M.Ed. in School Counseling
The master's degree in school counseling is a 60-credit program designed to prepare students to work in public or private schools as professional counselors. The school counseling program is accredited by the Montana Office of Public Instruction and when students graduate, they are eligible to apply for a Class 6 license or a school counseling endorsement on their preexisting Class 2 (standard teaching) license. Upon review of degree completion, licensure applicants are granted an appropriate license to practice as a school counselor in grade levels K-12 throughout the state.
School counseling students take a common core of counseling and human development courses. This core of course work provides all students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a professional counselor and follows the standards developed by CACREP. In addition, students in the school counseling option also study aspects of counseling germane to the school setting. The program focuses on a comprehensive and developmental approach to designing and implementing a school counseling program, and follows the standards developed by the American School Counselor Association. The program emphasis strives to provide the necessary self-awareness, knowledge, and skills for counseling students to become competent and capable professional school counselors.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Design, deliver, and evaluate a school counseling program.
- Develop the ability to effectively coordinate and collaborate with various stakeholders, including teaching staff, administration, families, community service providers, and businesses, to create a supportive environment that promotes student achievement and success.
- Develop skills in consultation, case management, and curriculum design, collaborating with educators and parents to support students' overall success and contribute to school-community partnerships.
- Evaluate and appraise the needs of a diverse, multicultural society in developing and implementing an inclusive school counseling programs.
School Counseling
The master's degree in school counseling is a 60-credit program designed to prepare students to work in public or private schools as professional counselors. Upon completion, students are eligible to apply for certification as a school counselor with the Montana Office of Public Instruction. School counselors in Montana can be certified with a Class 6 (specialist) certificate.
School counseling students take a common core of counseling and human development courses. This core coursework provides all students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a professional counselor and follows the standards developed by CACREP. In addition, students in the school counseling major also study aspects of counseling germane to the school setting. The program focuses on a comprehensive and developmental approach to designing and implementing a school counseling program, and strives to provide the necessary self-awareness, knowledge, and skills for counseling students to become competent and capable professional school counselors.
| Summer | ||
| HDCO 502 | Counseling Ethics and Professional Orientation | 2 |
| HDCO 508 | Counseling Theories I | 2 |
| HDCO 558 | Career Counseling | 2 |
| Fall | ||
| HDCO 505 | Professional Issues in School Counseling | 3 |
| HDCO 510 | Counseling Theories II | 3 |
| HDCO 521 | Counseling Skills Lab | 3 |
| HDCO 522 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| Spring | ||
| AC 501 | Chemical Dependency Counseling I | 3 |
| HDCO 524 | Crisis Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HDCO 525 | Counseling Children & Adolescents | 3 |
| HDCO 564 | Diagnosis and Mental Health | 3 |
| HDCO 571 | Prof Counsel Practicum | 3 |
| Summer | ||
| HDCO 506 | School Counseling Programs | 3 |
| HDCO 550 | Counseling Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| HDCO 551 | Appraisal | 3 |
| Fall | ||
| HDCO 563 | Multicultural Awareness | 3 |
| HDCO 598 | Internship | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| HDCO 554 | Develop Theory Across Lifespan | 3 |
| HDCO 598 | Internship | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Online Option
| Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| Summer | |
| HDCO 502 - Counseling Ethics and Professional Orientation | 2 |
| HDCO 505 - Professional Issues in School Counseling | 3 |
| HDCO 508 - Counseling Theories I | 2 |
| HDCO 558 - Career Counseling | 2 |
| Fall | |
| AC 506 - Group Counseling in Addictions Settings | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Spring | |
| AC 501 - Chemical Dependency Counseling I | 3 |
| Year Total: | 18 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
| Summer | |
| HDCO 506 - School Counseling Programs | 3 |
| HDCO 510 - Counseling Theories II | 3 |
| HDCO 521 - Counseling Skills Lab | 3 |
| HDCO 525 - Counseling Children & Adolescents | 3 |
| HDCO 550 - Counseling Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| Fall | |
| HDCO 571 - Prof Counsel Practicum | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Spring | |
| HDCO 554 - Develop Theory Across Lifespan | 3 |
| HDCO 598 - Internship | 3 |
| Year Total: | 27 |
| Year 3 | Credits |
| Summer | |
| HDCO 524 - Crisis Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HDCO 551 - Appraisal | 3 |
| HDCO 563 - Multicultural Awareness | 3 |
| HDCO 564 - Diagnosis and Mental Health | 3 |
| Fall | |
| HDCO 598 - Internship | 3 |
| Year Total: | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 60 |
Electives
| CHTH 405 | Caregiving & Aging Families | 3 |
| CHTH 430 | Mental Health & Social Issues in Aging | 3 |
| CHTH 435 | Human Response To Stress | 3 |
| EDU 612 | Critical Race Theory | 3 |
| NASX 520 | Fem/Gender Theories IN NAS | 3 |
| NASX 530 | Federal Law and Indian Policy | 3 |
| NASX 570 | Indigenous Planning: Strategic Economic and Human Development Approaches | 3 |
Students can also take all online courses available in the Addiction Certificate (AC) program.