MA - School Counseling
Indiana Wesleyan University’s School Counseling Program is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Applicants who seek licensure in states other than Indiana bear the responsibility to determine whether completion of the Indiana Wesleyan University School Counseling Program will meet the academic and assessment requirements of the state in which licensure is sought.
Upon completion of the program, the graduate should be able to:
- Articulate a clear understanding of School Counseling professional identity.
- Deliver school counseling services with multicultural competence.
- Integrate an understanding of normal developmental concepts and processes in case conceptualizations.
- Conceptualize the relationship between and among work, personal relational well-being, and other life roles.
- Demonstrate essential counseling skills with competence.
- Facilitate a group session with competency.
- Display counseling appraisal skills that demonstrate validity and reliability.
- Apply relevant research findings from professional literature to inform developmental of treatment plans/intervention strategies.
- Integrate faith-based or spirituality-based principles and strategies in case conceptualizations or interventions.
Admissions
- A baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body or by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, verified on official transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University.
- An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher from the baccalaureate degree-granting institution at which a minimum of 30 credit hours was completed.
- Six credit hours in Psychology, of which three credit hours must be in Abnormal Psychology (Developmental Psychology for Student Development Counseling and Administration).
- Six credit hours in Bible (Old and New Testament) or passing score on the Bible exam administered by the Division of Graduate Counseling.
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within five years of application to the program. Verbal (V) score of at least 146 required.
NOTE: If you have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher for your baccalaureate program and/or if you have 15 credit hours of completed graduate coursework in good standing, you are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admission to our program.
- Demonstrate writing proficiency based on evaluation of submitted writing sample.
- Three recommendations on provided form.
- Applicants whose application documents demonstrate potential for success in the Graduate Program in Counseling will participate in a personal interview.
NOTE: The graduate admissions committee retains the right to waive an admission requirement for special circumstances. Successful graduate coursework may be substituted for the GRE.
Program Requirements
The basic requirements of our 60 credit hour program includes:
- 27 hours or nine (9) core counseling classes (offered both online or onsite).
- 9 hours or three (3) School Counseling specialization classes (only offered online).
- 15 hours of additional courses (either online or onsite).
- 3 hours or one (1) semester (100 hour) didactic Practicum face-to-face clinical experience in a school setting.
- 6 hours or two (2) semesters of Internship (each 300 hours) face-to-face clinical experience in a school setting.
- Two (2) two-three day intensives.
Graduation Requirements
- Successful completion of the required core curriculum, specialization courses, and electives with a minimum grade of "C" in each course and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
- All degree requirements must be completed within six years of enrollment.
- Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
Licensing Note:
- State regulations may prohibit licensure for individuals who have ever been convicted of a crime of violence or of any crime that has a direct bearing on the ability to practice competently.
- The applicant is responsible to check the licensing requirements with his or her state licensing agency prior to beginning the program.
- International students must know the laws and regulations where they reside for potential practicum and internship placement as well as for licensing after graduation.
Requirements (60 credits)
Core Courses
| CNS-501 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CNS-502 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-503 | Theory and Techniques in the Helping Relationship | 3 |
| CNS-504 | Theory and Techniques in Group Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-505 | Theory and Techniques in Career Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-506 | Appraisal of Individuals and Families | 3 |
| CNS-507 | Research and Evaluation of Methods and Practice | 3 |
| CNS-508 | Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues | 3 |
| CNS-509 | Integration of Christian Faith in Professional Counseling | 3 |
Clinical Experiences
| CNS-550S | Supervised Practicum - School Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-551S | Supervised Internship - School Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-552S | Supervised Internship - School Counseling | 3 |
Major Courses
| CNS-519 | Theories and Techniques of School Counseling I | 3 |
| CNS-527 | Child and Adolescent Development and Treatment | 3 |
| CNS-529 | Theories and Techniques of School Counseling II | 3 |
Elective
Students are expected to take an additional 15 credit hours of any unduplicated CNS courses within the Division of Counseling.
