The program described below is designed to provide for the acquisition of skills and competencies needed by counselors working in educational settings.

A grade of "B" or better is required in all coursework toward the degree.  A minimum GPA of 3.25 is required on all courses used to meet degree requirements. 

Counselor educators are ethically required to ensure that students meet academic requirements and demonstrate clinical competencies. Satisfactory progress will be predicated on a combination of factors such as academic success, clinical competence, adherence to ethical standards, and appropriate interpersonal functioning. Students who do not demonstrate satisfactory competence within any of these critical areas of professional performance may be terminated from the program. Core faculty will evaluate students on a continuing basis to determine students' satisfactory progression through the program. Other policies, procedures, and guidelines are addressed in the Counselor Education Graduate Student Handbook.

Admissions requirements

The curriculum for the Counselor Education program begins each fall semester and proceeds in a sequenced manner. Applications for graduate programs in counseling are reviewed in the spring of each year and students are admitted beginning in fall semester. The deadline for all application materials is March 15th.

Requirements for admission are:

1. A completed application for admission to the Graduate School.
2. One official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
3. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic and/or professional abilities.
4. A typed double-space statement of 3-5 pages in length regarding the applicant's career goal(s) and purpose(s) for pursuing the Master's program in counseling.
5. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).
6. Resume
7. Applicants whose application portfolio is deemed to be acceptable are required to participate in an interview by counseling program faculty.
8. Applicants with two full years of full-time, acceptable professional educational work experience, may apply to the School Counseling MED (P-12 SDE Option) and will not be required to pass the National Counseling Exam for certification.

Final admission decisions involve evaluation of the following: grade-point average; scores on the GRE or MAT; letters of reference; professional experience; the applicant's statement of purpose; interview by counseling faculty and program enrollment and availability. All new students are required to attend the Counselor Education Graduate Student Orientation in the first semester following admission to one of the programs.

Students who are not enrolled for three consecutive semesters must complete all admissions requirements again and be reviewed by the program admissions committee.

Comprehensive Examination:  Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) now offers an expanded certification option for CACREP- accredited programs. Requirements under this option include "completion of a school counseling program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a passing score on the Praxis II test #0421, Professional School Counseling, and attainment of passing scores on the National Counseling Examination for Licensure and Certification.  Note that certification in a teaching field or another area of instructional support is not required for admission to a CACREP-accredited program in school counseling".

School counseling	Credit Hours
Requirements for school counseling	48 Minimum
Major Instructional Support Area:	36
CED 560
CED 565
CED 566
CED 569
CED 572
CED 574
CED 576
CED 582
CED 584
CED 586
CED 588
CED 591
CED 595 Internship (6 semester hours required; 600 contact hours)
School Counselors are required to successfully complete the PRAXIS II Subject Test prior to enrolling in internship.
Related Studies in Educational Foundations*	6
EPY 521
EPY 555
Research in Education Area	3
IDE 510
Electives *A preapproved three course sequenced elective cognate is required	9
School Counselors are required under the CACREP Certification Option to successfully complete the National Counselor Exam prior to applying for certification.
*Under the SDE option, SPE 500 Must be taken for 3 additional hours by students who have not previously satisfied the special education requirement.