{"id":10403,"date":"2015-04-07T15:26:08","date_gmt":"2015-04-07T20:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/academics\/?post_type=program&#038;p=10403"},"modified":"2026-09-18T14:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T19:36:14","slug":"master-of-education-school-counseling","status":"publish","type":"program","link":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/program\/master-of-education-school-counseling\/","title":{"rendered":"School Counseling, M.Ed."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\">The <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\">Southern Arkansas University <strong>School Counseling Program<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\"> prepares knowledgeable, self-aware professional school counselors. The curriculum fulfills the licensure requirements for <\/span><\/span><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\">K-12 School Counseling<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW2345763 BCX0\"> credentials in Arkansas, balancing theoretical depth with practical application.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Program Format &amp; Flexibility<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Delivery<\/strong>: Online with a required five-day summer on-campus intensive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Program Duration<\/strong>: Typically, 2.5 years<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start Dates<\/strong>: Rolling admissions with starts in Summer, Fall, and Spring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Overview<\/h3>\n<p>The School Counseling program prepares graduates to become professional school counselors who advocate for the academic, career, and social\/emotional success of all students. <strong>Based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model<\/strong>, students learn to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school counseling programs using data-informed and evidence-based practices.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW55272897 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW55272897 BCX0\">Why Choose SAU for School Counseling?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW55272897 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personalized Support<\/strong>: Faculty and staff are dedicated to student success through SAU&#8217;s caring campus philosophy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Affordability<\/strong>: Nationally recognized for quality and affordability, offering a competitive tuition rate for a nationally accredited graduate program.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Real-World Readiness<\/strong>: Graduates report feeling well prepared for employment, comprehensive school counseling practice, and crisis response.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accreditation<\/strong>: Southern Arkansas University is accredited by the <strong>Higher Learning Commission (HLC)<\/strong>, and the School Counseling program is nationally accredited through the <strong>Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Skills You Will Gain<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Comprehensive School Counseling<\/strong>: Learn to design, implement, manage, and evaluate a data-informed comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the ASCA National Model while maximizing direct and indirect services for students.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Counseling and Crisis Response<\/strong>: Develop the skills to provide individual student planning, responsive services, small-group counseling, and effective crisis prevention and response for K\u201312 students.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leadership, Advocacy, and Collaboration<\/strong>: Build the leadership, advocacy, consultation, and collaboration skills needed to advocate for students and work effectively with educators, families, and community partners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW72623192 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW72623192 BCX0\">Faculty &amp; Digital Learning Environment<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW72623192 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:60,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Learn from experienced counselor educators and school counseling practitioners who bring real-world K\u201312 experience into every course. Our supportive online learning environment is designed to prepare students for success while fostering meaningful connections with faculty and classmates.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Flexible online coursework designed for working professionals.<\/li>\n<li>Practical, hands-on resources and experiences to build your professional school counseling toolbox.<\/li>\n<li>Interactive learning, collaboration, and networking opportunities that foster lasting professional relationships.<\/li>\n<li>Personalized faculty support and advising throughout your program, including program Director, Suzy Toms, Assistant Professor and Director of Counseling Programs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Curriculum &amp; Pathways<\/h3>\n<p>The M.Ed. in School Counseling offers two pathways based on your current education and licensure status. If you are unsure which pathway is right for you, contact the Program Director for assistance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>M.Ed. in School Counseling<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Advanced Pathway (Add to a Standard Teaching License)<\/p>\n<p>For individuals who already hold a valid Arkansas teaching license and are seeking a Master of Education in School Counseling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Initial Licensure Pathway<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For individuals who hold a bachelor&#8217;s degree but do not hold a teaching license. Admission to the M.Ed. in School Counseling requires completion of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/program\/teaching-certificate\/\">EDUC Certificate<\/a> (four MAT classes).