Counselor Education, M.Ed.

Objective of the Program

The Counselor Education program offers graduate work leading to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. The program prepares professional counselors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specializations with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to develop professional counseling relationships that empower diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. We achieve this by empowering candidates to “Engage, Learn, Grow, and Advocate” throughout their program in order to become professional, reflective, innovative, effective professional counselors who value diversity and advocate for social justice. An emphasis on social justice is an integral part of what we value, teach and model.  By recognizing the assumptions of the world, its people, and norms, our program curriculum engages our students to develop a knowledge of diversity issues, self-awareness of their own identity, and biases, resulting in  a commitment to equitable delivery of services. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization prepares students with the coursework requirements to sit for the licensure exam to practice as a licensed graduate professional counselor (LGPC) in the state Maryland, and for employment in a variety of counseling agencies and settings.  The School Counseling specialization prepares students to work as professional school counselors in Maryland public schools. 

The objectives of the program are to:

1. Prepare candidates with a strong professional identity.
2. Prepare candidates who reflect on their practice for continuous professional and personal development. 
3. Provide instruction in innovative, evidence-based practice.
4. Prepare candidates who value diversity and advocate for social justice for clients/students.
5. Prepare candidates who are effective at empowering diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.

Accreditation

UMES’ Teacher Education and School Counseling Programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Admission Criteria

The Counselor Education Program Admissions Committee recommends students to the UMES Graduate School for admission to the program. Entrance requirements include:

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. Course preparation in social and behavioral sciences. 
3. 3.0 average or better on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate course work.
4. Three letters of recommendation from persons capable of assessing the applicant’s potential for success in a Counselor Education graduate program.
5. A virtual interview with the Admissions Committee.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester ‐ May 15th
Spring Semester ‐ November 1st
Summer ‐ April 1st

Provisional Admission

Applicants who possess an overall GPA of 2.75 will be admitted to Provisional Status. Provisional Status students must maintain a 3.30 average in the first nine approved credit hours of graduate level courses in Guidance and Counseling.

A student who is considered to have potential for success, but lacks adequate course preparation for Guidance and Counseling, may be asked to complete additional courses to enhance their background in related fields.

Exit Requirements

1. A 100 clock hour practicum and a 600 clock hour internship are required for all students. The practicum and internship are supervised counseling experiences in which students are required to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. Students seeking certification as a school counselor are placed in school internship settings at the elementary/middle and high school levels where they can participate in all activities that a professional school counselor is expected to perform. Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are placed in appropriate agencies where they can participate in all activities expected of a clinical mental health counselor. Application to take the internship must be filed with the department one semester before the student plans to take it. Approvals of the advisor and the program director are required.
2. A comprehensive examination is required to ensure the mastery of the program competencies. Eight core curriculum area courses must be completed before the comprehensive examination is taken.
3. The M.Ed. degree student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average. No grade in any program course which is lower than a “C” is acceptable for retention in the program.
4. A minimum of 60 credit hours is required for completion of the Master’s degree program in Counselor Education.

Counselor Education Courses

Based upon the applicant’s background and interests, a course of study will be planned with the advisor that is congruent with the student’s career goals. Curriculum options are: (1) Clinical Mental Health Counseling; or (2) School Counseling.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Cheryl Bowers, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Coordinator, Counselor Education
Department of Education, Hazel Hall
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Email: cdbowers@umes.edu