Counselor Education (M.Ed)
“Changing Lives and Opening Doors”
The Counselor Education Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore embraces the role and value of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) by offering courses in the areas of professional identity, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, helping relationships, groups, assessment, research and program evaluation. The program subscribes to an approach focusing on reflection, personal development, theoretical practice and social justice.
Students can choose to specialize in either School or Community Counseling.
The School Counseling specialization prepares graduates to become school counselors within public and private schools or non-educational agencies.
The Community Counseling specialization prepares general practitioners for employment working with children, adolescents, and/or adults in settings as diverse as outpatient mental health agencies, clinical assessment centers, college counseling centers, hospitals, community advocate organizations, and private practice.
Course Sequence
The School Counseling specialization is nationally accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and state approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
The course of instruction involves the successful completion of 48 credits leading to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. In order to be accepted in to the Counselor Education program students must successfully complete the following:
· A minimum of 48 credit hours
· An approved seminar paper
· 600 hour practicum
· A written comprehensive exam
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALING
The UMES Counselor Education Program encourages both school counseling and community counseling students to pursue professional counselor licensure (LCPC). In addition to a program sequence of courses totaling 48 credit hours, students must also enroll and successfully pass additional classes to be considered for Maryland licensure totaling 60 credits. For example, such classes as Marriage and Family Counseling, Treating Emotional Disturbances I, II, III; and Substance Abuse Counseling I, II, III would be needed to fulfill licensure requirements. Often students enroll in these course after graduation.
The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) provides the national standard in the counseling profession. The Maryland Licensing Board uses the NBCC as its test. The title “LCPC”- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor – is a highly regarded indicator of professionalism. LCPC professionals must hold at least a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution, and must sit for the National Counselors Examination and the Maryland State Law Test.
In addition, the Counselor Education program encourages both school and community counseling students to pursue certification in chemical dependency. In order to sit for a In order for Counselor Education students to become a Certified Counselor-Alcohol & Drug (CSC-AD) they must have at least a Bachelor's degree in a counseling field from an accredited college and have earned 20 credits in alcohol and drug counseling and 1 credit in ethics with a focus on alcohol and drug counseling, complete a supervised practicum, and pass an examination developed by International certification and reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other drug Abuse (ICRC/AODA) and the Maryland Law Test.
Webpage Address:
www.dhmh.state.md.us/bopc/
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for normal admission, an application includes:
· Completion of a bachelor degree
· At least a GPA of 3.0
· Three Letters of recommendation
· On site interview
- Application Deadline for Fall Admission : May 1st
- Application Deadline for Spring Admission: Nov. 1st
Provisional status may be granted to exceptional applicants who do not meet all of the requirements for admission. For such applicants, the following areas will be evaluated: 1) potential for academic success, 2) ability to enter in counseling relationships as a helper, 3) readiness to take advantage of the learning opportunities in the program, 4) prior courses and experience in the education and counseling areas.
REQUIRED COURSES—(3 credit hours each)
School Counseling Specialization:
EDGC 601 Intro to Counselor Education
EDGC 604 Theories and Tech of Counseling
EDGC 605 Individual and Group Appraisal
EDGC 606 Clinical Applications in Counseling
EDGC 631 Career Life Development
EDGC 640 Group Processes in Group Counseling
EDGC 643 Counseling Children & Adolescents
EDGC 645 Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Counseling
EDGC 660 Crisis Management in Counseling
EDGC 670 Ethical, Legal & Prof. Issues in Counseling
EDGC 677 Practicum in School Counseling
EDGC 697 Advanced Practicum in School Counseling
EDGC 698 Seminar
EDUC 620 Human Growth and Development
EDUC 690 Introduction to Behavioral Research
Elective Courses- School Counseling:
EDGC 612 Marriage and Family Counseling
EDGC 655 Social Diversity in Counseling
EDGC 665 Special Topics (max. 6 credits)
SPED 600 Introduction to Special Education
SPED 630 Current Legal & Advanced Issues in Special Education
Community Counseling Specialization:
EDGC 602 Intro to Community Counseling
EDGC 604 Theories and Tech. of Counseling
EDGC 606 Clinical Applications in Counseling
EDGC 612 Marriage and Family Counseling
EDGC 631 Career Life Development
EDGC 640 Group Process in Group Counseling
EDGC 645 Cross-Cult. Perspectives in Counseling
EDGC 655 Social Diversity in Counseling
EDGC 660 Crisis Management in Counseling
EDGC 670 Ethical, Legal & Prof. Issues In Counseling
EDGC 679 Practicum in Community Counseling
EDGC 698 Seminar (1-6 credits)
EDGC 699 Adv. Practicum in Community Counseling
EDUC 620 Human Growth and Development
EDUC 690 Introduction to Behavioral Research
Electives Courses- Community Counseling:
EDGC 605 Individual and Group Appraisal
EDGC 610 Intro to Advanced Psychology
EDGC 643 Counseling Children & Adolescents
EDGC 665 Special Topics (max. 6 credits)
Counselor Education Program Coordinator
Dr. Cheryl Bowers
Ph. 410-651-6265 Email: cdbowers@umes.edu
Counselor Education Faculty:
Dr. Kimberly Poole 410-651-7917
Dr. Gretchen Foust 410-621-2253
Click Here to Apply!
Counselor Education FAQ's