University of Utah Graduate Center at St. George
Graduate Programs for Educators

Master of Educational Psychology with Specialization in School Counseling

The mission of the University of Utah's Department of Educational Psychology School Counseling Specialization is to prepare pre-service counselors for work and leadership roles in K-12 educational settings. It primarily serves post baccalaureate students in the State of Utah who want to prepare themselves to provide career, academic, and counseling services in the public schools. Through didactic and applied learning, students are instructed of the role and function of the public school system and school counselor.

The professional school counselor is a licensed educator who assists students, teachers, parents, and administrators in helping students reach their educational and career goals. School counselors are employed in elementary, middle/junior high, senior high, and post-secondary schools. School counselors are human behavior and relationship specialists who organize their work around a framework of delivering a program of comprehensive counseling and guidance activities and services within public schools.

Course Work, Internship, and Practicum

The M.Ed. in Educational Psychology with a Specialization in School Counseling requires a minimum of 48 semester hours. If students have worked three years as a licensed teacher, the credit requirement is reduced to 46 semester hours. This program is currently designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure from the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) as a Professional School Counselor.

The 100 hours of practicum experience in school counseling occurs during the first year of a student's program of study. The program's internship in school counseling, which occurs over two semesters and is approximately 20 hours per week of supervised experience, occurs during the final year of a student's program of study. This requirement translates into 600 hours of supervised work or 400 hours for licensed educators with three years of full-time teaching experience.

Students can complete the coursework and fieldwork requirements within two years of beginning the program, depending on time commitment and their availability to participate in summer courses.

Typical Program of Study

School Counseling Master’s Advisor:
Paul Gore
paul.gore@utah.edu
801-581-7233

Admissions Deadlines And Contact Information