Be Prepared to Support K-12 Students with an Emphasis in School Counseling

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03. Be Prepared to Support K-12 Students with an Emphasis in School Counseling

How School Counseling Programs Prepare You for All Situations

School-age children are at a vulnerable stage in their life: they deal with peer pressure, their bodies are growing, and they’re trying to figure out who they are. These challenges are even greater for children with learning disabilities or mental health issues. That’s why School Counselors are so critical to helping these students learn, grow, and develop.

It takes a special kind of personality to be a successful School Counselor—you must be good with children, patient, adaptable, and forward-thinking. Whether it’s behavioral issues, academic struggles, or kids who just need a little extra help, these students will definitely test your skills as you help them overcome these challenges.

Working in the school environment as a counselor has its unique challenges and opportunities, but earning an MS in Professional Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling will prepare you to succeed in all K-12 roles. You’ll be well-equipped with the training, technical skills, and resources to support students in elementary, middle, and high school.

Career Outlook in School Counseling

Do you see yourself working in public or private schools? What age range of students do you see yourself supporting? Are you seeking a clinical or administrative role?

These are the questions that you’ll flesh out as you earn your Professional Counseling degree and start to explore your career options.

While a School Counseling emphasis will prepare you for multiple career tracks, different roles will require different skills, tactics, and counseling approaches. For example, if you’re working in elementary schools, you’ll be working with children who are just beginning to develop their identities as learners. You’ll get to help them develop decision-making, communication, and critical thinking skills and teach them new learning strategies and social skills.

As a School Counselor in high school, however, your focus will be more on academic achievement and the transition to adulthood. Students at this age are exploring their independence and thinking about postsecondary school or joining the workforce. It will require a whole different set of counseling techniques from those in an elementary environment.

Earning an MS in Professional Counseling is one of several requirements to becoming a School Counselor. You’ll also have to meet state-specific certification and licensure standards, pass required exams, and uphold American School Counselor Association (ASCA) ethical and professional standards.

Once you’ve met the requirements and are ready to begin your career as a School Counselor, you can expect to earn around $52,519 in the state of Tennessee.

Courses and Curriculum

Having the opportunity to take school-specific courses like Foundations of School Counseling, School Counseling Interventions, and Administration of School Counseling Services will give you the chance to learn about the challenges of school-age children and how you can be best equipped to guide and support them.

You’ll also have the chance to write an optional Master’s Thesis to apply what you’ve learned as you prepare to enter the workforce as a Professional Counselor.

The School Counseling emphasis has 60 credits required. For more details, check out our program page.

Dual Speciality in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling

In addition to the School Counseling emphasis, you can also pursue a dual specialty by picking up Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as well. All it takes is one extra semester (as opposed to the 3 semesters it would take to finish the second specialty later) and the benefits are substantial.

The job opportunities expand significantly after graduation for students with dual specializations, who will automatically become eligible to obtain two different state licenses, one as a licensed professional counselor and another as a school counselor.

A number of students who graduate with only one specialty end up returning to our program for the second one after they realize how beneficial it is to have both licenses. If you’re thinking about the benefits of dual specializations, we encourage you to pursue that option so that you can achieve it in the fewest semesters possible while maximizing your financial aid.

Post-Master's Certificate in School Counseling

Are you someone who’s already earned a Master’s in Counseling, has been working in the field for a few years, and is now looking to make a change?

As a professional counselor, it’s totally normal to want to explore new client populations and new ways to make a difference in people’s lives. That’s why we’ve put together the Post-Master’s Certificate—to help counselors reach new career goals and have a fresh start with new types of clients.

The post-Master’s certificate in School Counseling includes a minimum of 21 semester hours of courses and field practice which meet part of the requirement for taking the state licensure (LPC) exam.

Counseling professionals with additional certifications enjoy increased earning potential and increased flexibility when it comes to their career options.

Application Details and Key Deadlines

To be eligible for admission, you must meet the following criteria:

Bachelor's Degree: A bachelor's degree (in any area) from an accredited program
GPA Requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
Behavioral Science Courses: Undergraduate upper-division coursework in the behavioral sciences (6 hours)

Through the admissions process, you must complete the following steps:

Graduate Application
Transcripts
Recommendations
Statement of Purpose
Resumé
Background Check
Criminal-Record Release and Declaration
Personality Test
Interview

See the full description of the application process right here.

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