The School Counseling option for the Master of Education Degree meets the licensure requirements established by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for professional school counseling in a K-12 school setting in Montana. Completion of this program provides eligibility for the Montana Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license. The program (K-12 OPI licensure) prepares individuals to work with elementary and secondary students in a professional, compassionate manner to promote positive intellectual, behavioral, and emotional change.
All students seeking a degree or post baccalaureate program through the Department of Educational Theory & Practice must obtain criminal background reports by submitting fingerprints to the Licensure Office upon application to Graduate Studies.
Admission Requirements
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants with lower GPA may be provisionally admitted but are required to take the GRE within the first semester. GRE total score of 290 (verbal and quantitative) and written score of 3.5 are expected. Applicants that already have a Master's degree from an accredited institution are not required to meet this requirement.
- Current resume or CV.
- Statement of purpose describing the applicant's professional goals and the purpose in pursuing the degree program. One page maximum in narrative format, not bulleted.
- Four letters of recommendation, two academic and two professional. Recommendations from those who have a personal relationship with the applicant (such as family members) are not accepted.
- Official transcripts.
- Criminal background report submitted to the College of Education Licensure Officer.
- Immunization documentation as required by state law.
- A complete application submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Note: Master of Education in School Counseling and Graduate Endorsement PRAXIS in school counseling is required for exit and endorsement.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of a school counselor
- Follow the ethical codes applicable to the profession
- Implement school counseling practices that are evidence and researched based
- Understand the need to be a life-long learner in the school counseling profession
