Counselor Education - School Counseling P-12 (Education Specialist)

School Counselor talks with young student

Graduates from the School Counselor Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills, technical competencies, and dispositions to function proficiently as school counselors in the 21st century, refining the knowledge and skills they already possess as practicing school counselors. This degree program is 30 credit hours and is offered online.

The curriculum is based upon program objectives that provide students with a structured sequence of curricular and clinical experiences reflecting the present and projected needs of a pluralistic society for which specialized counseling and human development activities have been developed. The program objectives are consistent with state licensing and certification and national certification educational requirements. They are defined by course objectives, assignments, and are measurable, as documented in course syllabi. These objectives reflect input from the Program Faculty members, Advisory Committee, and former students in the Counselor Education program.

There are nine elements essential to this mission:

  • Technological Competence: The program will expect the student to demonstrate the ability to use technology to enhance services delivered to clients/students.
  • Professional Identity: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of professional functioning including history, roles, technological competence, organizations, credentialing, advocacy process and ethical standards in professional counseling.
  • Social and Cultural Diversity: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues, and trends in a multicultural and diverse society as they relate to factors such as age, ethnicity, nationality, culture, gender, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, education, family values, spiritual values, socioeconomic status and other unique characteristics.
  • Human Growth and Development: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of individuals at all developmental levels, including theories of development across the life span, theories of learning and personality development, human behavior including environmental factors effecting both normal and abnormal behavior, ethical and legal considerations and strategies for facilitating development over the life span.
  • Career Development: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of career development and related life factors including theories and developmental modes, career development program planning, educational and occupation information as well as computer-based career information systems, diversity issues in career development, career planning, placement and evaluation including assessment instruments, ethical and legal considerations, and career counseling techniques.
  • Helping Relationships: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of counseling and consultation processes including basic interviewing and counseling skills as well as knowledge and application of counseling theories. An understanding of family and other systems theories in family assessment and counseling is included. Other helping considerations include knowledge of self, consultation and ethical and legal considerations.
  • Group Work: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of group development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills and other group work approaches.
  • Assessment: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
  • Research and Program Evaluation: The program will expect the student to demonstrate an understanding of research, statistical analysis, needs assessment and program evaluation.

Potential Careers

  • School Counselor in public or private schools
  • School Counselor Coordinator

Median Annual Salary

School Counselor

$50,180
Source: www.school-counselor.org

Additional Facts

  • 100% Online
  • All School Counseling Programs and Clinical Mental Health Programs at JSU are accredited by CACREP (Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs)

CACREP Logo

Departmental Information


Online Program Contact

J. Todd McGahey
jmcgahey@jsu.edu
(256) 782-8134

Request More Information