Master's in School Counseling
School Counseling program graduates demonstrate the professional, cultural, and ethical skills necessary to facilitate successful academic, career, and human development achievements for all K-12 students. Our integrative approach embraces the student, school, and community organizations. Our diverse faculty and student body engages graduate students in reflective practice, innovative inquiry, and responsible social action.
This program is CACREP-accredited and provides professional preparation for individuals to become certified as counselors in public and private schools. Students will gain the requisite knowledge and skills to provide professional counseling, assessment, consultation, and guidance services in a school setting. We will encourage you to engage in reflective practice, innovative inquiry and responsible social action changing lives and your future forever.
Find more information on our Community Counseling Services Center
Program Data 2016
Retention rate: 99%
Average time to complete the program: 2 years (80% complete the program in 6 semesters or less)
2015-16 Cost: on-campus $1,530 per credit
Scholarships: merit based scholarships
Employment settings: K-12 schools, academic advising
Licensure eligibility: License for Professional Counselors (LPC) certification *requirements vary by state
NCE passing rates: 87.5% (7 of 8 students)
Accreditation status: 2 years through 2017, review pending summer 2017 *Program has been accredited since 1984
Annual Fall Enrollment: 39 (new and continuing)
Predicted job outlook (2014-2024) 8% expected increase *compared to 7% expected increase in total US jobs *Obtained from US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why a GW Master's in School Counseling?
- Theory to Practice: The GSEHD program is tailored to meet the demands of your busy schedule. Offering a CACREP accredited foundation, our students are prepared to lead classrooms, groups and individual counseling sessions successfully addressing the critical concerns affecting the psycho-social, academic and career well being of K-12 students. Rigorous course work explores effective school based theory, research, interventions and strategies is strengthened by practical lab experience in the Community Counseling Center working with children, teens and adults from the region and a year of immersion training in local K-12 public, private and charter schools.
- ASCA Focused, Nationally Accredited: Building on the American School Counselor Association standards of excellence, GSEHD trained professional school counselors work with K-12 students in collaboration with their families, teachers, and school administrators to build student identity, self esteem, coping skills and to help manage stress, loss, and grief. The GSEHD program is designed for those seeking to enrich their ethical leadership, practice and impact in the K-12 school setting.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 48 credits, including 42 credits in required courses and 6 credits in elective courses:
Core Courses
- EDUC 6114 Introduction to Quantitative Research OR EDUC 6116 Introduction to Educational Statistics
- CNSL 6151 Professional and Ethical Orientation to Counseling
- CNSL 6153 Counseling Interview Skills
- CNSL 6154 Theories and Techniques of Counseling
- CNSL 6155 Career Counseling
- CNSL 6157 Individual Assessment in Counseling
- CNSL 6159 Psychosocial Adaptation
- CNSL 6161 Group Counseling
- CNSL 6163 Social/Cultural Dimensions-Cns
- CNSL 6185 Practicum/Internship in Counseling
- CNSL 6186 Advanced Internship in Counseling
- CNSL 6466 Foundations of School Counseling K–12
- HDEV 6108 Life Span Human Development
- HDEV 6109 Child Development OR HDEV 6110 Adolescent Development
Electives: 6 credits of electives selected in consultation with the program advisor.
Counseling students are required to complete 600 hours as part of their internships (300 hours per course) and 100 hours as part of their practicum.
Opportunities
Our graduates are supporting students and leading school counseling teams across the nation in public, private and charter K-12 settings. They reach beyond traditional K-12 schools and serve as career counselors in post secondary settings, behavior specialists in private centers, and directors for training school counselors. With the addition of post-masters certification, our graduates are eligible for licensing for private practice.
“The School Counseling program offered me superb classroom instruction strengthened by practical training. I interned in DC Public Schools, improved my counseling skills in GSEHD’s Community Counseling Center and landed a great position working as a high school counselor for low-income, first-generation, college bound students.”
Dan Minot, School Counseling, Alexandria Program, M.A. '15, Counselor, KIPP DC
Motivated to address the personal, academic and career challenges of K-12 students, the Alexandria program is designed for career changers from diverse backgrounds. The experience of cohort members enhance classroom learning members while strengthening skills to assess, support and engage with students and their families as well as with school leaders and peers. Lawyers, military personnel, business and education professionals are drawn to the school counseling field seeking to make a difference - one student at a time.
The Alexandria cohort provides a structured, two year program designed for the professional seeking to change lives. Starting in the summer, first year of classes hones counseling skills both in the classroom and in the Alexandria Community Counseling Center which draws clients from the DC metro area. The second year experience includes internships in elementary, middle and high schools, preparing you to serve as a licensed professional upon graduation. Counselor interns support individuals and groups helping students manage issues ranging from self esteem, academic performance, family, stress, anxiety, grief and loss.
CACREP accredited, classes are conducted two nights a week and include psycho-social adaptation, substance abuse, group counseling, counseling interview skills, individual assessment, career counseling and social and cultural dimensions of counseling. A culminating action research project can lead to publishing, conference presentation or school curriculum improvements. Topics are your choice and have included Collaborating with Special Ed Teachers, Dating Violence in Middle Schoolers, College Counseling for Undocumented Teens, and Mediating Anxiety and Depression Experienced by Military Dependents.
Transformation Begins Here
Learn more about the Master's in School Counseling program located at Alexandria, VA (202-994-5860)