Counselor education
Help others grow academically and professionally
With a masters of arts in counselor education, you’ll be qualified to counsel individuals and groups throughout their lifespan. Become a licensed school counselor and help students develop academically, personally/socially, and in their careers. Or work towards becoming a licensed mental health professional (LPC or LPCC) and work in a community setting. Whatever you decide, a master's in counselor education leads to a fulfilling career that allows you to do well by doing good.
Careers
- Licensed K-12 school counselor
- Mental health professional in a community agency or college setting (LPC, LPCC)
Program information
The counselor education program is a two-year, full-time program. You’ll study individual, group, and family counseling, research and evaluation, counseling theory, human growth and development, diagnostic assessment, social and cultural foundations, ethics, and career development.
Program mission statement and objectives
View the program mission statement and program objectives on the Student Site.
Admissions requirements
Note: The GRE is no longer required for admission into the counselor education program.
- Graduate school application
- Application fee
- Transcripts (Academic History)
- Non–native English speakers: English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)
- Strong personal statement
- Resume/CV Course Abstract (required only if you've previously taken a course for graduate credit)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Diversity statement
Area of emphasis
Your curriculum requirements will depend on the area of emphasis you choose:
- School counseling
- Clinical mental health
Emphasis specific objectives (on Student Site)
Curriculum
Methods of Instruction
The methods of instruction in Counselor Education primarily includes in-person, face-to-face coursework. Some classes do integrate online technology and hybrid (i.e., both online and in-person) educational requirements.
Practicum / internship
Counselor education students must complete one (in-person) 100-hour practicum and two (in-person) 300-hour internships. Between practicum and internship, all students will attain a total of 700 hours of clinical experience during their program.
Successful completion of the counselor education MA program prepares you to pursue the following Minnesota licensures:
Tuition
Resources
- One Stop Student Services' Tuition page
- College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page
- College of Education and Human Development's Graduate assistantships page
- College of Education and Human Development's Fellowships, scholarships, and grants page
Funding
Scholarships
Once you enroll in the program, you will be able to apply for counselor education funding. Scholarships are competitive, and an application will be provided to enrolled students each year.
- The Sunny Hansen BORN FREE Scholarship Fund: focus on gender and multicultural issues in career development
- Counselor Education Fund: focus on students and special projects within the CSPP/Counselor Education Program (2022-23 research/professional development focus)
- Kay Herting Wahl Fund: focus on students planning to become licensed school counselors
- Norm Sprinthall Memorial Fellowship: focus on students planning to become licensed school counselors (preference for students in practicums/internships and who enhance diversity of the student body)
- Dirk Miller Fellowship: focus on counseling for eating disorders
Additional College of Education and Human Development’s Tuition, Aid and Scholarships
This funding information is for students interested in applying for scholarships and funding. Visit our giving page for more information on donating to the funds.
Financial aid
- Visit the College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page for more information on funding.
- Visit OneStop Student Services for more information on available financial aid.
Visit our student intranet online to find counselor education's mission, objectives, handbooks, and more.
Faculty
Carolyn Berger
Teaching associate professor
Seth Christman
Assistant teaching professor
Laura Keogh
Teaching specialist
Marguerite Ohrtman
Program coordinator, teaching associate professor
Feven Seifu
Assistant teaching professor
Sherri Turner
Professor