Master of Education (MEd) in School Counseling
Today’s school counselors must possess the knowledge and skill to address a wide range of educational, career, social, and emotional issues faced by students. The MEd in School Counseling at SPU equips graduates to effectively assist young people through research-based counseling intervention. MEd in School Counseling students develop their competence within a framework of Christian faith and values, guided by the ethical principles of the profession.
Who Should Pursue This Degree
Anyone with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a heart for serving students as a school counselor is encouraged to apply. Students with an academic background in psychology, sociology, education, or another related field are especially encouraged to apply. If you want to serve children and youth as a school counselor, then this quality program is for you.
SPU’s curriculum includes all content and requirements for an ESA (Educational Staff Associate) Certificate in school counseling, and will allow you to seek employment as a school counselor in P–12 schools within the state of Washington and elsewhere.
Designed for all potential students seeking a career in school counseling, the MEd in School Counseling cohort begins in Autumn quarter. Courses are held on campus one night a week from 4:30–7:05 p.m. In the second and third year of the program, students are required to take intensive Summer Session courses, which meet two to four days a week over four weeks. The Professional Core classes can be taken on campus or online.
Program Philosophy
The MEd in School Counseling is designed to educate you in the profession’s history, developmental and counseling theory, and research and best practices ― with the goal of preparing you for professional excellence in the field of counseling. This process is facilitated by a faculty that strives to model a teaching/learning environment suitable for learners of diverse backgrounds, learning preferences, and life experiences, so that you will be able to serve all students in the school setting. Faculty and students seek to model love, honesty, integrity, compassion, self-discipline, congruence, redemption, commitment, and community.
Benefits
As a student in the MEd in School Counseling degree program at SPU, you will:
- Learn from distinguished faculty.
- Engage in a collaborative instructional model that cultivates a supportive learning community.
- Study a curriculum developed in alignment with CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) standards for school counseling programs.
- Build a solid theoretical foundation that includes systems thinking (social-ecological approach) and developmental psychology.
- Participate in hands-on learning experiences.
- Learn to implement an effective, comprehensive school counseling program.
- Study research-based counseling intervention.
- Explore the role that spirituality and faith play in human development.
- Learn to support students through family, systems, and multicultural school counseling.
- Understand a strengths-based approach to student development and education.
- Qualify for an Educational Staff Associate (School Counseling) Certificate in Washington.
Program Outline
The program outline includes a description of program components, program schedule, and suggested course sequence. The official degree requirements for this graduate program are stated in the SPU Graduate Catalog in effect when you are accepted into this program.
Admission Information
What is required for admission to the MEd in School Counseling? Find information about admission requirements and procedures. The official admissions requirements for this graduate program are stated in the SPU Graduate Catalog in effect when you apply to this program.
An Advocate for Children
A school counselor at Washington Middle School, MEd graduate Takiyah Jackson, tells Response magazine why she invests in 400 seventh graders.
Why I Teach at SPU
June Hyun, Assistant Professor of School Counseling
"I teach at SPU because of its commitment to changing the world. In the loving and graceful community of the School Counseling program at SPU, students are trained not only to become a professional school counselor but also to become a leader to change the world."
