The Educational Psychology Department designed this plan to prepare professional school counselors. It is appropriate if you are 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 program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2020), employment of school counselors is expected to grow by 8% from 2019 to 2029; faster than average for all occupations. The number of students attending schools at all levels is expected to increase during the projection's 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 supporting students in an educational setting by promoting advocacy efforts, leadership, collaboration, and systemic change (ASCA, 2019), 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 in the community and schools. With the added counseling-focused coursework, you will meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Associate Counselor in Arizona.
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, and professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):
| Minimum Units for Completion | 60 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Arizona Endorsement | Prepares student for Arizona Endorsement. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
As a student in the MEd in Counseling - School Counseling program, you will take courses, engage in fieldwork, and participate in practicum and an internship that will prepare you to be a certified school counselor.
Upon obtaining your degree, you will 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 (See Advocacy Projects and faculty bios). Our faculty are also integrally involved with the day-to-day realities of the ever-evolving profession of school counseling. The CACREP-accredited coursework is deeply informed by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) 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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
More Information
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 Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
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.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This Master’s degree requires 60 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 60 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.
Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.