School Counseling Master's Degree-Elementary, Secondary, and All-Level Endorsement Options
This degree is for professionals who wish to become school counselors in the school system. A teaching degree or certificate is not required.
Our School Counseling-Master of Arts in Education (MAE) degree requires completing 39 credit hours of graduate academic coursework.
Graduate Counselor Education Program Mission
Our mission is to prepare highly effective counselors equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations. The faculty, current and former students, and community partners provide input to achieve our mission through the following objectives.
School Counseling Master's Program Objectives
- Foster the development of a strong professional counselor identity following the ethical guidelines outlined in the ACA and ASCA Codes of Ethics.
- Prepare culturally competent counselors to serve a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations.
- Prepare counselors to apply human developmental theory to inform interventions across the lifespan.
- Produce counselors with a nuanced understanding of career development to conceptualize the intricate interplay between work, mental well-being, and other life roles.
- Prepare counselors who employ theoretically grounded counseling interventions to establish theory-based client outcomes.
- Prepare counselors who employ group dynamics and application of group theory in group counseling practice.
- Prepare counselors who employ ethical and culturally responsive assessment practices, strategies, and interventions in counseling practice.
- Prepare counselors who critically evaluate and utilize research methods in professional counseling.
- Prepare School Counselors to design and deliver school counseling programs utilizing the ASCA National Model.
This online degree program prepares students for careers in school counseling at public and private elementary, middle, and secondary levels.
Entrance Requirements:
- Complete application
- Earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Official transcripts from the college/university that issued the bachelor's degree
- Official transcripts from any institutions attended after receiving a bachelor's degree (if applicable)
- Admission essay
- View the Counselor Education (CE) New Student Orientation video on the CE home page
The 4-year CE course rotation can be found on the Counseling Course Information page
CSC offers two academic options, leading to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Professional School Counselor Endorsement. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
PROGRAM OF STUDY SCHOOL COUNSELING OPTION 1⸺ 39 Credit Hours
This option is for students currently holding a valid Teaching Certificate.
| Courses | ||
|
COUN 501 or EDCI 631 |
COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS |
3 |
| COUN 531 | COUNSELING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS * | 3 |
| COUN 533 | COUNSELING ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY* | 3 |
| COUN 534 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| COUN 535 | MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 541 | COUNSELING THEORIES* | 3 |
| COUN 602 | PRACTICUM-SCHOOL COUNSELING* | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| COUN 629 | CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING | |
| COUN 630 | CRISIS COUNSELING | |
| COUN 632 | CAREER AND LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 634 | GROUP COUNSELING* | 3 |
| COUN 635 | SCHOOL COUNSELING* | 3 |
| COUN 637 | ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 640 | INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING* | 3 |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| Students should complete EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS within the first 12 credit hours of the program. | ||
| Students must choose between COUN 629 Child and Adolescent Counseling or COUN 630 Crisis Counseling. | ||
| Students seeking Elementary or Secondary school counseling endorsements must complete one 450-hour elementary or secondary school counseling internship relative to the endorsement level. Students seeking All-Level endorsement must complete a 450-hour elementary school counseling internship and a 450-hour secondary school counseling internship for a total of 900 hours. Students who do not complete all hours during their internship course may need to enroll in additional internships to satisfy this requirement. | ||
| * A minimum grade of B is required. | ||
PROGRAM OF STUDY SCHOOL COUNSELING OPTION 2⸺ 54 Credit Hours Total
This option is for students without an undergraduate degree in teacher education or a valid teaching certificate seeking a Nebraska Professional School Counselor Endorsement.
|
COUN 501 EDCI 631 |
TOPICS: COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION OR RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS |
3 |
| COUN 531 | COUNSELING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS* | 3 |
| COUN 533 | COUNSELING ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY* | 3 |
| COUN 534 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| COUN 535 | MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 541 | COUNSELING THEORIES* | 3 |
| COUN 602 | PRACTICUM-SCHOOL COUNSELING* | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| COUN 630 | CRISIS COUNSELING | |
| COUN 629 | CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING | |
| COUN 632 | CAREER AND LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 634 | GROUP COUNSELING* | 3 |
| COUN 635 | SCHOOL COUNSELING* | 3 |
| COUN 637 | ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 640 | INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING* | 3 |
| EDUC 530 | INTEGRATED CLASSROOM METHODOLOGY | 3 |
| EDUC 639 | ADVANCED METHODS OF PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| EDCI 635 | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| READ 535 | READING AND THE AT-RISK STUDENT | |
| READ 638 | SEMINAR IN READING: ISSUES, TRENDS AND PROGRAMS | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| SPED 230 | INTRODUCTION TO THE EXCEPTIONAL LEARNER | |
| SPED 532 | SURVEY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION | |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
| Students should complete EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS within the first 12 credit hours of the program. | ||
| Students must choose between COUN 629 Child and Adolescent Counseling or COUN 630 Crisis Counseling. | ||
| Students seeking Elementary or Secondary school counseling endorsements must complete one 450-hour elementary or secondary school counseling internship relative to the endorsement level. Students seeking All-Level endorsement must complete a 450-hour elementary school counseling internship and a 450-hour secondary school counseling internship for a total of 900 hours. Students who do not attain all required hours in the Internship may need to enroll in additional Internships to satisfy this requirement. | ||
| *A minimum grade of B is required. | ||
School Counseling Practicum and Internship
COUN 602: Practicum-School Counseling and COUN 640: Internship in Counseling are required courses in the School Counseling program curriculum. These courses provide practical, applied experience in a school setting.
School Counseling Endorsement
To be recommended for the Nebraska School Counselor endorsement, the student must meet all Nebraska Department of Education Endorsement requirements. Students can choose from Elementary, Secondary, or All-Level endorsement levels.
Provisional Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC)
School Counseling students seeking licensure as a Provisional Nebraska Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) can complete the academic courses toward this licensure and complete field experiences under the supervision of a LADC. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information.
Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP)
School Counseling students seeking licensure as a Provisional Nebraska Clinical Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) can add the DHHS-required CMHC courses and complete additional field experiences in a Clinical Mental Health setting under the supervision of a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner or state-approved Clinical Mental Health Provider. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information.
Graduation Without Endorsement or Certification
In rare cases, permission is granted for graduation without a recommendation for endorsement. This provision is for students who do not qualify for or have been removed from their curricular program or, due to illness or other extreme situations, a candidate will decide not to complete all professional requirements. In this situation, the candidate should contact their advisor and complete a formal request to the Graduate Dean to be allowed to graduate without completing all endorsement requirements. The Graduate Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs will determine the merit of the request. With permission, this will lead to an appropriate amended plan of study. Candidates who graduate without a recommendation for endorsement will not be supported for the Nebraska School Counselor endorsement in any state. The candidate must first apply for readmission to the CSC graduate program if they wish to complete the requirements.