School Counseling (MEd)
Support students as their school counselor, with a special emphasis on lifting up underserved and disenfranchised populations. Earn your professional license as a school counselor in a program committed to breaking barriers and disrupting the current inequities in our educational system.
CURRICULUM
For more information about the following items, please refer to the Counseling Student Handbook 2024-2025.
Completion of the MEd degree program requires 48 semester hours, 700 clock hours of practicum/internship experience, and a comprehensive examination.
Undergraduate Prerequisites
Students should present transcript evidence of successful completion ("B" or better) of an introductory statistics course or its equivalent. Ideally, students will have completed this course prior to the start of the program.
Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| CPSY 420 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CPSY 421 | Professional Issues Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 423 | Theory Counseling & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPSY 424 | Career Development & Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 425 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 426 | Group Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CPSY 433 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 454 | Human Development: Cognitive, Aff & Phys Bases | 3 |
| RMTD 400 | Introduction to Research Methodology | 3 |
| Specialty Courses | ||
| CPSY 428 | Foundations of Professional School Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 431 | Advanced School Counseling & Consultation | 3 |
| CPSY 458 | Adolescent Development and Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 440 | Practicum | 3 |
| CPSY 441 | Internship | 3 |
| CIEP 423 | Advanced Literacy Instruction in the Content Area | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Select one elective, examples include: | 3 | |
| Addiction Counseling | ||
| Family Therapy I | ||
| Career Assessment | ||
| The Exceptional Child | ||
| Instructional Methods-Diverse Population | ||
| Behavioral Intervention: Assessment & Support | ||
| Total Hours | 48 | |
Additional Coursework
The school counselor endorsement in Illinois requires a teaching endorsement or additional coursework in education. Students in the MEd program in School Counseling who do not hold a teaching license must complete the following additional coursework to be eligible in Illinois. These courses are:
- CIEP 401 The Exceptional Child
- CIEP 414 Instructional Methods-Diverse Population
- ELPS 460 School Administration
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection. The courses below including the additional coursework for this who do not hold a teaching license.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CPSY 420 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CPSY 428 | Foundations of Professional School Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 433 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 454 | Human Development: Cognitive, Aff & Phys Bases | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPSY 421 | Professional Issues Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 423 | Theory Counseling & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPSY 431 | Advanced School Counseling & Consultation | 3 |
| CIEP 401 | The Exceptional Child 1, 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer I | ||
| CPSY 425 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 458 | Adolescent Development and Counseling | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer II | ||
| CIEP 423 | Advanced Literacy Instruction in the Content Area | 3 |
| RMTD 400 | Introduction to Research Methodology | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CPSY 440 | Practicum | 3 |
| CPSY 426 | Group Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CPSY 424 | Career Development & Counseling | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPSY 441 | Internship | 3 |
| CIEP 414 | Instructional Methods-Diverse Population 2 | 3 |
| ELPS 460 | School Administration 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 54 | |
- 1
Students who hold a teaching license take an elective, not CIEP 401 The Exceptional Child.
- 2
This course is only required for students who do not have a teaching license.
Program Length
Full-time students will complete the program in two years, including at least one summer. Part-time study is also available. Students have five years from acceptance to complete the program.
Comprehensive Assessment
A school counseling exam is required during your practicum/internship. See program handbook for details. Comprehensive examination application deadlines are as follows (see the School of Education Academic Calendar for comprehensive exam dates)
Practicum
The Chicagoland area provides a wealth of clinical training opportunities for the students in community, school, and clinical mental health counseling programs. Students receive generalist training, but through site selection can begin to acquire population-specific competencies in working with children, adolescents, families, gay/lesbian/bisexual clients, and other groups of individuals. To discuss typical practicum settings and sites in Chicago and its suburbs, please contact Rufus Gonzales, Practicum Coordinator, at 312.915.6378
Licensure
The curriculum of the MEd program reflects current requirements for licensure in the State of Illinois. Licensure is handled by individual states, and portability of licensure across state lines differs according to each state. The Department of Professional Regulation in the State of Illinois has adopted the certification exam developed and administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Many states use this exam for licensure purposes, so scores from the exam can be transferred. Coursework, including the number of hours required, differ across states. Students interested in completing licensure or certification in another state are strongly advised to consult the professional regulation boards prior to enrolling at Loyola to determine the appropriate coursework required. Students should also stay apprised of licensure requirements throughout the program.
Students seeking school counseling licensure without a teaching endorsement must take the school counseling licensure exam in the semester prior to beginning CPSY 441 Internship, in the spring semester. The ISBE website provides information on dates exams are administered, fees, and registration procedures. The school counseling is administered by ISBE (not Loyola), and you must register with ISBE to take the exam.
Continuous Enrollments
MEd students in School Counseling are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education’s Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- You'll be ready to work in an elementary or secondary school setting,
applying skills in research evaluation and implementation of interventions
for student success. You'll also be adept at collaborating with multiple
parties within a school context (e.g., students, parents, teachers,
administrators, community, etc.).