Are you looking for a way to have a positive influence on the next generation? School counselors help students from elementary school through high school manage academics, develop social skills and create a plan for their future careers. An online Master of Education in School Counseling program can prepare you to support students in all three of those areas. The ultimate goal of a school counselor is to help students perform as well as possible academically, which means solving the social and environmental problems that may prevent students from succeeding.
Becoming a School Counselor
Becoming a school counselor means learning how to help students address issues getting in the way of their academic success, assessing what those issues are and, when appropriate, working with other professionals like therapists, doctors and social workers to help students get the help they need. You’ll learn to work with students in the classroom and in focused small-group settings, as well as individually. You’ll help students prepare college applications, handle family illnesses and deaths, solve interpersonal issues, and select appropriate career tracks.
As a school counselor, you’ll be expected to work with all students, from the college-bound valedictorians to the school bullies and troublemakers. There will be students for whom English is a second language, students who are homeless, and students with disabilities. Regardless of their background, your goal in working with all students is the same: to help them achieve at the highest level possible.
SOSU’s M.Ed. in School Counseling Program
At Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the online M.Ed. in School Counseling comprises 42 credit hours, and you can complete the program in as few as 12 months. You’ll take a total of 14 courses during the program, but you’ll also have to complete at least 100 hours of counseling-related services for the practical component of the program. At least 40 of your practicum hours must be direct client work.
You’ll start the online program with an orientation and ethics course that will form the foundation for the rest of your degree. This course covers important basics in the practice of school counseling, including history of school counseling, clinical issues, professional roles and responsibilities of the counselor, professional organizations, credentialing and ethics.
As you continue in the program, you’ll explore theories specific to counseling in general and school counseling in particular. You’ll learn how to conduct assessments in a school setting, and when and how to provide referrals to other professionals.
At the end of an M.Ed. in School Counseling, you will be prepared to work with students of all ages, from elementary school through high school. Counseling a 6-year-old on academics and social skills is much different than counseling a 16-year-old on the same topics. Expect to learn about and work with a variety of age groups as part of your training to become a school counselor.
An M.Ed. in school counseling prepares you for a career helping young people succeed. You’ll learn to address a variety of issues with students who are diverse in every way. You’ll leave the program prepared to work with students in classrooms, small groups and individually. It’s a challenging program, but it will leave you prepared for a rewarding career with the future generation.
Learn more about the SOSU online M.Ed. in School Counseling program.
Sources:
SchoolTube: What Does a School Counselor Do?