School Counseling
The School Counseling degree is designed primarily to provide students
the theoretical knowledge and training to be certified as K-8, 7-12
or K-12 school counselors and to prepare graduates with skills, knowledge,
experience and personal growth, which empower them to pursue careers
as school counselors.
On the success of the School Counseling program:
“I’ve received calls recently from people that have our practicum and internship students, and they are very pleased. In fact, we are now getting calls from school districts asking if they could have a practicum or internship student.”
—Debbie Bicket, coordinator for the Master of Science in School Counseling
Objectives for Master of Science in School Counseling
Candidates for the MS in School Counseling degree will demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of:
- Psychological theories related to human growth and development
and personality
- The affects of human diversity on learning and development within
the context of a global society and a diverse community of families
- The principles of measurement and assessment, for both individual
and group approaches
- Career Development and personal planning processes across the
lifespan and methods of assisting learners in career exploration,
goal setting, decision-making and planning
- Classroom guidance methods and techniques
- Development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive
guidance program that provides responsive counseling services to
all learners in the school community
- A personal philosophy of Judeo-Christian ethics that reflects
an integration of Biblical principles with psychology, counseling,
and a personal faith
- A commitment to lifelong improvement as professionals through
reading, research, reflection, development of professional relationships
and continued adherence to the ethical, legal and professional principles
of the school counseling profession
School Counseling Certificate Program
Evangel University also offers a “Certification Only” option
for those who already have a Master’s degree in Education and
are not seeking a degree in school counseling. This program option
completes all course requirements needed for school counseling certification
in the state of Missouri.
Students may take additional courses in order to pursue certification
as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Faculty
Typically, graduate faculty members are already full-time faculty
members of Evangel University. However, adjunct faculty may be approved
to provide instructional services for graduate students because of
their unique competencies and professional roles or achievements.
Admission Policies
In addition to general admission policies, the School Counseling program
requires the following:
- Four letters of recommendation, including one letter from
a minister. The remaining three are to be from the following categories:
a school administrator who is familiar with the applicant’s
competence and professional effectiveness, an undergraduate advisor
or university faculty member, or a student teaching supervisor
or fellow teacher.
- The Miller’s Analogies Test is the preferred entrance
exam for School Counseling (score of 400 or above preferred), but
the GRE may be substituted for the MAT.
- Acceptable GRE on the verbal, quantitative and analytical
sections (scores of 500 each on the verbal and quantitative sections
and a 4.5 on the analytical writing section are preferred)