Program Availability
The Master of Education in School Counseling is a blended/hybrid learning program using a combination of interactive online sessions augmented by required on-campus sessions held on Saturdays once a month during the Spring and Fall semesters. The program is open to U.S. and international applicants who satisfy admission requirements.
Why Earn a Master’s in School Counseling at Indiana State?
Our Master of Education in School Counseling will prepare you to meet state educational licensure requirements as a Kindergarten-12 School Counselor.
Prepare for Success
Indiana State’s Master of Education in School Counseling offers you a student-centered, comprehensive education. In addition to your coursework, you will gain valuable hands-on experience in K-12 school settings, beginning the first semester of your graduate study.
Working under the supervision of our faculty and on-site supervisors, you will establish a two-year relationship with an elementary school, middle school, or high school. This blending of academics and fieldwork ensures you will gain the theory, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed for success as a school counselor.
Our Program is Transforming School Counseling
Indiana State’s School Counseling MEd program is proud to be one of the first Transforming School Counseling programs honored by The Education Trust. Our master’s degree program provides a variety of experiences designed to graduate 21st Century School Counselors. As a result, our graduates are advocates and agents of change, capable of assessing, developing, and implementing programs that will effectively close the achievement gap by meeting the educational achievement needs of all students.
How Our Program Works
A new cohort of students starts each year in the first summer term (June). During the academic year, the cohort meets one weekend a month on campus. Classes are from 9 am - 5 pm on Saturdays. Between the monthly class meetings, students work online and meet with their supervisors.
Important Licensure Information
Completion of the School Counseling MEd program and passing the Praxis Assessment for School Counselors qualifies the student for the Indiana Kindergarten-12 School Counselor Initial Practitioner License. Please note that additional requirements may need to be fulfilled to apply for a license in other states. Out-of-state students must check with the licensing agency for the state in which they plan to become licensed for further information.
Gain Professional, Hands-On Experiences
As a student in the School Counseling program, you will benefit from an array of hands-on, professional experiences, including:
- Hands-on internship experience
- Shadowing established school counselors
- Observing/teaching at the elementary, middle, or high school level
- Engaging and completing developmental guidance lessons within the classroom
- Face-to-face supervision from both faculty and on-site supervisors
- Leading both individual and small-group counseling
- Engaging in treatment planning and research-related activities
- Leading career guidance activities at each level
Learn from Our Excellent Faculty
As a graduate student in the Department of Applied Clinical and Educational Sciences, you will benefit from classes taught by teacher-scholars who are recognized experts in their field. All of our faculty engage in research and have continuous experience in the classroom as teachers and in the field as licensed counselors and supervisors.
Our program faculty are committed to promoting interpersonal values that support and inform our professional relations with others. These values include compassion, self-awareness, genuineness, a commitment to justice, and an authentic appreciation for diversity.
Assistantships and Financial Aid
Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are offered on a competitive basis. GAs allow graduate students the opportunity to work on campus for up to 20 hours a week. GAs come with a stipend and partial tuition waiver. In addition, graduate students may be eligible for loans and grants. For information, visit the University’s Office of Student Financial Aid.
What You’ll Learn in the School Counseling Program
The School Counseling MEd is a 60-credit-hour program that includes 760 hours of field-based experiences.
Students establish a two-year field practice relationship with an elementary school, middle school, or high school.
This program can be completed in 24 months of full-time study if the student follows a department advisor’s recommended sequence of courses. Students have the option of extending the program should they need a less aggressive schedule. However, the program must be completed within 7 years.
Career Possibilities for School Counseling Graduates
Graduates of our School Counseling program are qualified to work in a variety of settings. While many pursue careers within the school system, some elect to work in community mental health or private practice. Our graduates may also use their master’s to seek doctorate degrees in counselor education.
The demand for school counselors is expected to remain strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of school and career counselors and advisors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022-2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
Admission Requirements and Instructions
A new cohort of students begins each year in the first summer term (June). All application materials are due December 1 to be guaranteed full consideration for admittance the following summer. Applications received earlier will receive earlier consideration, and applications received after January 15 will be considered if openings are available.
Admission is based on the following requirements.
Admission Requirements and Information
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (in any major) from a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s major field of study or a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required for this program.
Application should include a current curriculum vitae/resume and a typed written statement of purpose indicating why the applicant wants to be a school counselor.
Application Instructions
Complete Indiana State University’s online application for admission at https://apply.indstate.edu/portal/apply?tab=overview.
Submit official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. To be official, transcripts must be sent directly from the college attended to: Graduate Admissions, Indiana State University, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. E-transcripts should be sent to admissions@indstate.edu.
Submit a nonrefundable application fee of $45.00 (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) or $65.00 (international students) payable by Visa, MasterCard, or check or money order payable to Indiana State University. Submit payment to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809.
Submit the following as part of the online application process [https://apply.indstate.edu/apply.
- A current resume or curriculum vitae.
- A typed statement of purpose indicating why the applicant wants to be a school counselor.
- International applicants submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or provide equivalent evidence of language proficiency. Submit scores to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. For important information, see Instructions for International Students
A new cohort of students begins each year in the first summer term (June). All application materials are due December 1 to be guaranteed full consideration for admittance the following summer. Applications received earlier will receive earlier consideration, and applications received after January 15 will be considered if openings are available.
Select applicants will be invited for an individual admissions interview. Once admitted, students receive notification from the University as well as their University ID number needed to activate their University Username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important University services, including e-mail and University announcements.
Note: Returning ISU students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended Indiana State University for more than two calendar years.
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School Counseling (MEd)
Master's
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS)
Master's
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School Psychology (EdS)
Graduate Certificate / Licensure Ed Specialist