The School Counseling option is designed to meet the licensure requirements established by the Office of Public Instruction for counseling in a school setting in the state of Montana. The intent of the program is to prepare individuals to work with elementary and secondary students (K-12 OPI licensure) in a professional, compassionate manner to promote positive intellectual, behavioral, and emotional change. Those students who want to do a thesis for a Master’s degree in School Counseling will develop their plan of study in direct consultation with their advisor.
For students who wish to pursue both school counseling licensure from the Office of Public Instruction and State of Montana licensure (LPC or LCPC) simultaneously, there is a 60-hour degree program that can be set up with consultation with an advisor. Students should be aware the Montana Board of Social Work and Licensed Professional Counselors, not the MSU Billings College of Education, control that licensure. Students who wish to pursue licensure should use the coursework for the K-12 option and the programmatic requirements established by the Montana Board of Social Work and Licensed Professional Counselors for LPC/LCPC eligibility.
Most of the courses in this program are offered in the evening and some are offered online allowing for flexible completion of the program.
Careers: What can you do with a School Counseling degree?
|
|
Admission Criteria/Application Procedures
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Graduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Standardized graduate admission test (GRE)
 |
Online? Some Online Evening Classes? Yes Program Length |
Program Structure
Professional Practice Track
| Courses | Credits |
| Professional Core | 6 |
| EDF 501 Research Design and Interpretation | 3 |
| EDF 530 Advanced Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| School Counseling Core | 8 |
| SCOU 505 Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| SCOU 506 Practicum: Counseling and Therapy Techniques | 1 |
| SCOU 507 Ethical and Professional Issues for Counselors and Family Therapists | 3 |
| SCOU 508 Practicum: Multicultural and Gender Issues in Counseling and Family Therapy | 1 |
| Professional Specialization | 20-21 |
| SCOU 504 Career and Lifestyle Development | 3 |
| SCOU 520 Group and Individual Evaluation | 3 |
| SCOU 527 Counseling in the Elementary and Middle School | 3 |
| SCOU 554 Organization and Administration of School Counseling | 3 |
| SCOU 557 Group Process: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| **Each student will take 2 of the 3 courses below in consultation with his/her advisor.** | |
| EDCI 500 Curriculum Development | 2 |
| EDF 515 Social, Philosophical, and Legal Issues in Education | 3 |
| SPED 540 Education of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Internship and Capstone | 13 |
| SCOU 590 Internship: School Counseling | 12 |
| SCOU 597 Capstone in School Counseling | 1 |
| Total minimum credits required for Professional Practice Track | 47-48 |
OPI Licensure and State Licensure Opportunity
| Courses | Credits |
| Professional Core | 6 |
| EDF 501 Research Design and Interpretation | 3 |
| EDF 530 Advanced Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| School Counseling Core | 8 |
| SCOU 505 Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| SCOU 506 Practicum: Counseling and Therapy Techniques | 1 |
| SCOU 507 Ethical and Professional Issues for Counselors and Family Therapists | 3 |
| SCOU 508 Practicum: Multicultural and Gender Issues in Counseling and Family Therapy | 1 |
| Professional Specialization | 27 |
| EDCI 610 Curriculum Theory: Analysis and Practice | 3 |
| EDF 515 Social, Philosophical, and Legal Issues in Education | 3 |
| REHA 521 Advanced Individual and Group Counseling | 3 |
| SCOU 504 Career and Lifestyle Development | 3 |
| SCOU 520 Group and Individual Evaluation | 3 |
| SCOU 527 Counseling in the Elementary and Middle School | 3 |
| SCOU 554 Organization and Administration of School Counseling | 3 |
| SCOU 557 Group Process: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| SPED 540 Education of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Internship and Capstone | 13 |
| SCOU 590 Internship: School Counseling | 12 |
| SCOU 597 Capstone in School Counseling | 1 |
| Total minimum credits required for OPI Licensure and State Licensure opportunity | 60 |
|
|
 |
||||||||
See also: Graduate Faculty for the College of Education
Contact Us
Please contact the office of Graduate Studies for information about this program, admission requirements, application forms, graduate assistantships and other scholarship information. Contact us as well for information about any of our graduate degree programs.
Our office is located in McMullen Hall, First Floor.
The office is open from 8:00 to 5:00 (Mountain time) Monday through Friday. Office: 406-657-2238 Fax: 406-657-2302
Office of Graduate Studies | 1500 University Dr, Billings, MT 59101 | 406-657-2011
