Counseling Graduate Certificate Program 

The purpose of this program is to provide an Endorsement in School Counseling for students who already posses a master’s degree in counseling or closely related field.  The program emphasizes the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Model, strong clinical training, and applied field practice as a school counselor in an elementary and high school setting.  Applicants must have a valid Illinois Professional Educator License or you must take the course ED 5820 within the first year.

Master Level Prerequisites (42 credit hours required)

Program prerequisites include the following courses or courses judged by the program coordinator as having similar content:

Course#	Description	Cr. Hrs
COUN 5600	Introduction to School Counseling	3
COUN 5640	Counseling Theories and Ethics	3
COUN 5650	Microcounseling	3
COUN 5660	Advanced Theories of Lifespan Development	3
COUN 5670	Group Counseling	3
COUN 5710	Multicultural Issues in Counseling	3
COUN 5720	Lifestyle and Career Development	3
COUN 5730	Techniques of Assessment and Diagnosis	3
COUN 5746	Counseling Techniques Across the Lifespan	3
COUN 5750	Introduction to Family Systems Counseling	3
COUN 5810	Practice of Addictions Counseling	3
COUN 5840	Advanced Psychopathology	3
COUN 5950	Practicum (100 hrs field placement)	3
(Elective)		3
Total prerequisites required		42

 

Course Requirements (18 credit hours)
COUN 5740 Treatment Interventions for Urban Youth and Families	3
COUN 5780 Advanced School Counseling Applications	3
COUN 5790 Pre-Practicum Counseling Lab	3
COUN 5800 Research, Statistics and Program Evaluation	3
* COUN 5990 Internship in School Counseling (600 hours in Field Placement)	6
Total course requirement	18

Other Requirements

• Proof of passing the Illinois Content Area Exam for School Counselors prior to enrollment in COUN 5990 Internship In School Counseling
• The certificate must be completed in three years.

Employment Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Employment of School counseling is projected to grow 13% from 2016-20126, faster than the average from all occupations.  In Illinois the mean annual salary for a School and Career Counselor was $56,550 in 2017. The mean annual salary in the United States was $58,620 in 2017. This certificate primarily prepares students to work as School Counselors in the K-12 educational system.  For information about program costs, employment, and other information, click here for gainful employment.

Additional Resources CSU Educator Licensure Office

Admissions Deadline: Admissions are twice yearly.
Deadline: March 1 (Fall); October 15 (Spring)