The School Counseling Program offers a Master of Science in Education. This degree program requires the successful completion of 39 credit hours of graduate education. Students who wish to be fully endorsed for grades PK-12 must successfully complete 42 credit hours.
Mission Statement
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.
Student Learning Outcomes
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 school counselors to apply human developmental theory to inform interventions across the lifespan.
- Produce school counselors with a nuanced understanding of career development to conceptualize the intricate interplay between work, mental well-being, and other life roles.
- Prepare school counselors who employ theoretically grounded counseling interventions to establish theory-based client outcomes.
- Prepare school counselors who employ group dynamics and application of group theory in group counseling practice.
- Prepare school counselors who employ ethical and culturally responsive assessment practices, strategies, and interventions in counseling practice.
- Prepare school 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.
- Prepare school counselors in core curriculum design, lesson plan development, classroom management strategies, student assessment, and differentiated instructional strategies. (School Counseling Option 2)
Program of Study
The CAEP Accredited School Counseling master's degree prepares students to work as professional school counselors in Nebraska. CSC offers two academic options in preparation for the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Professional School Counselor endorsement. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
School Counseling-Option 1
This option is for students currently holding a valid Teaching Certificate.
Courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
COUN 500 | COUNSELING ORIENTATION 1 | 0 |
COUN 503 | INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOL COUNSELING 1, 3, 4 | 3 |
COUN 533 | ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING 2, 3 | 3 |
COUN 534 | COUNSELING ASSESSMENT 2 | 3 |
COUN 535 | MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING 1, | 3 |
COUN 537 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
COUN 541 | COUNSELING THEORIES 1, 3 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
| CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING 5 | |
| CRISIS COUNSELING 5 | |
COUN 632 | CAREER DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
COUN 634 | GROUP COUNSELING 2, 3 | 3 |
COUN 638 | COUNSELING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES 1, 2, 3 | 3 |
COUN 641 | COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION 2, 4 | 3 |
COUN 646 | SCHOOL COUNSELING PRACTICUM 2, 3 | 3 |
6 | 3 |
| SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-ELEMENTARY 7 | |
| SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-SECONDARY 7 | |
Total Credits | 39 |
School Counseling-Option 2
This option is for students without an undergraduate degree in teacher education or a valid teaching certificate seeking a Nebraska Professional School Counselor Endorsement. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
Courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credits |
COUN 500 | COUNSELING ORIENTATION 1 | 0 |
COUN 503 | INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOL COUNSELING 1, 3, 4 | 3 |
COUN 533 | ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING 2, 3 | 3 |
COUN 534 | COUNSELING ASSESSMENT 2 | 3 |
COUN 535 | MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING 1 | 3 |
COUN 537 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
COUN 541 | COUNSELING THEORIES 1, 3 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
| CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING 5 | |
| CRISIS COUNSELING 5 | |
COUN 632 | CAREER DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
COUN 634 | GROUP COUNSELING 2, 3 | 3 |
COUN 638 | COUNSELING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES 1, 2, 3 | 3 |
COUN 641 | COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION 2, 4 | 3 |
COUN 646 | SCHOOL COUNSELING PRACTICUM 2, 3, 6 | 3 |
6 | 3 |
| SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-ELEMENTARY 3, 7 | |
| SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-SECONDARY 3, 7 | |
EDUC 530 | INTEGRATED CLASSROOM METHODOLOGY | 3 |
EDUC 639 | ADVANCED METHODS OF PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT | 3 |
EDCI 635 | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
READ 535 | READING AND THE AT-RISK STUDENT | 3 |
SPED 532 | SURVEY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
Total Credits | 54 |
School Counseling Field Experience
COUN 646 SCHOOL COUNSELING PRACTICUM and either COUN 682 SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-ELEMENTARY, or COUN 683 SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-SECONDARY, are required for degree completion. PK-12 endorsement requires both COUN 682 SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-ELEMENTARY and COUN 683 SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-SECONDARY. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
School Counseling Endorsement
To be recommended for the Nebraska School Counselor endorsement, the student must meet all Nebraska Department of Education Endorsement requirements. Students will choose from Elementary, Secondary, or PK-12 Nebraska Department of Education endorsement levels. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
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 CSC graduate program readmission if they wish to complete the requirements.