Counseling, MS
Take the Next Step
Students in their final semester are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
Growing Edges Community Counseling Clinic
A clinic on campus that is the only program of its kind in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
Within 6 months of graduation
The Department of Counselor Education teaches the knowledge and skills necessary for the professional practice of counseling and college student affairs work. As one of the oldest established counseling departments in the nation with three CACREP-accredited concentrations, the curricula enhances students’ academic, personal, and career potential through a comprehensive counselor education program, which boasts a 92% job placement within six months of graduation.
The counseling program is a careful balance of theory with practice. The department has established numerous sites for experiential learning, including elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, public and private social service agencies, correctional facilities, and hospitals.
Accreditation
Students in our CACREP-accredited programs who are in their last semester of coursework are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE), a national standardized test administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Upon successful passing of the NCE, students are eligible to use the Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. Passing the NCE (or NCMHCE), earning a 60-hour master’s degree in counseling, and accruing 3000 hours of post-masters supervised practice provides graduates with the necessary education and training to apply for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC).
Admissions Requirements
The Counseling program prefers a GPA of a 2.75 or higher. However, School Counseling applicants are required per PA Department of Education requirements to have a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of application.
Counseling has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Counseling Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), applicants to programs within the Department of Counselor Education must submit:
Course Work for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS
Courses are organized into three phases and should be taken in that order. The sequence within each phase should be followed as closely as possible. Consultation with an advisor on a regular basis is required as a student progresses through the program. Students must apply for admission to candidacy the semester they are enrolled in Practicum. This degree requires a minimum of 60 Credits. For complete course descriptions, please visit the catalog.
Course Work for K-12 School Counseling, MS
Students in our CACREP-accredited K-12 School Counseling concentration receive the coursework necessary to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for certification as school counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools. Applicants who are already Pennsylvania-certified teachers may transfer up to nine graduate-level credits to satisfy PDE’s requirement for coursework in Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and working with English Language Learners (ELL). Certification as a School Counselor by the PA Dept. of Education requires successful completion of the School Counseling PRAXIS Exam (#0420), which should be taken toward the end of the student’s course of study.
You will complete a practicum and two internships as part of your clinical development. We have a variety of approved sites for experiential learning throughout central Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. The program teaches the skills necessary for the professional practice of clinical mental health counseling. Our emphasis on personal growth encourages development in an understanding of values and beliefs which enhances and facilitates the helping process.