M.A. in C.H.D. - School Counseling

In accordance with the CACREP accreditation standards for School Counseling, the Counseling and Human Development program with School Counseling emphasis consists of 16 courses totaling 48 semester hours. Course work is divided into three areas:

• FOUNDATIONS (3 courses) which must be taken early in the program and are prerequisites to higher level courses;
• AREA OF CONCENTRATION (12 courses) which are sequenced to build a strong counseling skill base;
• ELECTIVES (1 course) that allows students to pursue further course work in an area of interest within education or counseling.

Prerequisites are specified within the course descriptions listed in this catalog. "Practice oriented" courses included in the curriculum are: CHD 790 Practicum and CHD 795 Internship in School Counseling. The Practicum course is designed to provide students with counseling experience under the supervision of the instructor and the individual's Practicum supervisor. Such experience is necessary to enhance counseling competencies in practitioners. Practicum requires 100 hours of work, of which 40 hours must be face-to-face counseling. Students must obtain Professional Liability Protection prior to starting the Practicum class.

School counseling internship is served in an off-site school setting under the supervision of a licensed school counselor. Internship includes 600 hours of counseling work with at least 240 hours of direct service with clients. The 240 hours of direct service with clients must include a variety of activities such as individual and group counseling, career/vocational counseling, and other counseling experiences suitable to a school counselor.