• Offering Campuses
• Program Overview
• Admission Requirements
• Graduation Requirements 
• Florida School Counselor Requirements
• Program Requirements
• Gainful Employment Information  

Offering Campuses

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Argosy University, Sarasota; Argosy University, Tampa

Program Overview

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The Master of Arts (MA) in School Counseling degree program is designed to prepare students to become school counselors who are qualified to help guide students through the primary and secondary education systems.

Note

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This program is approved by the Florida Department of Education Guidance Counseling Certificate and only meets the certification requirements for the State of Florida. Students who want to work in any other State are responsible to investigate the other State’s criteria about the reciprocity of the Florida Department of Education Guidance Counseling Certificate.

Program Learning Outcomes

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The MA in School Counseling degree program outcomes are the professional CACREP standards that guide preparation for this profession.

Learning Outcome One: Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice

• Students will interpret and apply all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, legalities, standards, and credentialing.
• Students examine the history, philosophy, and trends in school counseling, and develop skills as aligned to legal and ethical standards for practice in the schools.
• Students advocate a school counselor identity by interacting effectively with all stakeholders and professional organizations, working with special needs populations, and applying current ASCA models of practice.
• Students implement the operation of the school emergency management plan during crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events.

Learning Outcome Two: Social and Cultural Diversity

• Students will apply core theory and research regarding the cultural context of relationships, including current issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society, to the practice of professional counseling.
• Students will identify and apply an understanding of cultural diversity and an ability to advocate for the academic, career, and personal/social development of students.

Learning Outcome Three: Human Growth & Development

• Students will identify and apply core theories and research of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels and multicultural contexts.

Learning Outcome Four: Career Development

• Students will apply core theory and research pertaining to career development and related life factors to the practice of professional counseling.
• The student design, implement, manage, and evaluate career awareness programming, transition programs, including school-to-work, postsecondary planning, and college admissions counseling.

Learning Outcome Five: Helping Relationships

• Students will apply core theory, and research, and demonstrate the skills needed to ethically and effectively deliver a range of professional counseling and consultation services in a multicultural society.
• The student will demonstrates self-awareness, sensitivity to others, and the counseling skills needed to relate to diverse individuals, groups, and school community.

Learning Outcome Six: Group Work

• Students will apply the theoretical and experiential understanding of group purpose, development, and dynamics to group work in the practice of professional counseling.
• The student will design, implement, manage, and evaluate group counseling and classroom guidance programs, and curriculum to promote the academic, career, and personal/social development of students.

Learning Outcome Seven: Assessment

• Students will identify and apply principles of testing and measurement and interpret the resulting data in their work as professional counselors.
• Students will use, interpret and apply various forms of assessment for academic, career and personal/social development of children and adolescents, while recognizing uniqueness in cultures, languages, values, backgrounds, and abilities.

Learning Outcome Eight: Research and Program Evaluation

• Students will use, interpret, and apply various research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation in the practice of counseling.
• Students will use, interpret and apply data to develop programs, evaluate effectiveness, and demonstrate accountability to positively impact school counseling programs and increase academic success.

Learning Outcome Nine: Counseling, Prevention and Intervention

• Students will apply core theory and research to develop and provide comprehensive and developmentally appropriate counseling, prevention, and intervention services to children and adolescents in schools.

Learning Outcome Ten: Academic Development

• Students will apply core theory and research to develop and implement programs designed to support academic success of all children and adolescents in schools.

Learning Outcome Eleven: Collaboration and Consultation

• Students will apply core system theories, models, and processes of consultation and collaboration with all stakeholders to promote the academic, career, and personal/ social development of children and adolescents in schools.

Learning Outcome Twelve: Leadership

• Students will use, interpret and apply the qualities, principles, skills, and styles of effective leadership to positively impact the learning environment in schools.

 Admission Requirements

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• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an appropriately certified foreign institution
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) during the last two years of undergraduate work and any subsequent study
• Demonstrate mastery of General Knowledge by any one of the following:
  • Achievement of a passing score on the Florida General Knowledge Test,
  • Achievement of a passing score on the Florida College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) earned prior to July 1, 2002,
  • A valid standard teaching certificate issued by a US state or territory,
  • A valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, or
  • Completion of two (2) semesters of full-time college teaching experience
• A minimum score on an Argosy University pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in Section Five, Admission Policies, “English Language Proficiency Policy .”
• A minimum of 3 credits of ESL/ESOL coursework*
• Evidence of a criminal background or fingerprint check
• Interview with Program Admissions Committee and recommendation for admittance
• A Writing Sample submitted with the program application

All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative is available to help interested applicants complete the following required documentation:

• Completed Application for Admission Form
• Application fee (Non-refundable, except in Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement.)
• Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
• Current résumé
• Three letters of recommendation (Two from a source familiar with student’s academic abilities and one from a current school administrator)
• Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended

Note

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If a student does not have an ESOL endorsement and coursework in the teaching of reading and math, the student must take and pass the following additional prerequisite courses in areas of deficiency within 4 terms of matriculation into the program:

• E6007 - Foundations of Reading 
• E6320 - Introduction to ESOL 

Graduation Requirements

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A student is eligible for graduation from the MA in School Counseling degree program when the following requirements are met:

• Satisfactory completion of all requirements in the program of study (a minimum of 51 credit hours) that includes:

  • 39 credit hours of core courses

  • 3 credit hours of electives

  • 3 credit hours of practicum (SC6812 - School Counseling Practicum )

  • 6 credit hours of internship (SC6818 - School Counseling Internship I  and

    SC6820 - School Counseling Internship II
     )

•  A grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0), and a grade of “B-” or better in all required courses and not on academic probation or in process of SPDC or SCC referral
• Passage of all state required certification exams, including the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) for guidance counseling*
• Completion of all requirements within five years of matriculation in program
• Completed Petition to Graduate Form submitted to campus administration

Note

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*The MA in School Counseling degree will not be awarded until all state exams are passed.

Florida School Counselor Certification Requirements

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Graduation from the MA in School Counseling degree program does not guarantee certification. To qualify for certification, the following conditions must be met:

• Successful completion of all program requirements, including the and Dispositional Assessment
• Passage of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) for guidance counseling

Note

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The MA in School Counseling degree program leads to the Florida Department of Education Florida Teacher Certificate for Guidance Counseling. All other programs offered through the Argosy University, Sarasota and Argosy University, Tampa College of Education DO NOT lead to teacher or administrator certification, licensure, or endorsement in any other State in the United States.
 

Program Requirements

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Students enrolled in the MA in School Counseling degree program are required to successfully complete 51 semester credit hours distributed as follows: core course requirements, 39 credit hours; elective requirements, 3 credit hours; practicum requirements, 3 credit hours; and internship requirements, 6 credit hours.