Choose a career in school counseling and become the advocate you wish you had as a child.
I was drawn to the strong sense of community, the support from faculty, and the hands-on experiences that allow me to learn while working directly with students.
Overview
As a school counselor, you don't just teach a subject—you teach a child how to navigate the world. You are at the center of school life, the advocate for the unheard, and a navigator who helps students through the complex intersections of mental health, academic pressure, self-discovery, and a future career. School counselors provide a bridge between a child’s struggle and their success.
The M.Ed. School Counseling course of study prepares students to work with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and developmental stages, helping them gain skills for living in a complex and culturally diverse society. Master’s candidates learn how to provide direct services and consultations as well as conduct workshops, classes, and preventative programs.
Demand for School Counselors
Nationwide, the need for school counselors is growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand to rise by 13 percent between 2016 and 2026.
Current Educators
If you love the classroom but want to increase your impact in social-emotional learning and mental health in the schools, this program offers tools to enhance your classroom environment, understand student trauma, and lead with empathy. Master’s level training can contribute to pay raises.
Application Requirements
- Transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate)
- Transcript Evaluations: Evaluations are required for applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S.
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one recommendation must come from a faculty member at an accredited academic institution)
- Proof of English proficiency
- Personal essay
The COE Advantage
Our program is designed for the modern advocate for children and youth. We emphasize social justice and multicultural issues, ensuring our graduates are prepared to serve diverse populations with excellence. Uniquely, our program aligns with requirements for Pennsylvania Department of Education certification as a School Counselor and provides the option for a track that leads to licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), giving you maximum career flexibility.
Community Voices Clinic
Applying what you learn in a real-world setting is an important part of the program. Many master’s candidates get that experience at the Community Voices Clinic based at two local public schools in Southside Bethlehem, where they are supervised by a Lehigh professor and doctoral-level graduate assistants, as well as at other local schools in Bethlehem and Allentown.
Quick Facts
School counselors do not require CACREP accreditation to practice in schools in the United States. CACREP accreditation is not required for a license as a professional counselor in many jurisdictions within the U.S.
As of January 2014, school counselors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are certified PreK-12. The Lehigh School Counseling Program now leads to certification at PreK-12 through the Pennsylvania Department of Education TIMS online system.
Due to Pennsylvania Department of Education criteria, only U.S. citizens can receive Pennsylvania certification as a school counselor. International students are not eligible for PDE certification, but they may earn their master's degree in this program.
Modality: On-Campus
Course Requirements: 16 courses (48 credits)
Typical Course Load: fall (3-4 courses), spring (3-4 courses), summer (2-4 courses) which allows candidates to complete the program in two years (two falls, two springs and one summer)
Time to Completion: 2 years
Practical Experience Component: Minimum of 100 hours of field work required and an internship of 15-20 hours a week for two semesters (usually in second year). A clinical coordinator assists students with placements for field work and the internship.
Culminating Experience: Comprehensive portfolio
Graduates have gone on to counseling positions in elementary, middle and secondary schools, and mental health and social service agencies.
NOTE: Students seeking LPC status should also register for CPSY 439 and CPSY 430 as two of their additional courses for licensure beyond the 48 credits required for the degree.
Curriculum
All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.
| course number | course name | credits |
|---|---|---|
| CPSY 427 | Assessment and Appraisal in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 436 | Culture-Centered Career Intervention | 3 |
| CPSY 442 | Counseling and Therapeutic Approaches | 3 |
| EDUC 471 | Diversity and Multicultural Perspectives | 3 |
| CPSY 472 | Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| EDUC 403 | Research | 3 |
| CPSY 451 | Helping Skills | 3 |
| course number | course name | credits |
|---|---|---|
| CPSY 445 | School Counseling I | 4 |
| CPSY 448 | School Counseling II | 3 |
| CPSY 449 | School Counseling III | 4 |
| SPED 332 | Introduction to Inclusion and Exceptional Education | 3 |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 | 3 |
| course number | course name | credits |
|---|---|---|
| CPSY 479 | Master's Counseling Practicum | 1 |
| CPSY 480 | Master's Internship I | 3 |
| CPSY 483 | Master's Internship II | 3 |
1 Advisor Approved Elective
Electronic Portfolio Completion Form Signed Off
Technology Requirement (An Electronic Portfolio is required, student must post it to Web space), complete online registration each semester, receive orientation from LTS staff on use of the portal, use Course Site for at least one course, and take at least one Information Resources Mini Course as well as participate in the LU CP Listserv)
Our Program Also Offers:
- Competitive Tuition: We pride ourselves on offering a top-ranked education at a price point that beats out our competitors. The College of Education also offers a Pennsylvania Educator Tuition Scholarship.
- Faculty in the Field: Class instructors have firsthand experience working as school counselors.
- Small Class Sizes: A low student-to-faculty ratio means master’s candidates work closely with mentors throughout the program.
- Built for Working Adults: Courses are scheduled in the afternoons and evenings to allow you to continue working full-time, if desired.
- Career Flexibility: You have the option to prepare for certification as a School Counselor and for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor—if you choose!
- Rapid Employment: Our reputation speaks for itself—our most recent graduates have secured jobs before graduation day.
Meet Our Faculty and Staff
Lori Gallagher Anderson
Coordinator, Counseling and School Psychology
Dr. Aimee Adams
Assistant Visiting Professor
Dr. Terrina Brooks
Teaching Assistant Professor
Dr. Grace I. L. Caskie
Professor and Associate Chair of Education and Human Services Department
Dr. Cheré D. Hunter
Director, Community Voices Clinic and Professor of Practice
Dr. Christopher Liang
Professor
Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle
Assistant Professor
Dr. Jonathan Sepulveda
Assistant Professor
Dr. Susan Woodhouse
Associate Professor and Program Director
