The masters of science degree in school counseling prepares school counselor candidates to effectively meet the challenges of today's schools and the needs of today's students. An emphasis is placed on leadership and social advocacy to ensure that school counselor candidates are an integral part of the collaborative team that seeks to ensure academic success for all students.

The 48-credit graduate program in school counseling focuses on the professional counselor's leadership roles in collaboration with teachers, administrators, families, community resource networks and others to promote equity and success for all children and youth. School counselors learn to be advocates for social justice and to follow the professional counseling codes of ethics and standards of practice. An emphasis is placed on developing the skills to deliver a comprehensive national standards based program that promotes academic, career, personal-social development, equity, and success for all students.

About the Program

The Master of Science in School Counseling curriculum is designed to meet the philosophy and content of the 2009 standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP), a related organization of the American Counseling Association. Since 2002, NYIT is a companion institution for the Education Trust's Transforming School Counseling Initiative.

Program Mission

The mission of the School Counseling Program is to prepare culturally competent and skilled school counseling professionals to meet the growing needs of K-12 students in today’s schools. The competency-based school counseling program prepares professional school counselors to deliver comprehensive programs that promote success for all students (pre K-12) in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development. Through advocacy, collaboration and teamwork, leadership, individual and group counseling interventions, use of data and technology, NYIT school counselor candidates will be prepared to support, promote, and enhance student achievement and success in school. Unique in its cross-disciplinary approach, candidates in school counseling may share core courses with mental health, teacher education, and educational leadership students.

Program Competencies

School counseling degree candidates demonstrate mastery of the body of knowledge of professional school counseling as designed by the Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) and NCATE. Candidates are expected to demonstrate professional school counseling, consultation, and leadership competencies throughout their course assignments, at K-12 school-based field sites, through a professional counseling portfolio of written and technology-supported assignments, and by conducting a school counseling research project.

Graduates of the program are eligible for initial (provisional) and professional (permanent) school counselor certification in New York State and New York City. School counseling degree candidates are encouraged to pursue national certification through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). 

Technology Integration

The school counseling program integrates technology -- as a delivery mechanism and as a professional tool. All courses will include various web-based experiences, list serves and e-mail, use of presentation software, spreadsheet and database applications, conference forums, class discussion boards, digital storytelling and specialized applications. Technology applications are an integral component of coursework that emphasize student academic and career development and post secondary planning. Candidates are expected to use technology applications in both field placements and internships.