Counselor Education (CED) MS

Overview

The primary role of the graduate program in counseling is to prepare mental health workers who are both specialists and generalists. Through a combination of research, theory, and practice, the counseling program encourages graduate students to become reflective practitioners in either the school specialization or the community mental health specialization. Our graduates are employed in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, community colleges, and human service agencies. Students may choose from two specializations of study.

The Master of Science degree in Counselor Education (School Counseling Specialization) is 48 credits for Maryland and Pennsylvania. This includes an internship in an approved school. Certification eligibility is met upon completion of the degree. The counseling program has been evaluated and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and is recognized by the Pennsylvania State Department of Education. Candidates not currently holding a valid teaching certificate may be required to complete an additional 3 credits to be meet Maryland certification eligibility requirements.

The Master of Science degree in Counselor Education (Community Mental Health Specialization) is 48 credits. If the student wishes to continue on to become a licensed counselor (LC PC), an additional 12 credits can be completed according to the requirements set forth by the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors; course work and supervision arranged by an advisor can lead to LC PC eligibility.

Admissions Requirements

Initial Admission

Applicants are first conditionally admitted after:

application for graduate study with non-refundable fee.
Official transcripts verifying completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.
Three recent letters of recommendation from undergraduate faculty or employer
Students are required to set up an initial advising meeting (410-857-2501) upon receiving initial admission.

Full Acceptance

Full acceptance into the Counselor Education program occurs with:

Acceptable grades (B or better) in Introduction to Counseling (CED 501), Legal and Ethical Issues course (either CED 519 (school counseling track) or CED 520 (community mental health track)) and Introduction to Research Methodology (RSM 550) or RSM 542 (recommneded).
A satisfactory individual evaluation completed by the instructor of Introduction to Counseling (CED 501).
Approval from the advisor.
A minimum of 3.00 GPA at McDaniel College.
Membership in American Counselor Association (ACA) or the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) is recommended for professional affiliation for Counselor Education candidates.