Counseling: School Counseling Concentration, M.A.

• Our School Counseling Concentration is based on the American School Counselor Association National Model. Our students will have immediate exposure coursework and training on how best to serve a diverse student population.
• Our faculty are leaders in their profession, highly involved with their professional organizations, and continuously engaged in research so they can bring current trends, issues and practices into the classroom.
• Students can choose from a wide variety of electives to expand their counseling experiences. Electives include, but are not limited to, such topics as Consultation in School Counseling, Play Therapy, Grief and Loss, Diagnosis & Treatment in Counseling, Crisis Counseling, and Counseling Adolescents.
• The School Counseling Concentration is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation provides recognition that the content and quality of the program has been evaluated and meets the standards set by the profession.
• In addition, our program aligns with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards in school counselor preparation, and meets the North Carolina’s state requirements leading to k-12 school counseling licensure.
• A full array of daytime and evening classes offers students scheduling flexibility. The program is also offered on a full and part-time basis.
• The international honor society for professional excellence in counseling, Chi Sigma Iota, recognizes our Masters of Arts in Counseling as an outstanding counselor education program.

Core Courses

Concentration Courses – plus 4 electives

• Faculty members in UNC Charlotte’s Department of Counseling have worked to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with multiple schools and school districts in Charlotte and surrounding counties. These close ties to the school counseling community provide experiential activities that supplement theoretical training. Every year, practicing school counselors come to campus to lead discussion panels with our students.
• Students are encouraged to join faculty research teams, to apply for grants, and submit articles for publication. These collaborations often lead to opportunities to present at state and national conferences and to become published in the field.
• Students are required to submit a poster presentation proposal to the NC School Counseling Association Conference, with many receiving accolades in the past.

UNC Charlotte School Counseling alumni most often take on counseling positions in public or private elementary, middle, and secondary schools. As a result of the quality and reputation of our program, a number of students have received job offers while completing their final internship.

Graduates may also pursue careers in a number of other areas, including:

• School counseling department chair
• District school specialist
• Academic advisor in community colleges and universities
• Admissions counselor for community colleges or universities
• Independent college counselor
• Counselor for a non-profit organization focused on outreach and volunteer services
• Veterans’ Affairs counselor
• Career center counselor