M.S., School Counseling

Program Director: Jan Powers

Graduate Study in School Counseling

This master's program is designed to equip students to become school counselors who lead, advocate and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students. In addition to intellectual understanding, the student will develop proficiency and competence in specific skills of this helping profession. This program encourages emerging skills in trauma-informed practice, transformative leadership, and cultural competence. Students in our program can look forward to this journey of growing personally and professionally as a school counselor with support from the faculty throughout the program. Upon graduation from this program, students will be qualified for certification through the Nebraska Department of Education. Most states have reciprocal certification requirements with Nebraska. 

Program Goals

The School Counseling Program is approved by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The program is modeled after the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) national model and aligns with the NDE's endorsement for school counseling.

Admission Requirements

  • Completed application and application fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • 3.00 GPA (minimum undergraduate)
  • One-page resume
  • Writing sample: Personal statement on "Why I want to be a school counselor"
  • Notarized Convictions Statement and Mental Health capacity forms
  • Successful background check
  • TOEFL scores for students from countries in which English is not the native language

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) oversees each teacher education institution in the state.  The NDE requires individuals seeking a school counselor certification without a teaching certificate to complete an additional 12 credits of teacher preparation courses.  In the absence of a teaching certificate, a student in Creighton’s school counseling program must complete COU 617, COU 618, COU 619 and COU 620. 

Internship commences with the student completing all prerequisite coursework and culminates with the student practicing in school counseling settings. A student may not enroll in internship until the core requirements for practicum (or field experience) have been completed. Students who do not plan their course work to accomplish this will need to return during another semester or summer session to complete the degree requirements. Occasionally, a student may have completed a core course on another campus before transferring to Creighton. Even though the credit is accepted in the transfer, the competencies assigned to that course must be demonstrated prior to being permitted to enroll in internship. The internship requires 600 clock-hours on site at a school during normal business hours with a minimum of 240 clock-hours identified as direct, face-to-face service. It is expected that the internship will extend over a two-semester period. The course requirements demand two or more semesters for students who cannot gain released time from their present employment.

NOTE: The Graduate Program in School Counseling is based on the standards identified within the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model.

PLEASE NOTE:The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) oversees each teacher education institution in the state. The NDE requires individuals seeking a school counselor certification without a teaching certificate to complete an additional 12 credits of teacher preparation courses. In the absence of a teaching certificate, a student in Creighton’s school counseling program must complete COU 617 Practicum I: Introduction to School Climate and Procedures - Year One, Fall I, COU 618 Practicum 2: Trends in School Policies and Practices - Year One, Fall II, COU 619 Practicum 3: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment - Year One, Spring I and COU 620 Practicum 4: Differentiated Learning: Instruction, Classroom Management and Special Education - Year One, Spring II.

All degree candidates are required to take the following required courses and choose one track:

Degree Requirements (36 credits)

Required Courses
Year One
Summer
COU 613Foundations of School Counseling3
COU 605Individual and Program Assessment in School Counseling3
Fall I
COU 604Issues in Child and Adolescent Development for School Counselors3
Fall II
COU 603Action Research in School Counseling3
Spring I
COU 606Theoretical Perspectives in School Counseling3
Spring II
COU 609Individual Planning and Counseling Techniques for School Counselors3
Year Two
Summer
COU 660Group Counseling Approaches for Children and Adolescents3
COU 663Diagnosis and Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents3
Spring I
COU 667Social Justice and Diversity in School Counseling3
Choose from one track below9-12

 Elementary School Counselor Track

COU 664Issues in Elementary School Counseling (Year Two, Fall II)3
COU 682Internship In Elementary School Counseling (Year Two, Fall I)3
COU 683Advanced Internship in Elementary School Counseling (Year Two, Spring I)3
Total Credits9

Secondary School Counselor Track

COU 665Issues in Secondary School Counseling (Year Two, Fall I)3
COU 684Internship in Secondary School Counseling (Year Two, Fall I)3
COU 685Advanced Internship in Secondary School Counseling (Year Two, Spring I)3
Total Credits9

PK-12 School Counselor Track

COU 664Issues in Elementary School Counseling3
COU 665Issues in Secondary School Counseling3
COU 682Internship In Elementary School Counseling3
or COU 684 Internship in Secondary School Counseling
COU 683Advanced Internship in Elementary School Counseling3
or COU 685 Advanced Internship in Secondary School Counseling
Total Credits12

The programs are competence based so that a candidate must demonstrate competency in a number of skills in each course in the counseling core before receiving a satisfactory grade.

Magis Catholic Teacher Corps option (39 credits)

COU 613Foundations of School Counseling3
COU 603Action Research in School Counseling3
COU 604Issues in Child and Adolescent Development for School Counselors3
COU 605Individual and Program Assessment in School Counseling3
COU 606Theoretical Perspectives in School Counseling3
COU 609Individual Planning and Counseling Techniques for School Counselors3
COU 660Group Counseling Approaches for Children and Adolescents3
COU 663Diagnosis and Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents3
COU 664Issues in Elementary School Counseling3
or COU 665 Issues in Secondary School Counseling
COU 667Social Justice and Diversity in School Counseling3
COU 682Internship In Elementary School Counseling3
or COU 683 Advanced Internship in Elementary School Counseling
COU 684Internship in Secondary School Counseling3
or COU 685 Advanced Internship in Secondary School Counseling
EDU 685Magis Capstone: Forming lgnatian Educators3

Courses

COU 603. Action Research in School Counseling. 3 credits.