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Signature Course Experience \u2013 COUN 6763<\/strong><br \/>\nThis five-day summer intensive is the hallmark of the SAU School Counseling program. Students gain hands-on experience applying the ASCA National Model while developing and delivering a comprehensive school counseling program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Southern Arkansas University School Counseling Program prepares knowledgeable, self-aware professional school counselors. The curriculum fulfills the licensure requirements for K-12 School Counseling credentials in Arkansas, balancing theoretical depth with practical application. Program Format &amp; Flexibility Delivery: Online with a required five-day summer on-campus intensive. Program Duration: Typically, 2.5 years Start Dates: Rolling admissions with&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/program\/master-of-education-school-counseling\/\"> Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16430,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_genesis_title":"","_genesis_description":"","_genesis_noindex":"","_genesis_nofollow":"","_genesis_noarchive":"","_genesis_canonical_uri":"","_open_graph_title":"","_open_graph_description":"","_twitter_title":"","_twitter_description":"","_social_image_url":"","_social_image_id":"","redirect":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"college_department":[18312,75,18307],"delivery":[28836],"types":[28851,71780],"class_list":["post-10403","program","type-program","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","college_department-counseling-and-professional-studies","college_department-college-of-education","college_department-school-of-graduate-studies","delivery-hybrid","types-graduate","types-masters","entry"],"acf":{"page_layout":"standard","landing_page_url":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/school-counseling\/","department_college":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/education\/academic-programs\/cps\/\">Counseling and Professional Studies<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/education\/\">College of Education and Human Performance<\/a>","badge_text":"","Number_of_Hours":"48","tuition_instate":"","tuition_outstate":"","estimated_total_tuition":"","start_dates":"Rolling admissions (Fall, Spring, and Summer)","duration":"2.5 -  3 years","Degree Plans":"<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.saumag.edu\/preview_program.php?catoid=11&amp;poid=2706&amp;returnto=407\">2026-2027<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","Program_Contact_Info":"[dirswitch contacts=\"toms-suzy\"]","Catalog Entry":"<strong>Professional Education Course (3 hours)<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>EDUC 6003 - Educational Research<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Core Courses (36 hours)<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6123 - Foundations of School Counseling<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6403 - Introduction to the Counseling Profession<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6413 - Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6423 - Counseling Theories<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6433 - Basic Counseling Skills<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6443 - Group Counseling<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6453 - Human Development for Helping Professionals<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6463 - Career Counseling: Theory and Practice<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6473 - Psychosocial and Multicultural Aspects of Counseling<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6483 - Assessment Procedures for Counselors<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6583 - Counseling Children and Adolescents<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6763 - Development and Administration of School Counseling Program<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Supervised Experience (9 hours)<\/strong>\r\nSelect 9 hours from the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6493 - Practicum in Counseling<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6653 - Internship I in Elementary School Counseling *<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6673 - Internship II in Elementary School Counseling *<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6803 - Internship I in Secondary School Counseling *<\/li>\r\n \t<li>COUN 6823 - Internship II in Secondary School Counseling *<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nNote:\r\n*Internships must consist of both an elementary and secondary experience","minor_requirements":"","Admission Requirements or Deadlines":"<h3>Prerequisites<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required for admission to the M.Ed. in School Counseling.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Admission requirements differ depending on whether the applicant is pursuing the advanced or initial licensure pathway.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Applicants pursuing an initial licensure pathway may be required to complete the <strong>EDUC Certificate<\/strong> (four MAT classes) before admission.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Prospective students should contact the <a href=\"shtoms@saumag.edu\">Program Director<\/a> to discuss their educational background, licensure status, and professional goals to determine the appropriate pathway and admission requirements.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","careers":"<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Career Outlook<\/strong>: Employment of school counselors is projected to grow over the next decade, reflecting continued demand for qualified professionals in K\u201312 schools.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Career Readiness<\/strong>: Students complete a 100-hour practicum and 600 hours of supervised internship experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels, preparing them to enter the profession with confidence.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Affordable Investment<\/strong>: SAU offers a nationally accredited School Counseling program at a competitive tuition rate, providing excellent value for students pursuing Arkansas school counselor licensure.