M.Ed. College Counseling and Student Affairs Concentration
The M.Ed. in counselor education with a concentration in College Counseling and Student Affairs is a 60-credit hour program designed to prepare students for careers as critically reflective counselors with specialized knowledge and skills required for placement in higher education institutions (i.e., college, universities). The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) and requires a minimum of two years of study to complete.
Through coursework and clinical experiences, students graduate having a knowledge of basic counseling theory and practice, competencies in essential counseling services, skills necessary to evaluate evidence-based research and implement it in practice, and a dedication to continuing professional development. Their professional identity as a professional counselor as a leader and advocate comes from applying this knowledge in diverse settings with diverse populations of adult learners in higher education.
The course sequence meets the educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) as set by the state of Virginia Department of Health Professions. The College Counseling and Student Affairs concentration meets the licensure requirements for others states; however, certain states have different requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to check with the state licensure board to verify the necessary requirements to be eligible for licensure and to plan on meeting those requirements.
Program core (48 credit hours)
- CLED 600 – Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling
- CLED 601 – Theories of Counseling
- CLED 602 – Techniques of Counseling
- CLED 603 – Group Procedures in Counseling
- CLED 605 – Career Information and Exploration
- CLED 606 – Assessment Techniques for Counselors
- CLED 607 – Multicultural Counseling in Education
- CLED 608 – Practicum: College Student Development and Counseling
- CLED 612 – Seminar in Counseling
- CLED 620 – Student Development Services in Higher Education
- CLED 640 – Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
- CLED 650 – Addictions Counseling
- CLED 660 – Diagnosis and Treatment
- CLED 672 – Internship: College Student Development and Counseling (six credits)
Foundation of Education courses (nine credit hours)
- CLED/EDUS 615 – Lifespan Development: A Gender Perspective
- EDUS/CLED 631 – American Colleges and Universities
- EDUS 660 – Research Methods in Education
Electives
- Six credit hours of approved electives
Students start their program in the summer semester. There are full-time and part-time options, and students are encouraged to consult with their advisor to pick one of those scheduling options. The course scheduling options can be found in the Counselor Education M.Ed. Student Handbook [PDF].
A final, comprehensive examination is required of all degree candidates. In order to be eligible to take the comprehensive exam, students must have completed CLED/EDUS 615 and EDUS 660 and all counseling core courses (excluding Practicum and Internship). Students are exempt from these requirements if they are graduating in the semester in which the exam is given. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take the exam.
The comprehensive exam information can be found in the Counselor Education M.Ed. Student Handbook [PDF].