School Counseling Program

 

School Counselor Specialization

Program Requirements:

1. Must complete all current requirements for graduation from the MSU Master of Arts Counseling Program.
2. Must complete a practicum of 100 hours that includes a minimum of 50 supervised direct contact hours in a K-12 school setting. Practicum must occur under the supervision of a fully licensed school counselor who works on site.  (See “Practicum and Internship” sections.)
3. Must complete an internship of 600 total hours for one semester (full time work) that includes the required direct contact hours for graduation (240). This may be completed in either a K-12 school.  Internship must occur under the supervision of a fully licensed school counselor who works on site (See “Practicum and Internship” sections.)
4. Must satisfactorily complete the State of Michigan, Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for Guidance Counselor. (Applications for exam can be picked up in 134 Erickson Hall)
5. Must submit the University Procedures on Felony Convictions and Teacher Certifications Program form. (See Appendix C) If   there are questions about your legal eligibility, we recommend the initiation of a personal background check through the College of Education immediately after enrollment and periodically throughout enrollment if you are convicted of a felonious act.  Attending to this critical issue is the sole responsibility of the admitted student.
6. Must enroll in faculty-approved electives that will enhance preparation for work in schools.
7. If not certified as a K-12 teacher, must show verification of completion of the State facilitated substitute teacher-training workshop.

Persons in the State of Michigan who wish to obtain K-12 certification can do so by completing one experience (i.e., practicum or internship) in a K-6 school and the other experience in the 7-12 school. Please be aware that districts in some states have given preference to applicants who also are a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

School Counselor Endorsement.  Graduates of MSU’s Counseling Master’s program who hold a teaching certificate are eligible to apply to have the Guidance Counselor Endorsement on their teaching certificate. To do so they must have successfully completed the master’s program in Counseling with the appropriate practicum and internship, pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in Guidance Counseling, submitted the Felony Conviction form and applied for the endorsement through the College of Education Student Affairs Office (SAO).

School Counselor License.  Graduates of the MSU Counseling Master’s program who would like to be a Guidance Counselor in the K-12 school setting, but do not posses a teaching certificate, and did not complete their practicum and/or internship in the school setting may be eligible to apply for the School Counselor License in the State of Michigan. Please be aware that this license may not be valid in other states and some Michigan school districts may still require teaching certification. Returning graduates need to complete the application for School Counselor License that is available on the CEPSE Admission’s page. Individuals who are admitted must:  complete CEP 860A; complete 6 hours of enrollment in a practicum or internship section including supervised counseling experience in a K-12 school setting; have at least 3 hours of coursework specifically addressing the unique developmental needs of the K-12 student population; pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in Guidance Counseling; submit the Felony Conviction form; and, apply for the license through the College of Education Student Affairs Office (SAO).  As in the case of all students, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required.

School Counseling Specialty Required Coursework

CEP 801 Learning Differences & Commonalities related to Counseling	3 credits
CEP 821 Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling & Development	3 credits
CEP 860A Perspectives in Multicultural Counseling	3 credits
CEP 861 Counseling Theories, Philosophy, and Ethics	3 credits
CEP 862 Counseling:  Individual and Group Processes	3 credits
CEP XXX Group Experience*	1 credits
CEP 863 Counseling Strategies and Consultation	3 credits
CEP 864 Career Counseling	3 credits
CEP 865 Assessment in Counseling	3 credits
CEP 866 Psycho-Educational Interventions for Children & Youth	3 credits
CEP 894C Counseling Practicum	6 credits
CEP 893C Counseling Internship	9 credits
Total:	43 credits

In addition to the 43 credits noted above, students who commit to the School Counseling specialty must select an additional 2 courses (6 credits), one from Domain #1 and one course from Domain #2.

Domain 1

CEP  800         Psychology of Learning in School                                                                           
CEP  804         Psychology of Adolescence for Teachers                                                                  
CEP  814         Emotional and Social development of School-Aged Youth                                    
CEP  841         Classroom & Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom                      

Domain 2

EAD  853B      Schools, Families, and Community
FCE    801       Family Ecosystems                                                                                                 
FCE    812       Adolescents in the Family                                                                                         
FCE    814       Parenthood and Parent Education                                                                                
FCE    898       Play in Human Development

Students may propose substitute courses for those listed in the domains above, however, all proposals must be submitted to and approved by faculty prior to including on the program plan and enrollment.  Total number of credits required for degree completion in a specialty in School Counseling is 49 credits.