School Counseling

Overview

About this Degree

Coming together from a variety of geographic areas, we share a common vision of achieving the vitally important mission of training students to become successful school counselors.

The School Counseling program James Madison University prepares students to be school counselors in elementary, middle or secondary school settings. Program graduates enter the field with the knowledge and competencies essential to provide quality developmental school counseling services.

Our alumni are dedicated to providing competent, caring and ethical services to diverse students in public and private schools. Putting our principles of school counseling into practice, we strive to create an academic community in which our students can thrive personally and grow professionally. While many of our graduates play vital roles in schools along Virginia's Shenandoah Valley or West Virginia, many have moved to serve in rural, suburban and urban schools throughout the mid-Atlantic region and across the nation. We invite our students to embark on a life-long journey of exploring new possibilities, refining their skills and staying fresh throughout their careers. We encourage them to support one another in the formidable task of making a difference in students' lives by meeting their emotional, social, educational and career development needs as licensed or certified school counselors. Finally, we challenge our graduates to advance the school counseling profession through service, research, innovation, advocacy and training.

The Master of Education degree in school counseling is in compliance with the Virginia State Board of Education licensure regulations for school counselors. The school counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, an affiliate of the American Counseling Association. A comprehensive examination including oral, written and applied components is required prior to internship.