UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
COUNSELOR EDUCATION (M.ED.) – SCHOOL COUNSELING 1
Counselor Education (M.Ed.) – School Counseling
Degree Requirements
Counselor Education Programs
The programs described below are designed to provide for the acquisition of skills and competencies needed by counselors
working in educational, and agency settings.
A grade of "B" or better is required in the professional major sequences.
Counselor educators are ethically required to ensure that students meet academic requirements and demonstrate clinical
competencies. Satisfactory progress will be predicated on a combination of factors such as academic success, clinical
competence, adherence to ethical standards, and appropriate interpersonal functioning. Students who do not demonstrate
satisfactory competence within any of these critical areas of professional performance may be terminated from the program.
Core faculty will evaluate students on a continuing basis to determine students' satisfactory progression through the program.
Other policies, procedures, and guidelines are addressed in the Counselor Education Graduate Student Handbook.
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) now offers an expanded certification option for CACREP- accredited
programs. Requirements under this option include "completion of a school counseling program that is accredited by the Council
for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and attainment of passing scores on the National
Counseling Examination for Licensure and Certification, the basic skills assessments of the Alabama Prospective Teacher
Testing Program, and Praxis II test #0421, Professional School Counseling. Note that certification in a teaching field or another
area of instructional support is not required for admission to a CACREP-accredited program in school counseling".
Admissions Requirements
The curriculum for the Counselor Education program begins each summer semester and proceeds in a sequenced manner.
Applications for graduate programs in counseling are reviewed in the spring of each year and students are admitted beginning
in summer semester. The deadline for all application materials is February 1st.
Requirements for admission are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A completed application for admission to the Graduate School.
One official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic and/or professional abilities.
A typed double-space statement of 3-5 pages in length regarding the applicant's career goal(s) and purpose(s) for
pursuing the Master's program in counseling.
5. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the MillerAnalogies Test (MAT).
6. Resume
7. Applicants whose application portfolio is deemed to be acceptable are required to participate in an interview by
counseling program faculty.
Applications, transcripts, letters of recommendation and all supporting materials should be submitted to the Office of Admissions,
2500 Meisler Hall, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002 by the deadlines noted above.
Final admission decisions involve evaluation of the following: grade-point average; scores on the GRE or MAT; letters of
reference; professional experience; the applicant's statement of purpose; interview by counseling faculty and program enrollment
and availability. All new students are required to attend the Counselor Education Graduate Student Orientation in the first
semester following admission to one of the programs.
Students who are not enrolled for three consecutive semesters must complete all admissions requirements again and be reviewed
by the program admissions committee.
Comprehensive Examination Type I is required.
The special requirements for completion of the program include demonstration of satisfactory performance in the prescribed
curriculum and a written comprehensive examination. For certification in School Counseling, 2 years of satisfactory teaching
experience is required.
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
COUNSELOR EDUCATION (M.ED.) – SCHOOL COUNSELING 2
Credit
Hours
School counseling
Requirements for school counseling
48
Minimum
Major Instructional Support Area:
36
CED 565
CED 566
CED 572
CED 574
CED 576
CED 582
CED 584
CED 586
CED 588
CED 591
CED 595 Internship (6 semester hours required; 600 contact hours)
School Counselors are required to successfully complete the PRAXIS II Subject Test prior to enrolling in internship.
Related Studies in Educational Foundations*
6
EPY 521
EPY 555
Research in Education Area
3
IDE 510
School Counselors are required under the CACREP Certification Option to successfully complete the National Counselor Exam.
*SPE 500 Must be taken for 3 additional hours by students who have not previously satisfied the special education requirement.
Department Information
Department of Professional Studies Staff
(251) 380-2861
Chair
James R. Stefurak
Professors
Dagley, Davidson-Shivers, Dempsey, Hayes, Johnson,
Litchfield, Van Haneghan
Associate Professors
Fregeau, Lewis, Millner, Stefurak
Assistant Professors
Browning, Lomax, McDermott, Pfaffman, Upton
Instructors
Tashbin
Department of Professional Studies web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/coe/ps
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
COUNSELOR EDUCATION (M.ED.) – SCHOOL COUNSELING 3
Department Of Professional Studies
The Department of Professional Studies offers the Master of Education degree in Educational Media (leading to certification
in Library Media), and in Counselor Education in an educational setting leading to certification in School Counseling, and the
Master of Science degree in Counselor Education with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The department also
offers the Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Instructional Design and Development.
For certification as a library media specialist by the State Department of Education, one must have completed a basic program in
a teaching field. Eligibility for certification requires two years of appropriate professional experience. See specific requirements
for each program. The initial certificate is valid for five years.
Interdepartmental Education
Faculty within the department offer foundational coursework in Education Technology, Educational Psychology, Educational
Foundations, and Educational Research. These courses are offered for students in the undergraduate and graduate programs
throughout the college and are designed to broaden and strengthen degree-area preparation.
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