School Counseling, Master of Science

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Overview

The M.S in School Counseling is a 60-semester-hour degree that will academically prepare students to become certified Guidance Counselors in the state of Florida. This FL DOE approved program is designed to provide students with an intellectual and biblical foundation for understanding the spiritual, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and mental facets of human nature. In an educational environment that promotes active learning through the use of role-plays, case studies, demonstrations, and discussions students will:

Integrate Christian belief and practice with the scholarship and professional standards of the school counseling profession
Develop the skills necessary to provide competent, balanced, and professional counseling and consultation services for students, parents and those working with them in educational settings.
Develop critical thinking and analysis skills and the knowledge needed to make ethical decisions.

Throughout this program students will:

Integrate the principles of counseling with biblically informed values.
Demonstrate collaborative and effective problem-solving skills using multiple theoretical approaches.
Develop counseling skills that require the application of theory to a variety of counseling situations in educational systems.
Apply acquired skills and techniques to actual counseling situations in schools. Research contemporary issues in school counseling to provide practical solutions and communicate results through clear, concise and appropriate media.

Two Year Plan

School Counseling, Master of Science Two Year Plan

Master of Science in School Counseling - 60 Hours

Academic Requirements

PCOU 5003 - FOUNDATIONS OF COUNSELING Credits: 3
PCOU 5013 - COUNSELING THEORIES AND PRACTICE Credits: 3
PCOU 5023 - RESEARCH METHODS Credits: 3
PCOU 5033 - GROUP THEORY AND COUNSELING Credits: 3
PCOU 5043 - COUNSELING PRACTICUM I Credits: 3
PCOU 5053 - HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Credits: 3
PCOU 5073 - PROFESSIONAL ETHICS Credits: 3
PCOU 5083 - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT Credits: 3
PCOU 5103 - COUNSELING PRACTICUM II Credits: 3
PCOU 5113 - INDIVIDUAL EVALUATION & ASSESSMENT Credits: 3
PCOU 5123 - COUNSELING SPECIAL POPULATIONS AND GROUPS Credits: 3
PCOU 5133 - CAREER AND LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT Credits: 3
PCOU 5163 - PHILOS, ORG, ADMIN OF GUIDANCE SERVICES Credits: 3
PCOU 5173 - CONSULTATION FOR THE SCHOOL Credits: 3
PCOU 5183 - SPECIALIZED COUNSELING ELEM SECOND Credits: 3
PCOU 5143 - SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING Credits: 3
PCOU 5203 - INTEGRATION OF PSYCHOLOGY AND THEOLOGY Credits: 3
PCOU 5254 - SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP I Credits: 4.5
PCOU 5264 - SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP II Credits: 4.5

Reading Endorsement Requirement - 3 Hours

Students who do not already have the Florida Department of Education Reading Endorsement must take the following course:
EDUC 5033 - ADV METH TCHING READING & LANG K-5 Credits: 3

Admission Requirements

Written essay describing the current and future impact of your faith in your personal and professional life and the reason for your desire to pursue this degree.
Proof of a minimum GPA of 3.0 earned from a regionally accredited institution
Resume
Official college transcripts
Professional Reference
Academic Reference
Christian Character Reference
A score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of at least 151 on the Verbal section and a 4.0 or higher on the Analytical Writing section of the GRE or a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score of 400 or more. (GRE scores must be recent enough to be considered valid by ETS. Results prior to August of 2011 must have a combined score of at least 1,000 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections.)
An interview with the faculty of the graduate counseling programs, typically in group format with other applicants.
Completion of undergraduate courses in areas below prior to enrollment:
- Introductory (General) Psychology
- Theories of Personality
- Psychology of Human Development (Developmental Psychology)
- Abnormal Psychology

Additional Requirements

Students are required to complete the following prior to conferring of the MSSC degree;

Register for and successfully pass all three sections of the Florida Teachers Certification Exams (FTCE) prior to degree completion.
Complete the Comprehensive Professional Counseling Exam (CPCE)
Successfully submit portfolio per program procedures and receive satisfactory evaluation from faculty
Complete required hours of field experience (400 direct; 600 indirect) during Practicum and Internship Courses.

Students who do not already have the Florida Department of Education Endorsement for Reading or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) must take the following undergraduate courses prior to conferring of the degree:

Reading training requirement (or UG course EDUC 3413 Introduction to Reading)
ESOL training requirement (or UG course EDUC 3353 Empowering ESOL Teachers

Non-Degree Seeking

Students with existing graduate degrees may take certain courses as a non-degree seeking student with advanced approval of program faculty. This may appeal to those that need further graduate hours or courses to qualify for certification by the FL DOE as a School Counselor. Contact the graduate admission office for details on applying as a non-degree seeking graduate student.