
PY 526. Marriage and Family Therapy Credits: 3

Total Required: 60 hours

Note(s):

This program is offered online with a residency requirement.

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 the current Praxis exam is required.
A Survey of Special Education course is required if not previously completed. The course may not be older than 10 years unless the candidate has teaching experience within the last five years, or he/she used the course for prior level certification. If this requirement has not been met, candidates must take SE 500 in addition to the courses required above.
Satisfactory performance in one practicum for 100 clock hours and 600 clock hours supervised jointly by a site supervisor and a UWA counseling program faculty member.