School Counseling Certification Programs (Elementary and Secondary)
This degree program is designed to prepare students for both elementary and secondary school counseling positions. Developmental school counseling programs function in elementary, middle/junior, and high school settings. They are designed to support the educational process, providing for the personal growth of students in such specific areas as career awareness, personal development, decision-making, interpersonal communications, educational planning, and community involvement. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
*Full-time and part-time programs available
Program Philosophy:
The hallmark of the IUP School Counseling program is its philosophy based on the developmental approach to school counseling. Children and youth learn best when they are given the opportunity to increase self-awareness and develop those life skills that contribute to an understanding and utilization of self in all life experiences. This approach to counseling is sequential and flexible, involves all school personnel, helps students learn more effectively and efficiently, and is managed by a trained counselor who provides specialized counseling services and interventions.
Curriculum:
To qualify for K-12 institutional endorsement and commonwealth certification, students must complete a 60-credit-hour, competency-based program to include a series of counseling skills courses, including practicums at the elementary schools and secondary schools level, and complete a 600-hour field experience under the supervision of a certified school counselor. All students have five (5) years from the date of their first course enrollment to complete their degree program.
While teaching experience is not a prerequisite for school counseling certification in Pennsylvania, students are expected to possess an understanding of educational philosophy and child or adolescent growth and development. They should also understand the basic principles of psychology, sociology, and learning theory in addition to courses specific to either a child or adolescent population.
All students seeking an M.Ed. degree with certification in either elementary or secondary school counseling will take:
Core Classes
| Course Number |
Credits |
Course Title |
| GSR 615 |
3 credits |
Elements of Research |
| COUN 615 |
3 credits |
Counseling Across the Life-Span |
| COUN 617 |
3 credits |
Basic Counseling Skills |
| COUN 618 |
3 credits |
Multicultural & Diversity Issues in Counseling |
| COUN 621 |
3 credits |
Introduction to Professional School Counseling |
| COUN 624 |
3 credits |
Assessment Procedures for School Counselors |
| COUN 636 |
3 credits |
Career Counseling |
| COUN 628 |
3 credits |
Management of Professional School Counseling Programs |
| COUN 637 |
3 credits |
Counseling & Consulting Theory |
| COUN 639 |
3 credits |
Group Counseling |
| COUN 667 |
3 credits |
Elementary Practicum |
| COUN 659 |
3 credits |
Secondary Practicum |
| COUN 672 |
3 credits |
Counseling and Consulting within Systems |
| COUN 677 |
3 credits |
Crisis and Addictions Counseling |
| COUN 682 |
3 credits |
Counseling Students/Clients with Disabilities |
| COUN 720 |
3 credits |
Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling |
| COUN 755 |
6 credits |
Field Experience |
| COUN |
3 credits |
Elective |
| Total |
60 credits |
|
Course Descriptions
Occupational Outlook: Positions in school counseling look very promising beyond the 1990s. The Safe School initiatives and proposed national legislation will likely result in an overall increase in the number of counselors in the public schools. In addition to working in school counseling settings, certified school counselors may qualify for employment in mental health centers, human resource agencies, health care facilities, and residential settings serving the needs of youth and families.
Prospective students for the Master of Education and school certification program must meet departmental admissions requirements and procedures in addition to those of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Prospective students should contact the department to determine these requirements. Applicants are required to attend an admission workshop as the final step in the admissions process. Workshops are held two times a year, and applicants should contact the department to obtain the dates of workshops and deadlines for applications to reach the department.
Correspondence regarding this site should be sent to its maintainer, Dr. Bob Witchel, at bwitchel@iup.edu.
Please see the IUP statement regarding pages that do not officially represent the university.
License Only Option
The License Only Option for admission is designed for individuals who need additional credits to meet state standards for licensure.
School Counseling Certification Only
Those students already possessing a master’s degree and desiring School Counseling certification may apply to the counseling program for “Certification Only” status.
