Summers and Online School Counseling Program

The Summers and Online School Counseling Program prepares graduates to be multiculturally competent professional school counselors with the cultural self-awareness, sensitivity, knowledge, and skills essential to becoming effective and ethical practitioners, leaders, and advocates to promote social justice, equity and academic excellence for all deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students in a variety of K-12 educational settings.

The master's degree Summers and Online School Counseling Program (58 credit hours) is a hybrid program, requiring two and a half years to complete. Students will attend classes on campus three summers and take courses online for 5 semesters. As this program is designed for current professionals who are seeking a career change or additional education credentials, preference is given to applicants having prior experience in educational programs serving deaf and hard of hearing people and to those with a degree in education. Possession of such experience and degree will facilitate licensing at the state level.

The program of study is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education Program (NCATE) and the Council on Accreditation of Counseling-Related Education Programs (CACREP). In addition to the Graduate School Requirements, admission into this program requires undergraduate or graduate courses in child, adolescent, or human development; abnormal psychology; and one additional course in psychology (nine hours total).

Admissions Procedures and Requirements

Applicants for the Summers and Online School Counseling must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Visit the Graduate Admissions web site for more information and a checklist of application requirements. Detailed program information and course descriptions are also available in the Graduate Catalog.

Students applying to the School Counseling Program must initially meet general requirements established by the graduate school:

• evidence of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• preferably a 3.0 average in undergraduate work
• three letters of recommendation - a supervisor, a current/recent college instructor, someone familiar with applicant to give accurate testimony of applicant's character and dispositions fitting to the counseling field, (but not a friend or family member).
• a completed application
• official transcripts of all college work.

Program Specific Requirements

• There are 4 general counseling related essays required by the Department, and 1 essay specific to those applying to the School Counseling Program that is related to the field of school counseling with deaf/hard of hearing student populations.
• Applicants should currently be employed within an educational setting.

Required Prior Coursework

• Minimum of nine (9) credit hours in Psychology prior to entering the program, including undergraduate courses in child, adolescent, or human development; abnormal psychology; and one additional psychology course (grades of B or better).

M.A. Program of Study

First Semester (Summer)

COU 712 Orientation to the Profession of School Guidance Counseling (3)
COU 721 Foundations in Helping Skills I (3)
COU 795 Special Topics: Social and Cultural Diversity Foundations and Multicultural Counseling (3)

Second Semester (Fall)

ONLINE COURSE:
COU 717 Lifespan Development (3)

Third Semester (Spring)

ONLINE COURSE:
COU 758  Counseling Deaf Students with Additional Special Needs (3)

Fourth Semester (Summer)

COU 732 Theories and Approaches in Counseling and Psychotherapy (3)
COU 751 Group Counseling with Deaf Students in Schools (4)
COU 748 Principles of Assessment in Counseling (3)

Fifth Semester (Fall)

ONLINE COURSES:
EDF 720 Introduction to Research (3)
COU 734 Lifestyles and Career Development (3)

Sixth Semester (Spring)

ONLINE COURSES:
COU 795 Special Topics: Practicum in School Counseling (3) (150 hours)
COU 703 Substance Prevention for Children and Youth (3)

Seventh Semester (Summer)

COU 715 Family Therapy (3)
COU 702 Play Therapy (3)
COU 737 Organization and Administration of School Guidance Programs (3)

Eighth Semester (Spring)

COU 790 Internship II in School Counseling (12)(600 hours)

Total Number of Core Hours Required: 58