This class introduces the basic elements of Educational Research with a specific focus on Action Research in the school setting. Students will be introduced to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and an ethic of working with Vulnerable Populations. Students will start conceptualizing a small scale study.

COU 604. Issues in Child and Adolescent Development for School Counselors. 3 credits.

This class is a consideration of child and adolescent development specifically for the school counselor. The course also focuses on preventive interventions that keep children and adolescents on the path to normal physical, cognitive, and social/emotional development.

COU 605. Individual and Program Assessment in School Counseling. 3 credits.

This class will focus on the ethic of: selection, administration, score, interpretation, and communication of test results in the school counseling setting. Individual and program assessment will be covered.

COU 606. Theoretical Perspectives in School Counseling. 3 credits.

An overview of counseling and career development theories to help students develop their theoretical orientation to school counseling.

COU 609. Individual Planning and Counseling Techniques for School Counselors. 3 credits.

This class provides the student with the opportunity to demonstrate the specific skills and tools required within school counseling programs for individual planning and counseling. In addition, students will counsel and offer assistance to an individual student within the school setting.

COU 613. Foundations of School Counseling. 3 credits.

Provide orientation to professional school counseling using the ASCA national Model and ASCA Ethical Model.

COU 617. Practicum I: Introduction to School Climate and Procedures. 3 credits.

COU 617, COU 618, COU, 619 and COU 620 - Practicums 1-4 are required of students who enter the program without a teaching certificate and require students to accrue a total of 100 hours in a school setting by the end of the first year in the program. Practicum hours will provide student with required tasks to acquaint them with the culture of the school.

COU 618. Practicum 2: Trends in School Policies and Practices. 3 credits.

COU 617, COU 618, COU, 619 and COU 620 - Practicums 1-4 are required of students who enter the program without a teaching certificate and require students to accrue a total of 100 hours in a school setting by the end of the first year in the program. Practicum hours will provide student with required tasks to acquaint them with the culture of the school.

COU 619. Practicum 3: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. 3-4 credits.

COU 617, COU 618, COU, 619 and COU 620 - Practicums 1-4 are required of students who enter the program without a teaching certificate and require students to accrue a total of 100 hours in a school setting by the end of the first year in the program. Practicum hours will provide student with required tasks to acquaint them with the culture of the school.

COU 620. Practicum 4: Differentiated Learning: Instruction, Classroom Management and Special Education. 3-4 credits.

COU 617, COU 618, COU, 619 and COU 620 - Practicums 1-4 are required of students who enter the program without a teaching certificate and require students to accrue a total of 100 hours in a school setting by the end of the first year in the program. Practicum hours will provide student with required tasks to acquaint them with the culture of the school.

COU 660. Group Counseling Approaches for Children and Adolescents. 3 credits.

An overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct successful small and large group counseling for children and adolescents.

COU 663. Diagnosis and Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents. 3 credits.

This class will introduce the task of using DSM principles to conceptualize a diagnostic impression for children and adolescents. The diagnostic impression is the second step after assessment in the continuum of care and treatment planning.

COU 664. Issues in Elementary School Counseling. 3 credits.

This class addresses the critical issues that permeate school counseling today. Issues revolve around the areas of academic success, career exploration, and personal/social development. These topics are related to the counselor who serves the elementary school setting.

COU 665. Issues in Secondary School Counseling. 3 credits.

This class addresses the critical issues that permeate school counseling today. Issues revolve around the areas of academic success, career exploration, and personal/social development. These topics are related to the counselor who serves the secondary school setting.

COU 667. Social Justice and Diversity in School Counseling. 3 credits.

This class will focus on cultural competence counseling in school settings. With the changing demographics and immigration/migration dynamics taking place locally, nationally, and internationally, students will be introduced to the diverse nature of students and their needs.

COU 670. Selected Topics in Counseling. 1-3 credits. SU

Theoretical and applied aspects of counseling as selected by the designated instructor.

COU 682. Internship In Elementary School Counseling. 3 credits. FA

This class culminates the students' clinical experience in an elementary school counseling setting. Students will demonstrate competence in the following areas: Individual, Group counseling, Individual Student Planning, Developmental Classroom Guidance, and Consultation.

COU 683. Advanced Internship in Elementary School Counseling. 3 credits. SP

This is a continuation of COU 682 and will culminate in the accumulation of the hours and experiences necessary for program completion.

COU 684. Internship in Secondary School Counseling. 3 credits. FA

This class culminates the students' clinical experience in a secondary school counseling setting. students will demonstrate competence in the following areas: Individual, Group counseling, Individual Student Planning, Developmental Classroom Guidance, and Consultation.

COU 685. Advanced Internship in Secondary School Counseling. 3 credits. SP

This is a continuation of COU 684 and will culminate in the accumulation of the hours and experiences necessary for program completion.

COU 793. Directed Independent Readings. 1-3 credits. FA, SP

Intensive reading in an area as approved by the department. P: DC.

COU 795. Directed Independent Study. 1-3 credits. FA, SP

Independent research on a topic designed by the student with the approval of an adviser from the department. P: DC.

COU 797. Directed Independent Research. 1-3 credits. FA, SP

Intensive research in an area as approved by the department. P: DC.

COU 799. Master's Thesis. 1-3 credits. FA, SP

Research in connection with the preparation of the Master's thesis. Students must register for this course in any term when engaged in formal preparation of the Master's thesis; however, six credit hours are the maximum applicable toward the degree.