Educational Psychology (Counselor Education) (MA)
The M.A. in Counselor Education prepares students for certification as school counselors in Connecticut and is accredited by both the state and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The program emphasizes working with students from underrepresented populations and integrates diversity and inclusion throughout the curriculum. Coursework combines theory, research, and practice in alignment with the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model, meeting all state certification requirements.
Location
- Storrs Campus
Modality
- In Person
Requirements
In addition to the Graduate School requirements, students in the Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Counselor Education must complete the following requirements. Continuation in the Master’s level Counselor Education Program is based on ongoing acceptable performance in meeting all the following criteria: earn grades of “B” or better in each of the counseling courses and seminars; maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their counseling and related program coursework; demonstrate the ability to work successfully with K-12 students in field placement settings throughout the program. Site supervisors evaluate students by using a program designed evaluation instrument aligned with program standards. Students must receive consistently positive evaluations from site supervisors to continue in the program. The M.A. Degree in Counselor Education requires a minimum of two full academic years, defined as four semesters of approved graduate-level study with a minimum of 51 credits. To qualify for National Certification and the Licensed Professional Counselor exam, students must complete 60 credit hours in their Master’s Degree Program of Study. Thus, courses beyond the minimum 51 credits needed to graduate in the Counselor Education M.A. Program can be of your own choosing.
Practicum
Students complete supervised counseling practicum experiences that total a minimum of 100 clock hours over a full academic term that is a minimum of 10 weeks.
Internship
All school counseling students will complete a supervised internship. As of December 1, 2017, the Connecticut State Department of Education will accept a minimum of 700 clock hours of internship over 10 school months to fulfill this requirement.
Final Examination
Students must pass a Comprehensive Exam in order to graduate from the Counselor Education Program. The National Counselor Exam (NCE) is optional and required only if students want to become nationally certified.
Required Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EPSY 5108 | Students with Special Needs in the Classroom Environment | 3 |
| EPSY 5195 | Workshop in Education | 1-3 |
| EPSY 5301 | Group Processes in Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5304 | School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| EPSY 5306 | Principles of Career Development in Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5307 | Professional Orientation of School Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5308 | Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| EPSY 5314 | Appraisal Procedures in Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5315 | Counseling Techniques | 3 |
| EPSY 5316 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 |
| EPSY 5317 | Field Work in Counseling and Personnel | 3 |
| EPSY 5318 | Human Growth and Development over the Lifespan: Implications for Counselors | 3 |
| EPSY 5319 | School Counseling Internship | 3-6 |
| EPSY 5320 | Critical Issues in School Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5406 | Consultation Theories and Practices | 3 |
| EPSY 5601 | Principles and Methods in Educational Research | 3 |
| Total Credits | 46-51 | |
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EPSY 5307 | Professional Orientation of School Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5315 | Counseling Techniques | 3 |
| EPSY 5316 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 |
| EPSY 5318 | Human Growth and Development over the Lifespan: Implications for Counselors | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPSY 5195 | Workshop in Education | 1-3 |
| EPSY 5306 | Principles of Career Development in Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5308 | Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| EPSY 5314 | Appraisal Procedures in Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5317 | Field Work in Counseling and Personnel | 3 |
| Credits | 13-15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EPSY 5301 | Group Processes in Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5319 | School Counseling Internship | 3-6 |
| EPSY 5320 | Critical Issues in School Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 5406 | Consultation Theories and Practices | 3 |
| EPSY 5601 | Principles and Methods in Educational Research | 3 |
| Credits | 15-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPSY 5108 | Students with Special Needs in the Classroom Environment | 3 |
| EPSY 5304 | School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| EPSY 5310 | Facilitating Career Development | 3 |
| EPSY 5319 | School Counseling Internship | 3-6 |
| Credits | 12-15 | |
| Total Credits | 52-60 | |
Learning Objectives
- Apply knowledge to serve as effective, ethical professionals in schools, colleges and universities, and other agencies
- Create effective programs, interventions, and advocacy for individuals, couples, families, groups, and organizations
- Utilize multicultural and social justice counseling competencies to serve and empower diverse populations
- Exhibit a capacity for self-reflection and an openness to feedback to evaluate and improve personal and organizational practices. 5. Incorporate best practices through the application of counseling theories, scholarly literature, and technology.