Department of Educational Theory, Policy, and Practice

Counselor Education Faculty | Admissions
Student Handbook | M.A. | M.Ed. | Ed.S.
Frequently Asked Questions

 

Counselor Education

Master of Education
Specialization in School Counseling

Program Purpose and Objectives
The mission of the LSU School Counseling Program is to recruit and train self-motivated counselors who are educational leaders and serve as advocates for all students in elementary, middle and secondary schools.  Through school and community partnerships, students demonstrate how school counselors work to promote academic success for all students, serve as leaders and change agents to improve educational practices, and demonstrate counseling effectiveness through ongoing outcome research and evaluation.  Completion of the program qualifies students for certification as a school counselor in the state of Louisiana. Prior teacher certification or school experience is not required for admission to the program. Degree requirements may exceed the minimum number of hours for professional certification. Students will receive knowledge, experience, and skills training in order to:

• Facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the school years.
• Respect cultural influences on human development and adjustment.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program which promotes students’ academic, career, and personal-social development.
• Use outcome research to demonstrate the effectiveness of school counseling programs.
• Practice consistent with the ethical and professional standards of the counseling profession.

Admission Requirements
Students must submit an application to the Graduate School and meet Graduate School admission requirements.  Please see Admissions link at this website.
Course Requirements
The school counseling non-thesis specialization requires the completion of 48 credit hours, a specified core of 45 credit hours, and 3 elective credit hours.
The school counseling specialization with thesis requires a total of 51 credit hours, which includes the 45 hours specified core and 6 credit hours for the thesis.
Content Specialty
ELRC 4360     Introduction to School Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 4361     Counseling Children (3) [Summer]
ELRC 7345     Counseling Skills and Interventions (3) [Spring]
ELRC 7331     Counseling Theory and Techniques (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7330     Group Techniques and Dynamics in Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7333     Analysis of the Individual (3)[Summer]
ELRC 7334     Vocational Counseling (3) [Spring]
ELRC 7362     Practicum in School Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7393     Multicultural Counseling (3) [Fall]
ELRC 7395     Family Counseling (3) [Summer]
ELRC 7445     Advanced School Counseling (3) [Spring]
ELRC 7391     Counseling Across the Life-span (3) [Summer]
ELRC 7399     Supervised Counseling Internship (6) [Spring]
                        **You must register for 6 hours of internship in one semester (600 on-site hours).
Research
ELRC 4249     Understanding and Applying Research in Education (3) [Fall, Spring, Summer]
Electives (3 hours):
Three credit hours must be taken from relevant courses in counseling or other areas inside or outside the College of Education.  Selection of electives may reflect your area of interest in the counseling field.  All electives must have prior approval from your faculty advisor.
Suggested electives within ELRC include:
ELRC 7397     Substance Abuse (3) [Fall]
ELRC 4600     Counseling for Disabling Conditions (3) [Spring]
ELRC 4602     Introduction to Counseling Services (3) [Fall]
ELRC 5300     Girls and Women’s Issues in Counseling (3) [Spring]
Faculty Advisors:
You will be assigned a major advisor and two committee members upon admission to the program.
Comprehensive Examinations
Degree requirements include successful completion of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).  This is a 160 question multiple choice exam that assesses the student’s knowledge of core areas of counseling.  Students take the exam in their last semester of the program, with permission of your faculty advisor. To be eligible to take the comprehensive examination, students must have at least a 3.0 overall grade point average.
Professional Development
In addition to meeting academic requirements, students are expected to develop a professional orientation, generally defined as internalized attitudes, perspectives, and personal commitment to the standards, ideals, and identity of a profession. Evidence of professionalism includes: active participation and leadership in professional organizations; attendance at local, state, regional, and/or national meetings; acquisition of appropriate counselor credentials; professional growth; and the continued pursuit of knowledge. You also are encouraged to present papers at professional conferences and meetings and to participate in workshops and in-service training.