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.
Practicum
August – October
- Practicum includes field experiences during which students observe and document school counselors performing their professional duties. Students may participate in performing tasks under supervision to a limited extent.
- Students are enrolled in a concurrent course.
- Minimum of 100 hours, including 40 direct service hours to students, teachers, and parents.
Internship
Late October – Summer
- During their internship, students spend three full days per week at their placement site, allowing them to apply the skills they’ve learned thus far and engage with the full rhythm of a school year.
- Placement preferences — including elementary, middle, or high school — are collected and thoughtfully considered early in the program. These field experiences are designed to ensure readiness for comprehensive K–12 licensure, regardless of the assigned grade level.
- Students are enrolled in the concurrent course.
- Most internship sites are within 40 miles of Chapel Hill; students are responsible for their own transportation.
- Minimum of 600 hours, including 240 direct service hours to students, teachers, and parents.
Internship supervision includes on-site guidance from a practicing school counselor, along with individual, triadic, and group supervision provided by UNC-Chapel Hill faculty. Students are expected to demonstrate competencies that support academic, career, and social-emotional development through individual and group counseling, classroom guidance, and systemic interventions.
See the School Counseling Handbook for a full explanation of Practicum and Internship Policies.