This 72 credit hour, dual master’s and specialist program provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills required for placements as school counselors in public or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools.
The M.Ed./Ed.S. and MAE/Ed.S. program in School Counseling is designed to equip students with the pre-professional competencies required for Florida Department of Education Certification in School Counseling. The 72 credit hour program provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills required for placements as school counselors in public or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools.
Students enrolled in the School Counseling program, a state-approved and NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education) and CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accredited school counselor preparation program, must provide passing scores for all pertinent sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) including the General Knowledge test (math, English language skills, reading comprehension, and essay), the Professional Education examination, and the Subject Area Examination in Guidance and Counseling K-12 prior to graduation from the program. Questions about this requirement or any other certification related questions may be addressed to the College of Education Office of Student Services.
A determination has not been made regarding College of Education graduates’ eligibility for certification/licensure in other states. Please contact the department of education or the state licensing board for mental health professionals in the state in which you are seeking employment to determine their criteria for certification/licensure and employment.
Competency and Skills:
The central purpose of the School Counseling program is to teach students to conceptualize and organize a school-based program around the eight goals, which characterize developmental guidance and counseling. Therefore, the School Counseling program prepares competent graduates who:
- Understand and facilitate positive change in school environments;
- Understand and facilitate positive change in self and others;
- Understand and facilitate positive change in students’ attitudes and behaviors;
- Understand and facilitate positive change in students’ decision-making and problem-solving skills;
- Understand and facilitate positive change in students’ interpersonal and communication skills;
- Understand and facilitate positive change in students’ school success skills;
- Understand and facilitate positive change in students’ career awareness and educational planning; and
- Understand and facilitate positive change in students’ community pride and involvement.
Each goal has a set of objectives that specify the skills that our graduates acquire and are able to implement in a school setting. Graduates of the School Counseling program are able to:
- Provide individual counseling;
- Provide small group counseling;
- Present large group/classroom guidance;
- Organize and implement peer facilitator programs;
- Develop counseling and guidance activities for students who are not succeeding in school;
- Provide leadership in organizing developmental guidance experiences for all students within a school;
- Lead parent education groups;
- Consult with teachers, parents, and administrators;
- Consult with child study teams; and
- Demonstrate counselor effectiveness through accountability studies.
