MA in Educational Psychology in School Counseling

A 60-credit, on-campus master’s program designed to prepare school counselors to meet the needs of a diverse population at all developmental stages.

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The University of Connecticut’s (UConn) MA in Counselor Education emphasizes working with students from underrepresented populations. The curriculum integrates diversity and inclusion at all levels of preparation and education and fulfills all of Connecticut’s requirements for certification as a school counselor. The program also integrates theory and research and subscribes to the American School Counseling Association’s (ACSA) National Model for School Counselors.

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60 Credits

Full-time and
Part-time options

Predominantly
in-person courses

Academics & Curriculum

As a UConn student, you will learn to promote effective interventions in a school setting and build self-understanding and self-development through individual and small group activities. Most classes are offered in person, but we also offer courses online or in a hybrid format. Following acceptance to the program, some students elect to begin their studies during the summer semester, however, most students begin their program of study during the fall semester.

MA in Educational Psychology in School Counseling Courses

Year 1, Fall Semester:

  • EPSY 5307 — Professional Orientation for School Counselors
  • EPSY 5315 — Counseling: Advanced Practice
  • EPSY 5316 — Counseling Diverse Populations
  • EPSY 5318 — Human Development Over the Lifespan

Year 1, Spring Semester:

  • EPSY 5301 — Group Processes in Counseling
  • EPSY 5306 — Principles of Career Development
  • EPSY 5308 — Counseling Theory and Practice
  • EPSY 5314 — Appraisal Procedures in Counseling
  • EPSY 5317 — Fieldwork in School Counseling (Practicum)

Year 2, Fall Semester:

  • EPSY 5601 — Principles and Methods in Educational Research
  • EPSY 5320 — Critical Issues in Counseling
  • EPSY 5319 — School Counseling Internship
  • EPSY 5195 — Workshop in Education
  • EPSY 5406 — Consultation Theories and Practices

Year 2, Spring Semester:

  • EPSY 5108 — Students with Special Needs in the Classroom Environment
  • EPSY 5319 — School Counseling Internship
  • EPSY 5304 — School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation
  • EPSY 5310 — Facilitating Career Development

Program Handbook

The Program Handbook assists enrolled students in navigating their way from the first day in the counseling education program to the day they graduate and gain school counselor certification.

Download the Program Handbook

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: December 1 at 11:59 PM ET

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Accreditation

The MA in Educational Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education [NCATE] and the State of Connecticut. The curriculum provides knowledge and skills that lead to certification as a school counselor (068) and can lead to national certification as a professional counselor by the National Board of Certified Counselors [NBCC].

Practicum

Students take the practicum course in the second semester of their first year in the MA program. The practicum consists of one semester at an urban public school under the on-site supervision of a professional school counselor for an average of 10-12 hours per week. Students participating in practicum must complete 100 hours to meet the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs standards. Students complete their practicum in school sites within Connecticut; the program has partnerships with the East Hartford Public School System, Hartford Public School System, and the Consolidated School District of New Britain. However, exceptions may be considered where students have an interest in another district in Connecticut.

Internship

For their internship, students complete 10 months (190 days) or 700 hours (350 per semester) of work within a public school setting as a counseling intern. Throughout the internship period, students are expected to document at least 240 hours devoted to direct service with students, teachers, and parents. Internship students also work collaboratively with an on-site professional school counselor for supervision and professional development, as well as UConn faculty supervision.

The National Counseling Exam and Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination

The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is a 200-question, multiple-choice exam, and is a requirement for counseling licensure in many states, including Connecticut. The NCE measures a candidate's knowledge and understanding of theory and skill-based tenets of counseling necessary for successful, safe and ethical practice. UConn has structured the content of its master’s degree courses to prepare you to pass the NCE, at which time you would become a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). The NCC certification indicates counselors have met strict education, supervision, and ethical requirements; allows individuals to have access to low-cost liability insurance; and offers counselors the ability to advocate at a national level for systemic change in the counseling profession.

Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) helps students study and prepare for the NCE. The CPCE is designed to assess students who have completed graduate-level courses that are grounded primarily in a counseling curriculum. Because of the depth and breadth of the tool to evaluate an individual’s academic training, the CPCE parallels the nationally recognized standards published by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).