Program Overview
The Counselor Education Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree graduate program at Augusta University prepares students for professional careers as either school counselors in K-12 educational settings or counselors in community mental health and private practice settings. The school counseling program prepares students to become eligible for professional certification in school counseling according to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares students to become eligible for licensure as professional counselors according to the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists. Early in the program, students are assisted by faculty advisors as needed in determining which specialty area will most closely align with their career goals. Many courses require outside field experiences, coordinated by the faculty, to help students gain a sense of professional responsibilities and expectations in the field. The student body is quite diverse, and the program is committed to increasing and supporting diverse student enrollment in order to be representative of the surrounding community. Both the School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentrations are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
The counselor education program is designed to meet the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students. The program operates on a cohort system that requires enrollment in specific courses. However, with advisor approval, students are able to enroll in courses according to their abilities, circumstances, and pace, as long as the program is successfully completed within seven years from the acceptance date. Courses are generally offered on campus during evening hours to accommodate those who may already be working as school teachers or in other professional career areas. It is not required, however, that applicants have a teaching certificate or work experience for acceptance into the program. Individuals with at least some work or educational experience may be considered more highly, but it is not required. Both the school counseling and the clinical mental health counseling concentration areas also require intensive practicum and internship experiences near the end of the course of study. For future school counselors, the practicum and internship placements are completed in school settings at the elementary or secondary levels. For those specializing in clinical mental health counseling, internships are held at local hospitals, mental health centers, and other community agencies.
All full-time counselor education program faculty hold doctoral degrees and have professional experience in their particular subject areas. Faculty hold professional licensure (LPC) and certifications from national or state certification organizations. Also, faculty are meaningfully involved in the counseling profession as active members or leaders in organizations including but not limited to the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Georgia American Counseling Association (GA ACA), Georgia School Counselor Association (GSCA), South Carolina School Counselor Association (SCSCA), and/or the South Carolina Counseling Association (SCCA). Faculty members frequently present at regional and national conferences, quite often in collaboration with counseling students, reporting on descriptive or experimental research conducted during the program.
augusta.edu/education/research
Program Contact
Dr. Richard Deaner
706-737-1497
rdeaner@augusta.edu
Program Accreditation
College of Education programs leading to teacher certification or educational leader certification are accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The M.Ed. in Counselor Education is accredited for the school counseling and clinical mental health concentrations by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Admissions Information
For more information on admissions requirements, please visit the Office of Admissions website.
Program Information
- Program Length: 2.5 Years, Full-Time
- CIP Code: 13.1101
- Program Code: 1MED-COUNSEL
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