Counseling, School, M.Ed.

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The school counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program is based on the conceptual framework of the School Counselor as a Facilitator of Human Development and Professional Program Manager. This model envisions the professional school counselor as a program manager who has the skills to assess, develop, improve, manage, and evaluate a counseling program that is comprehensive and based on the development of student competencies. The foci of the comprehensive program are developmental (activities provided for all students to foster their development), preventive (activities centered on the identification of students who are highly at risk of acquiring blocks to their development and removal of those blocks), and remedial (activities to help students who are struggling with problems that are impeding their development).

As of July 1, 2023, the school counseling program at Cleveland State University is a 60-hour concentration, leading to a Master of Education degree. Students have a choice of three different specialization tracks, some of which are courses that could count toward an additional license or certificate. The three tracks are:

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Licensed Professional Counselor)
Chemical Dependency (Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate and CDCA)
Early Childhood Mental Health (Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling Certificate)

School Counseling

Specialization leading to a Education, M.Ed. degree.

Sixty credit hours leading to a degree.

Introduction

Clinical and Field-Based Experience

There are two separate clinical, field-based courses. The first is CNS 681 - School Counseling Practicum . This is a one-semester course requiring 100 hours of clinical field experience. School Counseling Practicum is offered in the spring semester. The second clinical, field-based experience is CNS 685 - Internship in School Counseling . This is an intensive, two-consecutive-semester learning experience of supervised counseling in a school setting. Internship is offered as a fall-spring sequence only. Prerequisites for Practicum and Internship are listed under the course descriptions in this Catalog. Prerequisites are strictly enforced by counseling faculty.

Eligibility for School Counseling Practicum (CNS 681 )

Students plan their programs so they can apply for practicum two semesters in advance of the term in which they wish to take it. There is a mandatory practicum-orientation meeting held in the Fall semester. To be eligible to register for practicum, students must have earned a B or better the following courses: CNS 517 , CNS 620 , CNS 622 , CNS 623 , and CNS 578 .

Eligibility for School Counseling Internship (CNS 685 )

Students plan their programs so they can apply for internship two semesters in advance of the term in which they wish to take it. Applications are available in the CASAL Department office, Julka Hall 275. In addition to successful completion of the practicum (CNS 681 ) and all practicum prerequisites, to be eligible for internship students must have passed CNS 504 , CNS 679 , CNS 524 and CNS 706 .

Program Admission Eligibility

Applicants who meet the initial requirements (GPA over 2.75, GRE or MAT, two letters of recommendation) are granted conditional admission to the program. After they successfully pass CNS 620 with a B or better, they are fully admitted into the program as degree-seeking. Students who do not meet the initial requirements are eligible to enroll in the courses open to non-degree seeking students. Those courses are CNS 504 , CNS 505 , EDB 601 , CNS 620 , CNS 524 and ALD 603 .

It is strongly recommended that students enroll in CNS 620 in their first semester. This course is used to evaluate student’s attainment of critical benchmarks including interpersonal competence and content knowledge, both of which are requirements for the advanced coursework and field placements (Practicum and Internship). Students who do not successfully complete 620 with a B or better are entitled to a concerned conference with the instructor as well as CSU Judicial Affairs. Outcomes of concerned conferences include probation with conditions, remediation, career and/or individual counseling services, program withdrawal or program dismissal.

Program of Study

(60 credits)

Screening Courses

CNS 620 - Laboratory in Counseling Techniques —first course to be taken after acceptance into the Counseling Program
CNS 622 - Individual Counseling: Theory & Process

Research in Behavioral Sciences

EDB 601 - Research in Education and Human Services

Cultural Foundations and Social Issues

School Counselor Practices and Principles

Human Development

ALD 603 - Lifespan Development

Individual Counseling

Group Process

CNS 623 - Group Process and Practice
Note: Active involvement in a personal growth group is usually a required part of this course.

Assessment and Diagnosis

Career Development

CNS 524 - Career Development & Information Services

Clinical and Field-Based Experience

Specialization (12 credit hours)

Students select 12 credit hours to complete one of the specializations below. Additional credit hours may be required to complete a certificate/licensure.

Clinical Mental Health Specialization

Optional additional courses for licensure in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The additional courses must also be taken in this track to qualify for license as a Professional Counselor in Ohio (after successfully passing the National Counselor Exam).

All classes listed above for the specialization (CNS 529 , CNS 650 , CNS 701 , CNS 709 , and CNS 712 )
CNS 686 - Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
CNS 687 - Advanced Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
5 Credit hours of electives from Clinical Mental Health Courses

Chemical Dependency Specialization

Students choosing this track will also earn a Certificate in Chemical Dependency .

Early Childhood Mental Health Specialization

Optional additional course for the Certificate in Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling

Optional for students wishing to also earn the Certificate in Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling .

CNS 514 - Internship in ECMH & Behavioral Consultation