Counselor Education, Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Degree: M.Ed.	Semester(s) of entry: Fall Spring Summer	Deadline dates: Mar 15 Nov 1 Mar 15	Test requirements: GRE or MAT

Specific admission criteria can be found on this Web site at www.pubapps.vcu.edu/bulletins/graduate/?uid=10045&iid=30032. For information on financial aid, visit www.vcu.edu/enroll/finaid.

The M.Ed. in Counselor Education is a 48-credit-hour program designed to prepare counselors for elementary, middle and high schools, as well as counselors for higher education and community agencies throughout Virginia and the nation. The school counseling track leads to school counseling licensure and preparation for advanced graduate work at the post-master’s level. The college student development and counseling track provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary for employment as student affairs professionals in higher education settings.

The faculty makes every effort to assist students in individualizing a graduate program to match their professional needs and interests. However, individualization takes place in an environment of legitimate constraints revolving around institutional, accreditation and licensure requirements. Faculty members view each program as more than simply an aggregate of courses, and students should plan all program work with their faculty advisers.

For students who already have a master’s degree in education, the 33 credits of program core courses in school counseling also will lead to recommendation for licensure as a school counselor. Students who wish to gain this licensure must meet with the department chair and file a plan of study. Although students holding master’s degrees do not apply for admission to the graduate program, they must file the appropriate plan of study in order to qualify for the VCU-approved program of study. No course work taken more than seven years prior to applying for licensure as a school counselor will count toward meeting VCU’s approved program course equivalents.

School counseling track

		credits
Foundations		9

	Human development and learning
	EDUS 605 Child and Adolescent Growth and Development

	Cultural, historical and philosophical (one of the following)
	EDUS 601 Philosophy of Education
	EDUS 608 History of Western Education
	EDUS 610 Social Foundations of Education
	EDUS 612 Education and the World’s Future
	EDUS 614 Contemporary Educational Thought
	EDUS 673 Seminar on Educational Issues, Ethics and Policy

	Research
	EDUS 660 Research Methods in Education

Program core		33
	CLED 600 Introduction to Counseling
	CLED 601 Theories of Counseling
	CLED 602 Techniques of Counseling
	CLED 603 Group Procedures in Counseling
	CLED 604 Practicum: School Counseling
	CLED 605 Career Information and Exploration
	CLED 606 Assessment Techniques for Counselors
	CLED 610 Counseling in Elementary and Middle Schools
	CLED 621 Secondary School Counseling Seminar
	CLED 672 Internship (six credits)
	600 clock hours of actual work in an appropriate setting. Students wanting placement in elementary, middle or high schools may not fulfill this requirement during the summer.

Approved electives		6
		______ 48

College student development and counseling track

		credits
Foundations		12

	Human development and learning
	EDUS 604 Adult Development

	Cultural, historical and philosophical
	EDUS/CLED 631 American College and University
	EDUS/CLED 633 Academic Leadership in Higher Education

	Research
	EDUS 660 Research Methods in Education

Program core		30
	CLED 600 Introduction to Counseling
	CLED 601 Theories of Counseling
	CLED 602 Techniques of Counseling
	CLED 603 Group Procedures in Counseling
	CLED 605 Career Information and Exploration
	CLED 606 Assessment Techniques for Counselors
	CLED 608 Practicum: College Student Development and Counseling
	CLED 620 Student Development Services in Higher Education
	CLED 672 Internship (six credits)
	600 clock hours of actual work in an appropriate setting.

Approved electives		6
		______ 48

Additional information

For additional information on the college student development and counseling track, contact:
Dr. Mary Hermann
Director, College Student Development and Counseling Program
mahermann@vcu.edu
(804) 827-2626

Students accepted into the counselor education program must make satisfactory progress toward their degrees. Students who earn unsatisfactory grades and/or exhibit unprofessional conduct may be terminated from the program. More specific information about satisfactory academic progress can be found on this Web site at www.pubapps.vcu.edu/bulletins/graduate/?uid=10045&iid=30075.

Candidates for the master’s degree in counselor education are eligible for graduation upon completion of all academic requirements and upon receiving a passing score on a comprehensive examination.