The School Counseling program is a 60-credit hour, full-time program designed to be completed in just 14 months at the UNC School of Education. The curriculum is intentionally designed to help students build a strong foundation, apply their learning in real-world school settings, and graduate ready to support the academic, career, and social-emotional development of K–12 students.
Students progress through the program as part of a close-knit cohort, beginning in late May and finishing in late July of the following year. Due to the program’s accelerated pace, all courses must be taken in sequence, and successful completion of each semester is required to advance to the next term.
The curriculum is composed of:
- 30 credit hours of content courses
- 24 credit hours of field experience/clinical courses
- 6 credit hours of graduate-level, advisor-approved electives
Learn More About the Program
Electives
6 credit hours of graduate-level, advisor-approved electives are required for the School Counseling program. Students may choose from a wide range of graduate-level courses and are encouraged to select those that enhance the student’s ability and readiness for service as a professional school counselor. Students should work with their advisor to find appropriate electives.
Courses may be taken elsewhere and transferred in. You may consider online courses in the UNC system or an independent study with a faculty member. All courses must be considered at the graduate level at UNC-Chapel Hill, and you must get approval from your advisor in writing. The majority of courses numbered 400 to 600 are combined graduate/undergraduate courses and are counted as graduate-level credit hours. If you are unsure about a course, check with the Office of Student Affairs to verify that it is at the graduate level. Below are some courses open to School Counseling students that are often used to fulfill these requirements.
- EDUC 689: Foundations of Special Education, 3 hours
- SOWO 700: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD): Abuse and Dependence, 3 hours
- EDUC 808: Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 3 hours
Field Experience Clinical Courses
Fieldwork, comprised of the practicum and the internship, is a vital part of the M.Ed. in School Counseling program, connecting coursework with real-world application in K–12 schools across the academic year.
Students must spend a minimum of 100 (40 direct service) clock hours in practicum and 600 (240 direct service) in internship during the August to June K-12 public school year. The schedule for accumulating the required 700 hours is typically completed in three full-time days per week at the school site and/or arranged with both the field supervisor and the EDUC 766 and 705 instructors.
Course Schedule
First Summer – Session I
- EDUC 702: Introduction to Strengths-Based School Counseling, 3 hours
- EDUC 790: Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling, 3 hours
First Summer – Session II
- EDUC 703: Theories and Techniques of Counseling, 3 hours
- EDUC 827: Human Development, 3 hours
Fall Mini-Term I
- EDUC 766: Practicum in School Counseling, 6 hours
Fall Mini-Term II
- EDUC 705: Internship in School Counseling & Consultation (F), 3 hours
Fall
- EDUC 707: Promoting Cultural Competence & Social Justice in School Counseling, 3 hours
- EDUC 713: Tests and Measurement, 3 hours
- EDUC 714: Guidance and Group Counseling, 3 hours
Spring
- EDUC 704: Promoting Career Development, 3 hours
- EDUC 705: Internship in School Counseling & Consultation (S), 9 hours
- EDUC 709: Seminar in Applied Investigations, 3 hours
- EDUC 762: Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders & Treatment Planning, 3 hours
Second Summer – Session I
- EDUC 705: Internship in School Counseling & Consultation (Su), 3 hours
- EDUC 790: Trauma and Mindfulness in School-Based Counseling, 3 hours
Second Summer – Session II
Students typically take their elective course during Summer Session II, but other options are possible.
- Elective Course, 3 hours
- Elective Course, 3 hours