CNSLED:MS - Master of Science in Counselor Education
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The MS in Counselor Education Majors prepare individuals for professional counseling positions in schools, community mental health settings, and rehabilitation agencies and institutions. These programs emphasize the blending of research and theory with practical applied experience. They also emphasize and reflect the urban and multicultural nature of our community, as well as general trends within specified fields. All programs involve intensive field work with accompanying seminars.
Students can select one of three majors: School Counseling (60 credits), Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits), or Rehabilitation Counseling (60 credits). The early part of each major focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in the areas of individual and group counseling, consultation, preventive mental health, education-vocational development, client appraisal, systems intervention, and program organization and evaluation. The latter part of each major is more differentiated towards the practice of school counseling, mental health counseling, or rehabilitation counseling. A substantial amount of time is spent in field work to meet practicum and internship requirements, as such, the student should plan for this field work to be during the day rather than during evening hours. Because internship experiences require full-time work in the field, students are advised that full-time employment is not compatible with successful completion of the program.
The Master of Science in Counselor Education, School Counseling Major is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) and is approved by the Florida Department of Education, which allows students completing the program to be eligible for certification in Guidance and Counseling. The Master of Science in Counselor Education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Major is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) and meets all requirements as outlined by the Florida Department of Medical Quality Assurance for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor. The Master of Science in Counselor Education, Rehabilitation Counseling Major is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) and prepares students for certification in Rehabilitation Counseling.
All students entering the School Counseling program with an undergraduate degree in an area other than education must enroll for courses in general professional education as required by the Florida Department of Education in order to meet state certification requirements in Florida.
Application for clinical experiences for school counseling must have faculty advisor approval and be submitted to the coordinator of school counseling by March 15 for a fall placement or by October 15 for a spring placement.
Students who do not hold a Florida Teacher’s Certificate (or have not taken these courses as an undergraduate student) must complete additional credits of professional education courses in classroom management and general methods of teaching, TESOL, and reading. One course in each of the following subject areas must be completed prior to the awarding of the school counseling degree.
Students should seek academic advisement from the School Counseling Coordinator on enrollment in professional education courses.
Note: This program of study is subject to change at any time.
Admissions Requirements for the Master of Science (MS) in Counselor Education
Applicants are required to submit an on-line application to the Office of Graduate Admissions. All applicants must submit the following:
(1) Official transcripts
(2) Three (3) letters of recommendation (at least one from academic sources and one from work or volunteer experience),
(3) An autobiographical statement
(4) Curriculum Vitae (resume).
After initial review of application materials, candidates will be invited to participate in interview activities on a day coordinated by the Counselor Education program. Candidates are admitted by recommendation of the program’s Graduate Admissions Committee. Minimum criteria for program acceptance include an undergraduate 3.0 GPA for the Rehabilitation Counseling track and 3.2 GPA for the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling tracks.
Applicants with a completed master’s degree or higher, who do not meet the undergraduate GPA requirement, will have their graduate GPA considered as long as it is a GPA of 3.2 or higher. This is a full-time cohort-based program. As such, candidates are admitted to either a Fall and Spring cohort and complete coursework together within their respective cohort. The application deadline for Fall admissions takes place in March, while the application deadline for Spring admissions takes place in October.
All stated admission requirements are to be considered minimal. A student who meets these minimal requirements is not automatically assured admission. Program admission requirements are subject to change. It is the responsibility of the student to assure that he/she has met the requirements. Allow 6-8 weeks for applications to be processed by the Graduate Admissions Office.
Transfer Credits
Students may request to transfer six credits earned at another institution accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) into the program provided the coursework was completed within a three year time period and meets university’s requirements. Students must complete this process with their advisor during the first semester in the program.
Additional Degree Requirements
Once admitted, each student is responsible for tracking academic progress throughout the program, and a degree can be revoked if academic dishonesty or fraudulence is discovered. Students are allowed a maximum of six (6) years from the date of initial enrollment to complete program requirements.
Given the unique nature of the field of counseling requiring mastery of cognitive skills and demonstration of relevant and appropriate interpersonal skills, the faculty retains the right to “counsel out” of the program and/or not recommend for internship placement any student whose level of interpersonal competence is considered incompatible with that required for effective functioning as a practitioner in counseling.
Students applying to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program without a bachelor's degree in psychology (or a related field) are required to successfully complete 9 credits of prerequisite psychology courses prior to acceptance. The student should consult with an advisor with reference to these courses. Required prerequisite courses include:
NOTE: The above prerequisite courses are those used at FIU. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” or higher and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher for all courses taken.
Application for clinical experiences for mental health counseling must have faculty advisor approval and be submitted to the clinical director of counselor education programs by June 15 for a fall placement, by October 1 for a spring placement, or by March 1 for a summer placement.
Note: This program of study is subject to change at any time.
Application for clinical experiences for rehabilitation counseling must have faculty advisor approval and be submitted to the clinical director of counselor education programs by June 15 for a fall placement, by October 1 for a spring placement, or by March 1 for a Summer placement.
Note: This program of study is subject to change at any time.
See Major Requirements for details.
There are no track, specialization, concentration, area of emphasis, or other curricular offerings associated with this program.