The Educational Psychology Department designed this plan to prepare professional school counselors. It is appropriate if you're seeking the Arizona Department of Education's K-12 Guidance Counselor Certification. We offer this program at Northern Arizona University–Flagstaff and through some of our statewide offices.
This academic plan meets the coursework requirements for National Counselor Certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors.
This plan is accreditated by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
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According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2018), employment of school counselors is expected to grow by 13% from 2016 to 2026; faster than average for all occupations. The number of students attending schools at all levels is expected to increase during the projections decade, boosting demand for school counselors. The School Counseling master's program addresses this need by offering a high quality nationally accredited program for training school counselors to work in Arizona and across the nation.
If you have a passion for helping students in an educational setting by promoting advocacy efforts, leadership, collaboration, and systemic change (ASCA, 2012), then the school counseling program is the program for you. Our program can help develop the tools you will need to serve students in areas like human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, relationships, career development, and professional orientation.
You will be offered opportunities to learn new counseling skills in the classroom, through fieldwork, and on internships; you will emerge ready to organize service delivery systems in schools.
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.
Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):
| Minimum Units for Completion | 48 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Arizona Certification/Endorsement | Prepares student for Arizona Certification and/or Endorsement. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
Purpose Statement
As a student in the MEd in Counseling - School Counseling program, you’ll take courses, do fieldwork, and participate in practica and internships that will prepare you to be a professional school counselor.
Upon obtaining your degree, you’ll be prepared to provide counseling services in the following areas:
Our School Counseling faculty are leaders in the School Counseling profession across Arizona and at the national level as well(See Advocacy Projects and faculty bios, below). Our faculty are also integrally involved with the day-to-day realities of the ever-evolving profession of school counseling. The CACREP-accredited coursework that students experience at NAU is also deeply informed by the American School Counseling Association current edition of the ASCA National Model, which stresses the modern school counselor’s integral role in all students’ academic, career and personal/social growth and development. We also are proud to have the 2016 School Counselor of the Year aboard as an Affiliate Faculty member.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
Admission requirements include the following:
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.
International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Take the following 48 units:
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.