Elementary & Secondary
School Counseling

Master of Education

About This Program | Program Requirements | Admission | School Counseling Handbook

About This Program

Program Purpose

The Master of Education program in School Counseling at Wilmington University addresses the needs of diverse school populations facing rapid social, economic, and technical changes. Practical application in the counseling field is balanced by detailed consideration of the philosophy, ethics, and counseling theories necessary for a professional counselor. Counselors are trained in individual and group counseling, in parent and professional consultations, and in leadership and student advocacy. The program enables student counselors to acquire knowledge, skills, and the clinical experience needed to become elementary, middle, and secondary counselors in a developmental and multicultural school setting.

Outcomes Assessment

Formative and summative assessment outcomes consist of multiple measures. Grades on assignments and final course grades are the first level of assessment. Course goals, learning outcomes, and assignments are designed to address the measurement of program and graduation competencies. The summative assessment consists of a student compiled portfolio for the clinical course experience. Other assessments include direct observation of skill development and alumni surveys assessing program effectiveness.

Program Competencies

1. Develop an understanding of human behavior and child development in order to address the cognitive, personal, social, and career needs of children and adolescents.

2. Acquire an understanding of a comprehensive school counseling program which enables counselors to demonstrate fairness and equity to every student. Develop the skills to design, implement, and evaluate this program.

3. Understand the principles and purposes of assessment and the collection and use of data to monitor student progress and implement the results.

4. Examine and demonstrate a thorough understanding of established and emerging counseling theories to create a foundation for effective counseling with a diverse population.

5. Develop the knowledge, skills, techniques, and confidence in individual, group counseling, and classroom guidance needed to act as a leader and advocate to assist children and adolescents with their development, learning, achievement, and decision making tasks.

6. Become familiar with contemporary issues which are affecting the social, physical, and cognitive development of children and adolescents.

7. Acquire an understanding of family and marital systems, as well as the consultation process, needed to work with parents, teachers, administrators, and the community to achieve common goals for the education of children.

8. Develop the knowledge and expertise needed to provide youth with career development information. In addition, know how to locate information and resources which will facilitate academic, social-personal, and career decision making.

9. Develop a complete understanding of the ethical standards and guidelines of both the American Counseling Association and the American School Counseling Association.

Program Design

The curriculum for the Master of Education in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling, a 36 or 42 semester credit program, is based on the National and State Model School Counseling Program in three broad areas described by the American School Counseling Association (ASC): academic/developmental, career development, and personal/social development. In addition to the 11 required courses, students with three years as a lead teacher complete a one semester, six credit hour supervised practicum under the direction of a certified counselor and supervision of a Wilmington University faculty member. Students without the three years of required school experience complete two semesters, 12 credit hours of supervised internships totaling 1,000 hours.

Program Requirements

Students are expected to complete all requirements associated with the Master of Education degree with a concentration in School Counseling which include both traditional course work as well as clinical experiences. Students with a teaching background are required to complete a 6-credit, one semester practicum experience. Students who lack a teaching background are required to complete two clinical courses (Internship I and Internship II) which span two semesters. In addition, all students are expected to develop a program portfolio which focuses on program, graduation, and state and national competencies.

Current New Jersey requirements state that one must complete a program which consists of 48 graduate credit hours that are distributed among various areas of a counseling program. Therefore, more course work is required to meet the 48 minimum credit hours. The following courses have been approved by the Office of Licensure and Credentials of New Jersey to meet credits and course content areas: Ethical Issues in Counseling (MEC 6607), Multicultural Counseling (MEC 6608), Drug and Alcohol Counseling (MEC 6600) and Classification of Psychopathology (MCC 6901).