2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Master of Education in School Counseling

• Requirements for M.Ed. in School Counseling

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Education and Community Innovation section in this catalog.

Website: gvsu.edu/education/grad

Mission

Teaching, leading, and learning in a democratic society.

Philosophy

Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of individuals, the College of Education and Community Innovation prepares teachers and leaders a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students, and b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.

Values

The College of Education and Community Innovation values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we serve.

The M.Ed. in school counseling prepares students to work as school counselors in-12 public and private school systems. It leads to a school counselor endorsement on an existing teaching certificate or a school counselor license in Michigan. Students accepted into the M.Ed. in school counseling program must have completed coursework in their undergraduate degree in advanced child development, school learning, and classroom management or coursework in these areas will be required as part of their planned program.

Accreditation
Michigan Department of Education Approval
Specialty Program Standards: MED Counseling and Guidance Services Standards

Minimum Number of Hours in Program
All degree-seeking students in the school counseling master's program are required to take a minimum of 36 credit hours.

Program Location
DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus, located in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

Requirements for M.Ed. in School Counseling

The master's degree in school counseling prepares students to work as school counselors in P-12 public and private school systems. It leads to a school counselor endorsement (NT) on an existing teaching certificate or a school counselor license (SCL) in Michigan. No endorsement or school counseling license will be approved without completion of the Master of Education in school counseling degree. Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours. Students are also required to complete 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours. The 100 practicum hours are dispersed through five emphasis area courses prior to the internship.

Each candidate for the M.Ed. degree in school counseling must complete the following:

Required Courses

Social Foundations of Education (3 credits)

Choose one:

• EDF 671 - Educational Policy and Practice (3 credits)
• EDF 672 - Social/Cultural Foundations of Education (3 credits)

Research and Evaluation (3 credits)

• EDF 660 - Educational Inquiry and Evaluation (3 credits)

Emphasis Area

Requires 21 credits, including:

• EDC 621 - The Profession of School Counseling (3 credits)
• EDC 623 - Social/Emotional Development (3 credits)
• EDC 625 - Academic Development (3 credits)
• EDC 649 - Career Development (3 credits)
• EDC 651 - School Counseling Curriculum and Techniques (3 credits)
• EDI 635 - Development and Needs of Students (3 credits)
• SW 600 - Cultural Competency for Social Work (3 credits) or approved substitute

Internship

Requires six credits:

• EDC 685 - Internship in School Counseling (3 to 6 credits)

Internship credits may be completed in one or two semesters. Students must apply in advance for each internship course. Advisor approval is required. Application deadlines (internship): February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall, September 15 for winter semester.

Capstone

Requires three or six credits. Choose one of the following:

• EDC 693 - Master's Project (1 to 3 credits)
• EDC 695 - Master's Thesis (1 to 6 credits)

Students should meet with their advisor midway through their program to decide on a capstone and discuss plans for completion. Subject to department approval, Capstone courses may be taken in variable amounts from one to three credits (EDC 693) or one to six credits (EDC 695) and require continuous enrollment each semester until completed. Application deadlines (thesis/project): February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall, September 15 for winter semester. Students seeking the school counseling endorsement or school counseling license must pass the State of Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) (Subtest 51). The School Counseling License (SCL) is for counseling in school settings only.