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College of Social and Behavioral Health:
MS in School Counseling

The MS in School Counseling degree is designed to prepare students to serve as certified or licensed school counselors in pre-kindergarten through high school (PreK–12) school settings. The MS in School Counseling program will include curricular experiences, residency experiences, and fieldwork experiences all designed to best prepare students to serve as professional school counselors in the field. Walden graduates will be prepared to support PreK–12 students in diverse school settings to be emotionally, socially, and academically successful.

Accreditation

Walden University’s MS in School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a mental health counseling program under the 2016 standards. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a requirement for licensure in many states.

Note on Licensure

The Walden University Master of Science (MS) in School Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as a licensed school counselor in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a school counselor vary greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of school counseling has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a school counselor in that state.

The Walden MS in School Counseling program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which may also be a requirement to become a licensed or certified school counselor in some states.

Walden MS in School Counseling graduates may apply for licensure as a school counselor in most states, as the MS in School Counseling program is approved in both Minnesota and Ohio. Graduates in some states will be eligible for licensure based on completion of a state-approved program, where they can apply directly to their state educator board (“direct apply”). Other states have a separate application and process for someone completing an out-of-state approved preparation program (“license-in-hand pathway”), where in order for a graduate to be eligible for licensure or certification, he or she must first obtain a license in an approved state (Minnesota or Ohio) prior to applying for licensure in his or her state of residence.

Prospective students must research their state licensure requirements to determine (1) if they are required to complete a state-approved licensure program to be eligible to apply directly to their state board, (2) if they need to obtain a license from the state where the program has been approved (Minnesota or Ohio) prior to applying in the state they reside, and (3) any additional requirements the student will need to complete prior to their state granting the license. Students residing in Minnesota and Ohio are eligible to apply directly to their state board, as Walden’s MS in School Counseling is approved by both state boards. Additionally, some states require school counselors to hold an existing teaching license or certificate, and/or obtain teaching experience, in order to be eligible for a school counseling certificate or license.

Each state issues its own credential for an individual to be permitted to practice as a licensed school counselor in that state. While Walden enrollment specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for school counseling licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.

Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.

Learning Outcomes

The following Learning Outcomes are common to all MS in counseling programs. The competent and confident counseling profession will:

  1. Synthesize counseling knowledge into evidence-based action plans for promoting wellness. (Knowledge)
  2. Construct collaborative relationships with diverse populations to promote social change. (Skills)
  3. Develop professional counselor behaviors in academic settings to foster growth and wellness. (Dispositions)
  4. Develop a professional counselor identity relevant to school counseling. (Knowledge)
  5. Evaluate unique client needs within school settings. (Skills)
  6. Evaluate community needs in relation to school settings and populations. (Skills)

Degree Requirements

  • 90 total quarter credits for general program (100-105 credits with optional specialization)
  • Foundation Course (1 credit)
  • Core Courses (80 credits)
  • Field experience (9 credits: 100-hour practicum; 600-hour internship) 
  • Optional Specialization (10-15 credits)
  • Optional State Education Specialization (only for students with specific state requirements)
  • Optional Accelerated track allows completion in 21 months (three courses per quarter)
  • Pre-Practicum Labs (6 weeks online with 4 days face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions)
  • Group Lab (9 weeks online with 14 hours of live synchronous group)

Curriculum

Foundation Course (1 credits)

Core Courses (80 credits)

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Choose one course from the following that is not part of your specialization requirements:

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Specialization Courses (10-15 credits)

These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.

Pre-Practicum Labs

Each pre-practicum includes online course content integrated with a 4-day, face-to-face or virtual synchronous residential requirement.

Field Experience (9 credits)

General Program Option

  • General—This is the traditional track in which students either complete one or two courses per quarter.
  • Accelerated—This is the track where students can complete three courses per quarter.

Course Sequence

Students undertake courses in the following sequence.

Quarter Course Credits
Quarter 1

COUN 6001 - Professional Dispositions and New Student Orientation

1 credit

COUN 6111 - Introduction to School Counseling

5 credits
Quarter 2

COUN 6301 - Theories of Counseling

5 credits

COUN 6302 - Techniques in Counseling

5 credits
Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 1 - SPLB 671L (must be completed before COUN 6720)
Quarter 3

COUN 6210 - Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling

5 credits

COUN 6312 – Multicultural Counseling

5 credits
Quarter 4

COUN 6324 – Assessment in Counseling and Education

5 credits

COUN 6214 - Lifespan Development

5 credits
Must take Pre-Practicum 1 before moving forward
Quarter 5

COUN 6720 – Diagnosis and Assessment

5 credits

COUN 6320 - Group Counseling in the Schools

5 credits
GRPL 6100 - Counseling Group Lab  0 credits 
Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 2 - SPLB 672L after GRPL 6100 (must be completed before choosing one of the following courses: COUN 6361, COUN 6810, COUN 6730, COUN 6743, or COUN 6402)
Quarter 6

COUN 6317 Child and Adolescent Counseling

5 credits

COUN 6354 – Career Counseling

5 credits
Quarter 7

COUN 6311 – Leadership, Advocacy, and Consultation in the Schools

5 credits

COUN 6322 – Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster

5 credits
Must take Pre-Practicum 2 before moving forward
Quarter 8

Choose one course from the following that is not part of your specialization requirements:

 

COUN 6361 Human Sexuality

OR

COUN 6810 Working with Exceptional Children

OR

COUN 6730 - Counseling Addictive Disorders

OR

COUN 6743 - Psychopharmacology

OR

COUN 6402 - Working with Military Spouses, Families, and Children
5 credits
COUN 6328 - Research Methodology and Program Evaluation 5 credits
Quarter 9  COUN 6785 - Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy  5 credits
COUN 6401S - School Counseling Practicum  3 credits
Quarter 10 COUN 6500S - School Counseling Internship I  3 credits
Optional Specialization Course 1 5 credits
Quarter 11 COUN 6501S - School Counseling Internship II  3 credits
Optional Specialization Course 2 5 credits

Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision

Expand your options with our Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision program specialization. Master telehealth counseling skills to serve more clients and learn the basics of setting up an independent practice. You’ll also prepare for a clinical supervision designation that elevates your credibility in the eyes of clients and supervisees. The Supervision course in this specialization fulfills the “Required Specialized Training” component of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Approved Clinical Supervisor designation. Please see the NBCC site for additional requirements. 

 Specialization Courses (15 credits)

  • Students may take this a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this a non-degree course.