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
We prepare ethical, culturally competent, and professionally skilled counselors to serve diverse and marginalized populations, with particular emphasis on the needs of rural, frontier, and High Plains communities, in collaboration with faculty, students, alumni, and community partners.
Student Learning Outcomes
School Counseling Master's Program Objectives
- Professional Identity, Ethics, & Cultural Competence: Students will demonstrate a professional counselor identity, apply ethical principles in accordance with the ACA and ASCA codes, and provide culturally responsive counseling.
- Human Development & Career Counseling: Students will apply developmental theory and career strategies to guide practice.
- Counseling Theory, Group Practice, & Assessment: Students will develop a theoretical orientation for individual and group counseling while identifying applicable assessments to guide practice.
- Specialization Competence: Students will demonstrate competency in their area of specialization, utilizing content-specific research to guide practice.
Program of Study
The CAEP-accredited School Counseling master’s program equips students to become professional school counselors in Nebraska. CSC offers two flexible academic pathways to prepare for the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Professional School Counselor endorsement.
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 |
| COUN 630 | CRISIS COUNSELING | 3 |
| 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 |
| COUN 682 | SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-ELEMENTARY 5, 6 | 3 |
| COUN 683 | SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-SECONDARY 5, 6 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 42 |
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.
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 |
| COUN 630 | CRISIS COUNSELING | 3 |
| 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 |
| COUN 682 | SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-ELEMENTARY 3, 5, 6 | 3 |
| COUN 683 | SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP-SECONDARY 3, 5, 6 | 3 |
| EDUC 510 | LEARNING THEORIES AND FOSTERING EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS | 3 |
| EDUC 530 | INTEGRATED CLASSROOM METHODOLOGY | 3 |
| EDUC 542 | CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICUM | 3 |
| READ 535 | READING AND THE AT-RISK STUDENT | 3 |
| or READ 638 | SEMINAR IN READING: ISSUES, TRENDS AND PROGRAMS |
| SPED 532 | SURVEY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
| Total Credits | 57 |
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 pursue a PK-12 NE endorsement by completing both a 450-hour elementary internship and a 450-hour secondary internship, totaling 900 hours. Students cannot choose only one level of endorsement. If the required hours are not met within the two internships, an additional internship may be added to ensure success.
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 as non-degree-seeking toward this licensure and complete internships 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 apply for the Education Specialist Degree in Mental Health and Addictions. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information.