Master of Arts: School Counseling

The Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling (MASC) program is a professional/practitioner counseling degree designed to enable bachelor’s-level graduates to obtain a master’s degree in fulfillment of one of the requirements for the Type 73 – School Counselor Certification in the State of Illinois. The State of Illinois requires that School Counselors graduating from this program must take and pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills/Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) prior to enrolling in PSYC 650, 651, 652, or 693A, B. In addition, the State of Illinois School Counseling content test, School Counselor, code 181, must be passed prior to enrolling in PSYC 693A, B.

48 hours

Required:

PSYC 600 – Research and Program Evaluation

601 – Human Growth and Development

602 – Lifestyle and Career Development

603 – Psychological Assessment

607 – Social and Cultural Foundations

610 – Counseling Theory and Techniques I

611 – Counseling Theory and Techniques II

619A, B – Counseling Practicum

622 – Legal and Ethical Issues in the Counseling Profession

630 – Group Dynamics and Counseling

650 – Introduction to School Counseling

651 – School Counseling Programs

652 – Consultation and Faculty Development Strategies

693A, B – Internship in School Counseling

During the practicum and internship experiences, learners will participate in individual and group supervision which meets on a weekly basis. Learners must earn a grade of 3.0 for each semester of practicum and internship to proceed in the program.

Students who complete the Master of Arts: Professional Counseling curriculum and wish to add the Type 73 School Counseling certification must complete PSYC 650, 651, and 652; participate in an internship in a K-12 school setting; and successfully pass the state tests required for certification and licensure. Once all examination and practice requirements are met, these students will be eligible for licensure (LPC and LCPC). The Type 73 School Counselor certification also requires that all examination and practice be met for licensing eligibility.

Students who are enrolled in the School Counseling program are strongly urged to complete the three MAPC courses not required for our school counseling program: Marriage and the Family, Addictions, and Abnormal Psychology. If these three courses are taken in conjunction with the required MASC coursework, students are eligible to become Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, in addition to their Type 73 School Counselor certification, once all examination and practice requirements have been met.