The 60-credit Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in School Counseling degree prepares individuals to become state-certified school counselors in the PK-12 educational setting. The Provisional Certificate in school counseling will be awarded by Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) upon completion of the degree program. The school counseling certification earned is a PK-12 certification.
Note: Admission to the 36-credit Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in School Counseling degree program is currently suspended and will be for the foreseeable future, which means no new students will be admitted to it beginning with the Summer 2024 semester.
Program Coordinator – Dr. James McGinn
Admission Requirements
Based on the Graduate School’s admissions requirements, our program requires the following for initial admission review and consideration:
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 0 to 4.0.
If an applicant does not have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, then one of the following must be met:
- The individual’s undergraduate GPA in the final 60 credits of their degree must be a 3.25 or higher, or
- The individual must submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.
If an applicant needs to submit GRE scores, then the program maintains the following minimum requirements of these scores and the applicant must meet at least one of them:
- A score of 146 or higher on the verbal section of the GRE.
- A score of 146 or higher on the quantitative section of the GRE.
Please note that the GPA or entrance exam requirement is waived if the individual already holds a graduate degree regardless of the discipline.
In addition to the above minimum admissions requirements regarding an accredited undergraduate degree and GPA or entrance exam scores, all applicants must submit the following supplemental materials as listed below with their online Graduate School application:
- A current resume.
- Official copies of transcripts.
- A writing sample.
- Three letters of recommendation.
Applicants must again attend and pass [based on decision by the admissions committee] a group admissions interview for final/formal admission to the program.
Master of Arts in Education in School Counseling Courses
Core Courses (54 hours)
These courses must be completed first and before any other COU course may be taken:
- COU 813 Professional Orientation and Ethics in Counseling
- COU 840 Counseling Theory and Practice
- COU 846 Process and Basic Techniques of Counseling
- COU 804 Counseling Diverse Populations
- COU 814 Administration and Consultation in Counseling Services
- COU 820 Group Counseling
- COU 822 Lifestyle and Career Counseling
- COU 825 Developmental Counseling with School-Age Children
- COU 848 Child and Adolescent Counseling
- COU 850 Family Counseling
- COU 855 Diagnosis and Treatment
- COU 863 Crisis and Grief Counseling
- COU 880 Practicum
- COU 881 Internship A & B (i.e., taken over two semesters – 6 credits)
- EPY 816 Tests and Measurements
- EPY 839 Human Growth and Development
- EPY 869 Research and Program Development
Electives – Choose 6 hours from the following:
- COU 803 Principles and Practices of Mental Health Counseling*
- COU 807 Specialty Topics in Counseling
- COU 826 Assessment in Counseling
- COU 849 Addiction Disorders Counseling*
- COU 853 The Counseling Process in Clinical Sexuality
- COU 865 Mindfulness Practices for Counselors and Clients
- COU 870 Introduction to Play Therapy
- COU 871 Advanced Play Therapy
- COU 872 Practicum in Play Therapy
Notes About Electives:
- Electives may vary by semester and are subjective to change at any time.
- A third semester of internship can serve as an elective.
- * denotes clinical mental health counseling courses that may be taken by school counseling students should they so choose.
Exit Requirement:
- GRD 877L MAED School Counseling Written Comp or GRD 878U MAED School Counseling Oral Comp
Total Program Requirements: 60 Hours
A grade of B or higher is required in every course for degree completion.
Standard Certificate in School Counseling
The Standard Certificate in School Counseling program allows those holding a Provisional Certificate in school counseling to convert their provisional certification into a Standard Certificate. Individuals are required to earn 6 graduate hours above their masters degree [credit requirement].
- Standard School Counseling Certification Requirement Electives – 6 hours selected with advisor approval
Rank 1 in School Counseling
The Rank 1 in School Counseling program allows those holding a school counseling degree of fewer than 60 credits and holding Rank 2 to reach the credits required for Rank 1. Individuals are required to earn enough credits beyond their degree to reach 60 in total [within counseling].
- Rank 1 Certification Requirement Electives – selected with advisor approval
School Counseling as a Second Degree
EKU graduates of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program may earn a second masters degree in school counseling. Contact Dr. James McGinn, Program Coordinator, for information regarding application and requirements for the second degree.
Option 6 in School Counseling
Option 6 allows individuals who are pursuing a school counseling degree but have not yet completed it to accept full-time employment as a school counselor.
To qualify for Option 6 certification in school counseling through EKU, the following requirements must be met. The individual must:
- Be currently enrolled in EKU’s MAEd in School Counseling degree program
- Have completed all content courses (i.e., all courses excluding practicum and internship)
- Have completed the school counseling practicum course
- Have sat for and passed the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE; i.e., the program’s exit exam)
- Be currently enrolled in the school counseling internship course
- Have a job offer from a qualified school
Notes About Option 6:
- Individuals typically meet these requirements in their last or second-to-last semester of their program, and Option 6 cannot be extended before all of these requirements are met.
- Option 6 IS NOT a pathway for those needing to reinstate a lapsed school counseling certification. Individuals seeking to renew their certification should first consult EPSB regarding coursework requirements but typically need to complete the Standard Certificate in School Counseling program.