Shenandoah University

What you'll study

The program combines foundational counseling courses, specialty school-counseling topics, research seminars, and hands-on practice. Courses listed by the program include:

• Foundations and skills: COUN 501 Basic Counseling Skills; COUN 506 Counseling Theory; COUN 509 Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethics; COUN 580 Advanced Counseling Skills and Conceptualization.
• School-focused content: COUN 519 School Counseling Ethics and Profession; COUN 520 School Counseling Leadership, Advocacy and Consult; COUN 522 Classroom Management; COUN 525 School Counseling Practicum.
• Development and assessment: COUN 505 Lifespan Development; COUN 603 Assessment Processes in CMHC; COUN 601 Diagnostic Processes in Counseling; career-related coursework such as COUN 510 Career Counseling.
• Applied and specialty topics (some delivered online-synchronous or asynchronous, electives indicated): COUN 503 Group Counseling; COUN 511 Multicultural Counseling; COUN 512 Grief, Loss, Trauma, and Crisis; COUN 514 Human Sexuality in Counseling; COUN 508 Addiction Counseling; COUN 550 Counseling Children and Adolescents; COUN 570 Case Management; COUN 560 Counseling Veterans and Military Personnel.
• Research sequence: COUN 507 Research Seminar I; COUN 517 Research Seminar II; COUN 527 Research Seminar III.
• Field experiences: COUN 525 School Counseling Practicum, COUN 650 Field Placement I and COUN 660 Field Placement II provide supervised clinical experience in school settings.

Entry requirements

Application is through Shenandoah’s portal. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and the program recommends a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (candidates with lower GPAs may be considered at the director’s discretion). Required materials include official transcripts, two letters of recommendation (one preferably from faculty), a writing sample submitted in response to a prompt, and completion of an admissions interview if invited. Additional conditions: state background checks, personal liability insurance from program start, and compliance with School of Health Professions and practicum site immunization/vaccination policies. International applicants may have further requirements. The program notes applicants should check the Virginia Department of Education for licensure eligibility.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to serve as school counselors in PreK–12 settings and the program explicitly states students will be able to be employed as school counselors and pass the Praxis exam. The curriculum emphasizes leadership, advocacy, interdisciplinary teamwork, and application of assessment and counseling interventions appropriate for children and adolescents.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page lists Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid sections; prospective students should consult Shenandoah University’s financial aid office and the program for details on loans, scholarships, work-study and other funding options applicable to graduate students in the Division of Counselor Education.