Online Master’s in School Counseling Degree

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Overview

Study Advanced Strategies for Empowering Pre-K-12 Students

The Master of Education (MEd) in School Counseling degree program at Grand Canyon University offers individuals with a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to seek certification and pursue a career as a school counselor. This master’s degree leads to initial licensure and serves as the next step for professional growth in two fields — education and counseling.

As a future school counselor, you may choose to obtain a master’s in school counseling to enjoy opportunities to expand your knowledge base and advance your skill set to become an advocate for pre-K-12 students. Throughout their school years, students may encounter challenging circumstances such as bullying, drug use, homelessness and poverty, social development, mental health concerns and instances of violence/trauma. This program is designed to equip you to empower students to tackle a myriad of challenges so they can live up to their full academic and personal potential.

Master of Education in School Counseling
Why GCU

Shape the Future as a School Counselor With GCU

Pursuing a graduate degree in counseling can equip you with the skills to intervene and provide support for children and adolescents facing difficult school-related and personal issues. Additionally, you will receive training on effectively collaborating with parents, guardians and school personnel with an eye toward cultivating a school environment that meets the unique needs of your students.

As a Christian university, GCU designs programs with a faith-integrated curriculum that reflects the university’s Christian worldview. At GCU, you can develop into more than a school counselor — you can grow into a compassionate servant leader with strong ethics and morals that can help make a positive difference in the lives of children.

Coursework

Apply Counseling Techniques in Educational Settings

Upon completing the master’s degree in school counseling, you will be expected to have the necessary tools to help struggling young learners overcome obstacles while they prepare for the next step in their educational journey.

Continuing education provides aspiring school counselors with opportunities to:

  • Address challenges experienced by children and adolescents, such as academic, social and emotional difficulties, low self-esteem and issues they may be experiencing at home
  • Identify risks that lead to mental health and behavioral disorders
  • Strategize ways to foster personal growth
  • Lead in data-informed decision-making and school counseling program development 
  • Examine how various non-academic problems affect achievement in the classroom 
Careers

Career Paths for Master’s in School Counseling Graduates

This degree program can equip you with the career readiness to advocate for students’ well-being and create a supportive learning environment, helping them navigate academic, social and emotional challenges.

This online master’s in school counseling program was developed to instill a firm academic foundation of school counseling competencies, with an eye toward modern challenges in school environments.

With a solid framework of school counseling competencies, you may consider pursuing various careers in education, including:

School counselor

Career counselor

Educational advisor

38%

Percentage of school and career counselors and advisors employed by state, local and private universities, junior/colleges, and professional schools2

45%

Percentage of school and career counselors and advisors employed by elementary and secondary schools, both public and private2

Accreditation

Earn Your MEd From an Accredited University

Earning your online school counselor degree from an accredited university indicates a quality education that meets professional requirements. You can benefit from a current curriculum, experienced faculty and resources that can prepare you for a career in school counseling. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968, demonstrating our commitment to our students and the quality of our programs.

This graduate degree is informed by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model to support growth in academic achievement, career and social-emotional development. GCU’s school counseling program fosters the development of school counselors in training to advocate for models of school-based collaboration with school stakeholders. 

The curriculum for this program is:

  • Approved by the Arizona State Board of Education and informed by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model
  • Tailored to meet the needs of the adult learner with a strength-based approach 
  • Facilitated by industry professionals with experience in child and adolescent development, counseling theories, group and individual counseling, college and career counseling, as well as trauma and psychopathology
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

To learn more about earning your Master of Education in School Counseling, please review our responses to some common questions about this degree and career field.

Female school counselor smiling in school hallway holding Lopes Up

Empower Students. Shape Futures.

Prepare to guide and inspire students toward brighter futures with a MEd in School Counseling.

Apply Now

If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

1 Excluding observational and practice-based experiences and student teaching.

2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). School and Career Counselors and Advisors: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Dec. 5, 2024.

3 American School Counselor Association. School Counselor Roles & Ratios (Guidance Counselor vs. School Counselor). Retrieved on Nov. 25, 2024.

4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How To Become a School or Career Counselor or Advisor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on May 10, 2024.

5 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Handbook, School and Career Counselors and Advisors, retrieved on April 9, 2024.

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