Master of Education in School Counseling

Offered full or part-time, the 54 credit MEd in school counseling program is flexible and designed to meet your needs. Students enrolled full-time typically complete the program within two years. Students enrolled part-time typically complete the program within three years. Note that MEd School Counseling full-time is a Summer (preferred) or Fall start only. 

Program Objectives 

Program objectives are based on the indicators of effective teaching practice presented in the Massachusetts educator evaluation system, Massachusetts model for school counseling, and the National ASCA (American School Counselors Association) professional expectations for school counselors. Program graduates meet the requirements for initial licensure in school counseling (K-8 or 5-12) in Massachusetts and are eligible for licensure reciprocity in states included in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Contract (ASCA State Certification Requirement Information). 

These objectives are organized around five focus areas:  

• School counseling curriculum and program delivery 

• Inclusion (equity and access) 

• Outreach and networking 

• Service and case management 

• Research and development 

Practicum 

Students' final capstone experience in the school counseling program is completing a 500-hour, year-long practicum in a public school under the supervision of a professional school counselor. Students undertake their practicum experience during the final year of the program. 

The field placement coordinator meets individually with each student to find the best placement for his or her practicum and every student finds an appropriate placement. Practicum site supervisors and our students have established working relationships with over seventy schools throughout Massachusetts. These schools appreciate the professional caliber of our students and look forward to hosting and supporting them throughout their year-long practicum placements. 

Licensure 

Students in this program complete a master's degree while developing the necessary qualifications to meet the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requirements for initial licensure as a (K-8) or secondary (5-12) counselor. Furthermore, our program graduates only need 6 additional credits and three years of employment as a school guidance counselor in order to obtain their professional license in school counseling (Massachusetts DESE Licensure Information). Students have various opportunities to earn these additional credits through engaging, semester-long course offerings or unique, week-long summer institutes. 

Please be aware that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may change licensure requirements. Students are advised to contact the state for specific, current licensure requirements. Students may access that information at the Department for Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

Salem State University, through the School of Education, is proud to offer a master's program that is the first of its kind, a Master of Education in School Counseling/School Adjustment Counseling. Graduates of this innovative program will earn their master’s degree in School Counseling and receive endorsements for initial licensure in both School Counseling and School Adjustment Counseling. This program will ensure that students receive the comprehensive training needed to support the academic, career/professional, personal/social, and emotional needs of all K-12 students. 

Practicum and Internship Hours 

The Master of Education in School Counseling/School Adjustment Counseling program offers an incredibly intensive study of the knowledge and skills required of these essential school-based counselor roles. 

Students who enroll in this program will need to devote a minimum of 2½ to 3 years of full-time study to complete the extensive program requirements. Students will complete two separate practicums. One 450-hour practicum will be completed to earn school counseling initial licensure (k-8 or 5-12) and one 900-hour practicum (k-12) will be completed to earn school adjustment counseling initial licensure, totaling a combined 1350 practicum hours. Both practicum experiences must be completed in a K-12 public school setting and may be completed separately or simultaneously. If completed simultaneously, it is highly recommended that students are supervised by a professional school counselor and a professional school adjustment counselor who work at the same practicum site. Students completing their practicums simultaneously will be required to work full-time, devising a schedule to ensure they are accruing adequate hours for each counselor role. 

Dual-Licensure 

Earning dual-licensure makes this intensive program extremely worthwhile to ensure the best career possibilities 

Developing the combined knowledge and skills required of school counselors and school adjustment counselors enables program graduates to support the holistic development of all K-12 students. 

Program graduates can leverage their skills to span their role across the entire school, facilitating collaboration between teachers, administrators, parents, and themselves to promote maximum academic, career/professional, personal/social, emotional, and physical development of their students. 

In an increasingly competitive job market, graduates with dual-licenses are highly marketable, as they can support the school districts they serve in multiple capacities. 

For graduates seeking elementary-level counseling positions, dual-licensure ensures eligibility for schools that offer only one school counselor or school adjustment counselor position. 

Lastly, this 60-credit program makes graduates eligible for their professional license after three years of employment in the role of school counselor or school adjustment counselor. 

The extensive time and effort required to complete the Master of Education in School Counseling/School Adjustment Counseling program empowers graduates to procure gainful employment and enact positive change for the students they serve.    

Please be aware that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may change licensure requirements. Students are advised to contact the state for specific, current licensure requirements. Students may access that information at the Department for Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

The roles and responsibilities assigned to school counselors and school adjustment counselors share many similarities, but the variances between these roles cannot be overlooked and must be addressed through advanced training and coursework 

Responsibilities 

School adjustment counselors understand how to foster therapeutic relationships with students and their families. They possess a developed knowledge of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development and facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of student learning, behavioral, and emotional disorders. 

 School adjustment counselors advocate for students through the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, physical and sexual abuse, mental illness, and violence to self and others. 

School counselors and school adjustment counselors have developed an understanding of federal, state, municipal, and school laws and regulations to uphold the legal rights of students and families. They also connect students and families with needed resources within the school and community and utilize consultation and data-driven research to bring about systemic change. 

Responsibilities unique to school counselors include the successful implementation of school counseling core curriculum, group counseling, and individual counseling for the student populations they serve. School counselors also understand, organize, implement, and interpret academic testing for students, teachers, and parents, such as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), the SAT, and the ACT. Career and college counseling is also an essential responsibility for secondary school counselors. 

School adjustment counselors have specialized knowledge to serve students involved with the juvenile justice system. School adjustment counselors also have knowledge of medical conditions and related medications for students with physical, emotional, behavioral, and learning disorders. This knowledge of severe psychopathology allows school adjustment counselors to support students dealing with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and autism spectrum disorders, among others. 

Other School Counseling and School Adjustment Counseling Program Options 

Our programs will ensure that students receive the comprehensive training needed to support the academic, career/professional, personal/social, and emotional needs of all K-12 students. Salem State University offers four unique pathways to prepare you for the next steps in your career: 

• MEd school counseling: for those seeking a master’s degree and initial licensure as a school counselor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

• MEd school counseling and school adjustment counseling: for those seeking a master’s degree and initial licensure as a school counselor and school adjustment counselor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

• Licensure only school counseling: for those who hold a master’s degree in counseling or psychology and are seeking initial licensure as a school counselor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

• Licensure only school adjustment counseling: for those who hold a MEd in School Counseling or a MS in Counseling from Salem State and are seeking initial licensure as a school adjustment counselor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.