The aim of the School Counseling program at Concordia University Chicago is to prepare school counselors who exhibit high standards of professional competence and ethical practice. Graduate students receive a high quality educational program that emphasizes Christian beliefs. The program also recognizes, values and encourages the development of skills and competencies that will be needed throughout the candidate’s career as a school counselor. The School Counseling program is carefully designed to prepare candidates for work as school counselors in elementary, middle and high school settings. Specifically, the School Counseling program offers training in providing individual and group work as well as development and refinement of individual skills in both public and private schools. The program of study meets certification requirements of the state of Illinois. Upon completion of the program, candidates are eligible to apply for the Illinois Professional Educator’s License: School Service Personnel Endorsement K-12 (formerly Type 73).
The program is designed to enable candidates to:
- Have a full understanding of the ASCA national model and its implementation in school counseling programs through developmental classroom leadership and responsive services, providing prevention and intervention services to the entire student population;
- Demonstrate knowledge of and skills in individual and group counseling services for students in school settings;
- Exhibit knowledge of and skills in consultation services for teachers, parents and administrators and to coordinate counseling interventions with other professionals;
- Assume a leadership role in the schools, focusing on the academic, career and personal/social development of every student;
- Coordinate testing and assessment in schools, analyzing disaggregated data to identify and advocate for underserved populations;
- Establish clear and appropriate professional identities as school counselors.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into most graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study for in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Students seeking to change programs may do so by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards and meet published program admission requirements at the time of requesting a program change. Program changes will be processed and recorded for the subsequent semester.
Program-specific admission requirements:
Documented evidence of 12 semester hours of prior coursework in sociology or psychology or related field with a grade of “C” or higher and departmental approval.
Degree Requirements
Track One: Program requirements for individuals possessing a valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL)
- Must hold a Professional Educator License (PEL)
- Completion of the School Counseling program coursework
- Completion the Master’s Capstone Experience
Track Two: Program requirements for individuals without a valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL)
- Completion of the School Counseling program coursework
- Completion of the Master’s Capstone Experience
- Completion of the Track Two courses with demonstrated competencies. These courses (or equivalent) are required, in addition to the 51-hour portion of the program, and must be completed before taking practicum and/or internship:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for both tracks | ||
| CED-6005 | Fundamentals of School Counseling | 3 |
| CED-6010 | Counseling Theory And Practice | 3 |
| CED-6015 | Counseling Intervention and Techniques | 3 |
| CED-6035 | Counseling and Human Development | 3 |
| CED-6055 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CED-6210 | School Counseling Program Development and Organization | 3 |
| CED-6220 | Counseling and Consulting in Schools | 3 |
| CED-6230 | Evaluation and Research | 3 |
| CED-6240 | Group Work in Schools | 3 |
| CED-6250 | Fundamentals of Assessment | 3 |
| CED-6260 | Career Counseling for School Counselors | 3 |
| CMHC-6040 | Applied Diagnosis for Counselors | 3 |
| CMHC-6420 | Substance/Alcohol Use and Treatment | 3 |
| CMHC-6550 | Family Systems Theory and Therapy | 3 |
| Clinical Experience | ||
| CED-6920 | Practicum: School Counseling | 3 |
| CED-6928 & CED-6929 | Internship: School Counseling I and Internship: School Counseling II | 6 |
| Total Hours | 51 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Two courses | ||
| SPED-6425 | Psychology & Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| CED-6890 | Reading Methods and Bilingual Education for School Support Personnel | 3 |
| Total Hours | 51 (Track One), 57 (Track Two) | |
Capstone Experience
All students in Concordia University Chicago’s School Counseling program will complete a written portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of work that demonstrates growth toward, and understanding of, professional standards. During the practicum portion of the program, students will construct a comprehensive developmental program that could be implemented and will increase students’ success in multiple domains. The portfolio developed should be something that students can use in their future career as a school counselor.
Graduation Requirements
- Have on file an application for this master's degree program.
- Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
- Complete, for the degree being sought:
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with grades of C- or higher (grades of C or higher required for MAT programs),
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Have on file approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s), "Course Substitution" form(s), or evaluation(s), if applicable.
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Have on file, if applicable, necessary copies of a project, portfolio, thesis or dissertation.
- Approval of the faculty.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.
This program leads to initial Illinois licensure, or an additional credential on an existing Illinois PEL, with direct University entitlement. The awarding of this Illinois licensure or credential will require the completion of your academic program, and may require an existing PEL, a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), associated work experience, and/or a previous master's degree. For specific requirements regarding this credential please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.
Post-graduate coursework
A student who wishes to enroll in a course(s) after completion of coursework required for the master’s degree must apply as a guest graduate student and have guest status for the term(s) for which the student registers for these course(s).