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","faq":[{"faq_question":"Can I become licensed in another state? ","faq_answer":"The SAU School Counseling program is designed to meet Arkansas school counselor licensure requirements. Candidates seeking licensure in another state should contact their state's licensing agency to determine specific requirements and whether additional coursework or experiences may be needed. "},{"faq_question":"I already have a master's degree in a counseling-related field. Do I need another master's degree? ","faq_answer":"Not necessarily. Individuals who already hold a master's degree in a counseling-related field\u2014such as Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, College Counseling and Student Affairs, or a closely related counseling discipline\u2014may be eligible for the School Counseling Certificate rather than the full M.Ed. in School Counseling. \r\nPlease note: Graduate degrees in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration, or other non-counseling disciplines do not qualify for the School Counseling Certificate pathway. \r\nContact the Program Director to discuss your educational background and determine the pathway that best fits your goals. "},{"faq_question":"Is a teaching license required? ","faq_answer":"No. The M Ed in School Counseling offers pathways for both licensed teachers and individuals seeking initial school counselor licensure. Prospective candidates should contact the Program Director to determine which pathway and requirements apply to them. "},{"faq_question":"Is this program entirely online? ","faq_answer":"The program is delivered primarily online and includes one required five-day summer on-campus intensive. Supervised practicum and internship experiences are typically completed in approved elementary and secondary schools within or near the candidate\u2019s local community. "}],"Accreditations":"","Testimonials":"<div class=\"sue-testimonial sue-testimonial-has-photo sue-testimonial-bordered\">\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial-text sue-content-wrap\">The knowledge gained in Counseling 6763 is critical to this profession. Through this course, I learned to develop an effective school counseling program using the components of the ASCA National Model and to manage my time optimally. The course provided hands-on experience, valuable tools for my counseling tool box, and the opportunity to create lasting professional friendships.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial-cite\"><span class=\"sue-testimonial-name\">Kim Merrell<\/span>, M. ED. in School Counseling December 2017, <span class=\"sue-testimonial-company\">\r\nPictured with <span class=\"sue-testimonial-name\">Varonica Kennedy<\/span>, M. Ed. in School Counseling August 2017<\/span><\/div>\r\n<img class=\"sue-testimonial-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/files\/2015\/04\/School-Counseling-Kim-Merrell-and-Varonica-Kennedy.jpg\" alt=\"Kim Merrell, M. ED. in School Counseling December 2017\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" \/>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial sue-testimonial-has-photo sue-testimonial-bordered\">\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial-text sue-content-wrap\">I wouldn\u2019t be the educator I am today if it had not been for the professors I had at SAU. I faced my first school crisis in February of 2018. Nothing can really prepare you for these things, but I can surely say the training and skillset I received during my time in this program prepared me to step in and assist as needed. I left campus that day knowing I had been reassuring and a comfort to the students.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial-cite\"><span class=\"sue-testimonial-name\">Kelly Muldrew<\/span>, <span class=\"sue-testimonial-company\">M. Ed. in School Counseling December 2017<\/span><\/div>\r\n<img class=\"sue-testimonial-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/files\/2018\/03\/School-Counseling-Kelly-Muldrew-e1521477350898-150x150.png\" alt=\"Kelly Muldrew\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" \/>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial sue-testimonial-has-photo sue-testimonial-bordered\">\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial-text sue-content-wrap\">I chose SAU for my master\u2019s degree in School Counseling because it was local and close to my home. The process of getting started was great and my advisors were so patient with me. Throughout the program, I really felt support by the staff in achieving my goal of becoming a school counselor. I felt I was getting the highest quality hands-on experience I could! Using what I have learned from the school counseling program and my degree, I was able to get a job as an elementary school counselor right away and build up the program at my current job.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"sue-testimonial-cite\"><span class=\"sue-testimonial-name\">Jessica Hogan<\/span>, <span class=\"sue-testimonial-company\">M. Ed. in School Counseling December 2017<\/span><\/div>\r\n<img class=\"sue-testimonial-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/files\/2015\/04\/hogsn-e1522184951773.jpg\" alt=\"Jessica Hogan\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" \/>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","student_information":"","Advisors":"","rankings":"<img class=\"aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/school-counseling\/files\/2025\/05\/onlineu-badge-226x300.png\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" \/>","keywords":"","custom_tab_title":"","custom_tab_text":"","rfi_shortcode":"[gf_embed site=\"1\" id=\"88\" prog=\"Master of Education in School Counseling\" type=\"Graduate\" comments=\"true\" notify_emails=\"shtoms@saumag.edu\"]"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs\/10403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/program"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs\/10403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18312,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs\/10403\/revisions\/18312"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"college_department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/college_department?post=10403"},{"taxonomy":"delivery","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/delivery?post=10403"},{"taxonomy":"types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types?post=10403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}