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Program Overview

The School Counseling program leads to licensure as a school counselor in Iowa and prepares students for jobs in both elementary and secondary education.

The Master of Science in Counseling School Counseling specialization offers three options for completion:

• Teachers who are licensed in Iowa complete a 48-credit hour master's degree to receive both elementary and secondary licensure.
• A 45-credit hour option is available to licensed Iowa teachers who wish to receive only secondary or only elementary licensure.
• Students who do not hold a teaching license can receive the degree with six additional credit hours of coursework.

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). 

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
COUN 200	INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING	3
COUN 201	EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN COUNSELING	3
COUN 220	CAREER COUNSELING	3
COUN 221	METHODS FOR COUNSELING	3
COUN 224	ASSESSMENT	3
COUN 225	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE ISSUES	3
COUN 228	PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER	3
COUN 236	GROUP PROCEDURES	3
COUN 245	COUNSELING DIVERSE POPULATIONS	3
COUN 250	TRAUMA AND CRISIS COUNSELING	3
COUN 260	COUNSELING PRACTICUM	3
School Counseling Specialization Courses
COUN 243	COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS	3
COUN 290	SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP	0-9
EDMA 225	1	3
SPED 220	INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION 1	3
Select a total of 3-6 credits from the following options:		3-6
COUN 286	COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
COUN 253	SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
Total Hours		45-57

¹

These two additional classes are required for students who are not licensed teachers.

Admission

• Applications for this program are accepted for fall and spring start terms, with the following deadlines. All materials must be postmarked by the identified dates: 
  • Spring start-term: September 1
  • Summer and Fall start-term: February 15
• Upon the receipt of transcripts, an advisor will complete a transcript evaluation in order to determine any credit or course substitutions/transfers. 
• Questions regarding the application process can be forwarded to the Coordinator of Graduate Admission at soegradadmission@drake.edu or 515-271-2552.

Counseling Admission Requirements

This program has indicated specific statement of interest requirements. This statement of interest replaces the general admission statement of interest required for other programs.

The paper should be a 5-page, double spaced statement of interest in the counseling profession. It should include the following information:

• Educational and professional background
• Career aspirations with a counseling degree
• Experience working with people who are different from you
• What do you think is one of the more prominent or pressing issues in the area of counseling? (school/clinical mental health/rehabilitation)