Overview
The School Counseling CAEP/NCATE accredited master’s level program is designed to prepare highly skilled professional school guidance counselors to work with all students and the entire school community including culturally diverse populations and students with serious emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disorders.
School Counselor coursework trains students to create comprehensive and developmental school guidance counseling programs and services that support all students with their academic, personal/social, and career development. As partners in student achievement, program graduates learn diagnosis and consultation skills to prepare them to be integral members of school teams that promote academic achievement, strive to close achievement gaps, and assist all students to graduate career and college ready.
The School Counseling, PreK-8 or 5-12 program offered by Fitchburg State University is based on a developmental socialization model of intervention, which recognizes that at each developmental stage throughout the lifespan, individuals face tasks that can lead to problems needing professional assistance. Counselor education is based on the belief that effective counselors are both personally and professionally integrated. For this reason, a balance between didactic and experiential learning is maintained.
Career Opportunities
Program graduates have the credentials to apply for initial licensure as an elementary school (PreK-8) or secondary school (5-12) counselor. Past graduates of our program have been employed in the Leominster, Clinton, and Gardner school districts as well as at Fitchburg State.
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- Counseling Theories
- Introduction to Professional Counseling: Issues & Skills
- Professional Practice, Standards and Ethics: School Counseling
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Life Span Development
- Childhood Trauma and Its Impact on School Based Services
- Psychopathology I: Diagnosis and Assessment
Key information
Duration
- Full-time
- 36 months
- Part-time
- 72 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before , International
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- Starting
- Apply before , International
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Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling admission basis.
Language
Credits
Delivered
- Self-paced, Semi-structured
- Regular optional meetings, Regular mandatory meetings
- Individual work/assignments (with online group discussions)
Disciplines
Education School Counselling View 542 other Masters in School Counselling in United StatesAcademic requirements
English requirements
Other requirements
General requirements
- Official transcript of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Three letters of recommendation (References must be from professional sources, and one must be an academic reference.)
- Professional resume
- Official transcripts of graduate level course work from a regionally accredited institution (if applicable)
- Graduate application and fee
- A personal statement (maximum 300 words) describing goals and reasons for applying to the program
- Applicants to the school guidance counseling program must submit passing scores on the Communication and Literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure.
- Successful completion of all undergraduate prerequisites
- Developmental Psychology
- Statistics, Psychological Statistics, or Applied Statistics for Counselors
Tuition Fee
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International
6380 USD/yearTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 319 USD per credit during 36 months. -
National
6380 USD/yearTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 319 USD per credit during 36 months.
Living costs for Fitchburg
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Funding
Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.