Master's in School Counseling Online
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Students bring a lot more than a backpack to school. Some are dealing with anxiety or grief. Others are stressed about grades, friendships, or what happens after graduation. School counselors are the people who help them sort it out and figure out what's next.
With IWU's online master's in school counseling, you'll learn how to support students' academic, career, and social-emotional growth from Pre-K through 12th grade. Faith and servant leadership are part of everything you'll learn, so you'll be ready to care for students with real skill and real compassion.
Your 60-credit-hour MA in School Counseling includes 15 credit hours of electives. You get to pick counseling courses that match your interests and help you grow into the school counselor you want to be.
Every student earns an MA in School Counseling. You just get to choose how you finish it:
Pick 15 credit hours of counseling electives that build on your school counseling skills.
Swap your electives for CMHC courses and complete field experiences that cover both school counseling and CMHC. You'll graduate ready to pursue licensure as a clinical mental health counselor, too.
Whichever path you choose, you'll walk away with one degree: an MA in School Counseling. Neither option is a dual degree.
You don't have to press pause on your career to become a school counselor. Online classes let you keep working and take care of life while you earn your degree. Our Christian faculty have spent years in schools and counseling offices, and they'll bring that real-world experience to every class.
IWU's master's in school counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), so you know you're getting a program that meets national standards. After you finish your coursework and pass your state's required exams, you'll be recommended for licensure or certification. Every state is a little different, so be sure to check your state's requirements.
You'll learn how to show up for students in the moments that matter most. Your courses cover everything from counseling techniques and child development to career planning and group work, so you're ready for whatever walks through your office door. You'll get comfortable using data and research to figure out what students need and how to help. You'll also learn to build school counseling programs that reach every student, not just the ones who ask for help. And throughout it all, you'll see how your faith can guide the way you care for students while respecting the boundaries of a public school setting.
Your Master of Arts in Graduate Counseling may be closer than you think! Learn more about the Graduate Counseling programs at Indiana Wesleyan, and the incredible faculty team dedicated to making helping you take the next steps in your counseling career!
IWU has provided education for more than 100 years.
Faith-integrated curriculum and a commitment to changing the world.
Center for Student Success for counseling, tutoring, and more!
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement.
In IWU's online master's in school counseling, you'll learn to:
*Includes 15 credit hours of electives chosen from additional counseling (CNS) courses. Want CMHC courses instead? Explore the CMHC specialization
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses and prerequisites required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog. Click on a course below to view the description.
CNS-501,CNS-502,CNS-503,CNS-504,CNS-505,CNS-506,CNS-507,CNS-508,CNS-509,CNS-519,CNS-527,CNS-529,CNS-550-S,CNS-551-S,CNS-552-S
Both paths lead to an MA in School Counseling and require 60 credit hours.
On the electives path, you choose 15 credit hours of counseling electives.
On the CMHC specialization path, those 15 credit hours are CMHC courses, and your field experiences cover both school counseling and CMHC requirements so you can pursue CMHC licensure.
You'll complete a practicum and two internships in approved school settings, gaining hands-on experience in real counseling environments. You'll secure your own placements, and IWU provides guidance, approved site lists, and faculty support to make sure every placement meets program and licensure requirements.
The curriculum emphasizes collaboration as a core competency for school counselors. Through coursework, case-based learning, and field experiences, students develop skills to partner with teachers, administrators, families, and community providers to support student success. These collaboration strategies are reinforced during practicum and internship experiences.
Dr. Amanda Davis brings more than 20 years of experience in public education as a classroom teacher and school counselor. She serves as program director and full-time faculty at IWU and owns a private counseling practice that partners with local schools. Her expertise includes school counselor leadership, principal and counselor collaboration, counselor wellness, and grief support. She enjoys reading, crafting, traveling with her family, and spending time with her two Labrador retrievers.
Dr. Judy Justice approaches counseling and teaching as a calling to serve others, modeling Christ-centered care in her work. She serves as a counselor with the American Red Cross Disaster Team, responding to local and national crises. With decades of experience in school counseling and higher education, she prepares graduate students to become compassionate, effective counselors. She has also served as a program director and contributed to many university and professional committees.
Dr. Melissa Buquo brings 17 years of experience as an educator in public, private, and virtual schools. She began her career as a special education teacher before building relationships with students led her to school counseling. Her passion for supporting children in foster care and other at-risk students drives her work preparing future counselors. A U.S. Army veteran, she is a member of the American Legion and volunteers in her church's nursery and with A Women's Resource Center.
NOTE: The graduate admissions committee retains the right to waive an admission requirement for special circumstances.
Up to 35% of a program's required credit hours may be transferred from an accredited institution into a graduate-level counseling program at Indiana Wesleyan University.
NOTE:
NOTE:
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
IWU's master's in school counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation shows the program meets national standards for counselor preparation and supports your path to licensure or certification.
Discover the way forward in your personal and professional life. Earn your master's in school counseling online at IWU. Apply now!
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