Students completing the master's degree in School Counseling will meet the educational requirements for the Professional Educator License (PEL) in Illinois with an endorsement as a School Counselor, Pre K-Age 21. The degree also meets the educational requirements for licensure in Illinois as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). The School Counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Program Highlights

  • 60-credit hour, 20 course program 
  • Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  • Eligible for Illinois licensure: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
  • Eligible for the Illinois PEL with an Endorsement in School Counseling

Scholarships Available

The School Counseling program has secured a $4,270,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Education through 2027. During the final academic year when School Counseling students are placed in their practicum/internship school site, students can receive a $20,000 stipend and tuition for the three advanced clinical courses, if they are placed in a high-needs school. There is also grant funding for child care and transportation costs if needed. Students who receive the scholarship also participate in a series of trainings related to inclusive practices in schools.  Contact grant administrator Dr. Beth Gilfillan at e-gilfillan@neiu.edu for more information. 

Program Goals

The School Counseling program at 91Porn prepares students for employment as school counselors in elementary, middle and high schools. The School Counseling program emphasizes a developmental counseling approach integrating the philosophy and standards of the American School Counselor Association's (ASCA) National Model, the Developmental Counseling Model for Illinois schools, and the Illinois State Standards for School Counselors. NEIU's school counseling program emphasizes social justice and advocacy in schools and data-driven practices, particularly to affect systemic change in educational settings to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Students completing the master's degree in school counseling will meet the educational requirements for the Professional Educator License (PEL) in Illinois with an endorsement as a School Counselor, Pre K-Age 21. The degree also meets the educational requirements for licensure in Illinois as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). The School Counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Program Objectives

The School Counseling program trains counselors to work as school counselors who will be knowledgeable of, and demonstrate skills in the following:

  1. CACREP's core content areas of: professional counseling orientation and ethical practice; social and cultural diversity; human growth and development; career development; counseling and helping relationships; group counseling; assessment and testing; and research and program evaluation.
  2. History, models, issues/trends, and assessment in school counseling.
  3. Roles and functions of school counselors in grades Pre K-12 within the context of the comprehensive developmental school counseling models proposed and/or mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Illinois Developmental Counseling Model, ASCA National Model, and CACREP.
  4. Promoting the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all Pre K-age 22 students through evidence-based, data-driven school counseling programs.
  5. The importance of advocacy, leadership, and social justice work as a school counselor, working within the context of the school system.
  6. Delivery of services to students, parents, school staff, and community in the following areas: individual school planning; responsive services (e.g., individual, crisis and group counseling); indirect student services (e.g., consultation, collaboration, referrals); and school counseling core curriculum (e.g., classroom lessons, psychoeducation).
  7. Understanding sociocultural factors impacting the academic, career, educational, and social/emotional development of diverse students in Pre K-12 settings, and effective strategies for building coordinated, systemic, school-based interventions.
  8. Developmental, college- and career-readiness counseling to support students and their families in the post-secondary planning process from Pre K-age 22.

Curriculum

Foundation Counseling Courses
COUN 401 Professional Orientation & Legal/Ethical Practices (3 cr)
COUN 402 Developmental Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 403 Theories of Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 404 Assessment & Evaluation in Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 405 Individual Counseling Skills (3 cr)
COUN 406 Group Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 408 Research Seminar (3 cr)
COUN 409 Career Development (3 cr)
COUN 415 Children & Youth in School and Family Systems (3 cr)
COUN 425 Diagnosis & Treatment of Addictive Disorders (3 cr)
COUN 427 Diagnostic Systems for Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 430 Social & Cultural Diversity in Counseling (3 cr)

School Counseling Courses
COUN 410 Seminar in School Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 411 Post Secondary College & Career Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 412 Topics in School Counseling (3 cr)
Elective #1 Consult with program advisor (3 cr)
Elective #2 Consult with program advisor (3 cr)

Advanced Clinicals
COUN 442 Practicum: Group Supervision in School Counseling** (3 cr)
COUN 462 Internship I: School Counseling** (3 cr)
COUN 472 Internship II: School Counseling** (3 cr)

Clinical Experience (Practicum and Internship)**

School counseling students find placements in Pre K-12 schools where they can work with an approved, practicing school counselor in a comprehensive school counseling program. Placements must allow the student opportunities to counsel students in academic, social/emotional, and career-related development. Practicum and Internship consist of 700 hours of documented field related experience, of which a cumulative 280 hours of face-to-face counseling is required.

COUN 442 Practicum: Group Supervision in School Counseling is a 100-hour, field-based experience requiring a minimum of 40 hours of direct contact with clients. COUN 462 Internship I: School Counseling and COUN 472 Internship II: School Counseling, together, consist of a 600-hour, field-based experience requiring a minimum of 240 hours of clinical contact with clients. A passing score on the #235 School Content Test is required before beginning Practicum.

Departmental Proficiency Examination (DPE)

All Counselor Education students are required to pass a comprehensive departmental proficiency examination (DPE) prior to graduation. This exam is offered annually in February, June and October. See Calendar for specific dates. To be eligible to take the DPE, SC students must have completed: COUN 401, COUN 402, COUN 403, COUN 404, COUN 405, COUN 406, COUN 408, COUN 409, COUN 410, COUN 412, COUN 427, COUN 430

SC Program Planning Guide

Use the SC program planning guide to outline your proposed plan of study.

Sample Three-Year Plan

Year 1

Fall

Spring

Summer

COUN 401
COUN 403
COUN 410
COUN 402
COUN 430
COUN 412
COUN 404
COUN 409

Year 2

Fall

Spring

Summer

COUN 405
COUN 415
COUN 408
Apply for Practicum
COUN 406
COUN 425
Elective
Take school content exam (235)
COUN 427
COUN 411
Elective

Year 3

Fall

Spring

 
COUN 442
Take DPE in October
Apply for graduation
COUN 462
COUN 472
Optional: take NCE
 

 

Sample Four-Year Plan

Year 1

Fall

Spring

Summer

COUN 401
COUN 403
COUN 402
COUN 404
COUN 430

Year 2

Fall

Spring

Summer

COUN 405
COUN 410
COUN 406
COUN 412
COUN 425
Elective

Year 3

Fall

Spring

Summer

COUN 408
COUN 415
Apply for Practicum
COUN 409
Elective
Take school content exam (235)
COUN 427
COUN 411

Year 4

Fall

Spring

Summer

COUN 442
Take DPE in October
Apply for graduation
COUN 462
COUN 472
Optional: take NCE
 

Apply to the M.A. in School Counseling program