Plymouth State University > School Counseling

School Counseling

Master of Education

DescriptionDegree OptionsAdmission InformationRegistrationFinancial InformationAcademic CalendarLearn MoreContact InformationExternal Funding Page

The MEd in School Counseling program is designed to prepare students to function as K–12 licensed professional school counselors. This program is approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education and leads to New Hampshire licensure in school counseling. PSU’s school counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). It is the only school counseling program in New Hampshire to hold this prestigious distinction.

This professional school counseling preparation program emphasizes personal and interpersonal growth in addition to academic excellence. The program aims to support the development of school counseling students’ attitudes, knowledge, and skills that are essential to promoting the social, emotional, academic, and career development of all children. As part of this developmental process, school counseling students engage in several pre-practicum experiences that progressively assist students in connecting theory with practice. For example, pre-practicum experiences are integrated into selected professional courses (Foundations of School Counseling [CO 5030] and Career Counseling and Development [CO 5230]) and include brief experiences in schools or other settings. Upon successful completion of core courses and pre-requisite specialty courses, students begin their field-based experiences of practicum and internship. During these experiences, students are placed in the schools to allow them the opportunity to engage in the full range of activities that are associated with the role of the school counselor. While completing their practicum and internship experiences, students must be able to attend weekly seminars in Plymouth.

Requirements for licensure may change, subject to changes made by the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE). School counseling candidates can find the latest NHDOE standards at: https://www.education.nh.gov/who-we-are/deputy-commissioner/office-of-governance

PSU was recently awarded a $1.9 million Federal Behavioral Health and Workforce Education Training program grant – Learn More!

Methods of Instruction

Courses are taught primarily in person, with some hybrid (partially online) and some fully online options offered each semester.

Classes commonly include lecture, small and large group discussions, role-play experiences, group projects, multimedia, guest speakers, and a variety of experiential activities.

Clinical Experiences: Practicum & Internship

All required professional courses must be successfully completed before students can enroll in the practicum and internship experiences. Students must attend a mandatory field placement webinar orientation and meet with school counseling clinical experiences coordinator during the term prior to their practicum experience in order to make appropriate arrangements.

Students in the School Counseling program must successfully complete a 100-hour comprehensive public school practicum and a 600-hour comprehensive public school internship. At the end of these two culminating field-based experiences, students will have gained experience in school counseling at the elementary, middle, and high school levels that demonstrates development in relevant competencies. Practicum and internship must be completed in school settings that have as their primary function the education of public school students. In addition, students must be supervised on site by a licensed school counselor and must be able to attend on-campus seminars during the terms they are involved in their practicum and internship experiences. Practicum and internship must be completed during the academic year and must be approved in advance by the Counselor Education faculty. In order to be recommended for licensure as a school counselor, students must successfully complete program requirements including three credits of Practicum (CO5100) and six credits of Seminar and Internship in School Counseling (CO 5850).

Comprehensive Assessment
School counseling students demonstrate mastery of all specialty competencies through completion of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).

Our School Counseling Program offers the following options.

Complete one concentration 

  • MEd in School Counseling, K–12 Certification
  • K–12 School Counseling Certification Only
Optional secondary concentrations in these areas.
  • Eating Disorders
  • Play Therapy
  • Addictions Treatment
Graduate Certificates are available in:
  • Addictions Treatment
  • Play Therapy

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements reflect the current academic year and are subject to change in the next academic year.

Admission Requirements
The MEd in School Counseling requires the following materials to be submitted through our online application

  • Recommended 3.0 or better GPA in undergraduate coursework
  • Official transcripts from any/all college level work
  • Three professional recommendations
  • Current Resume
  • Participation in the Group Interview – Register Here
  • Statement of interest
  • NH Residency Verification form (NH residents only)
  • $75 application fee *waived by using code: GRFEEWAIVER2021!
Admission Deadlines

Students pursuing the School Counseling program can apply for admission to any of the upcoming semesters. Here are the deadlines for 2021-22 academic year:

  • Fall 2021 – August 1, 2021
  • Spring 2022 – December 1, 2021
  • Summer 2022 – April 15, 2022

*We suggest submitting your documentation at least two weeks prior to the posted date to ensure your application is complete and can be reviewed by the deadline.

Register Now for Summer and Fall 2021

Did you know PSU allows you to take up to 12 credits of graduate coursework before applying to most programs? So whether you are admitted to a program or just want to try a class, you can get started today!

Search for classes – the Office of the Registrar handles the course registration process – more information is available by visiting their website where you can check out the current course schedule by clicking on the “Register for Classes” option on the left, and using the first “Class Schedule Search” option. Simply select the current term from the drop down menu which will then allow you to search for classes in a variety of ways.

Register Online – Registration can be completed online through the myPlymouth portal if you are a current/active student or have been admitted to a graduate program. Be sure to have your user name, password, and the course number and title handy. At the end of the registration process you will be notified of your billing due date. Specific instructions for completing the online registration can be found on the Registrar’s website under the “How to Register” tab.

New to PSU? If you are taking your first graduate class at PSU and have not been admitted to a graduate program, you will need to complete the paper registration form which can be found under the “Registration Forms” tab. Completed forms should be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar via email to psu-registrar@plymouth.edu or faxed to 603-535-2724.

Graduate Tuition Rates – Tuition for graduate coursework is calculated on a per credit rate based on residency status. Click here to see the current tuition costs.

“How much will my graduate program cost?” and “How will I pay for it?” are two of the most common questions asked when considering continuing your education. Here is some basic information about tuition, financial aid, scholarships and Graduate Assistant opportunities. We encourage you to click the links on this page for additional information and resources.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Tuition for graduate level courses is assessed on a per credit basis, and differs slightly for NH residents and non-residents. Please note, the per credit rate varies depending on the level of the program to which you are admitted.

2021-22 ESTIMATED Rates for New Hampshire Residents

Program Level Tuition Mandatory Fees Per Credit Total
Master’s $555 $42 $597
CAGS $585 $42 $627
EdD $645 $42 $687

2021-22 ESTIMATED Rates for Non-Residents

Program Level Tuition Mandatory Fees Per Credit Total
Master’s $765 $42 $807
CAGS $725 $42 $767
EdD $810 $42 $852

More information is available through the Student Account Services Office.

Financial Aid

Graduate students are eligible for financial aid in the form of student loans only. You will need to complete the FAFSA at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester you wish to begin taking classes. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid – please review our international admission requirements to learn more.

More information can be found on the Financial Aid webpages.

Scholarships

Each year, Plymouth State offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to admitted graduate students. Selection criteria include academic and professional achievements, commitment to graduate study, and achievement or pursuit of personal or professional goals. Visit the PSU Scholarship Opportunities webpage for additional information.

Graduate Assistant positions

Graduate assistants are an important part of Plymouth State’s collaborative learning community. They work alongside faculty, staff, and students to help achieve the University’s goals, while gaining valuable experience as assistants, researchers, and teachers.

At this time, our Graduate Assistant positions are limited and available only for certain graduate programs.  Please contact your program coordinator for more information on available positions and the application process.  

The full 2021-22 academic calendar can be found here.

  • Summer 2021 – May 10 to Aug 13
  • Fall 2021 – August 30 to December 17
  • Spring 2022 – January 118 to May 6 
All dates are subject to change due to our ongoing response to COVID-19.

We would be happy to provide you with more information about our graduate programs – here are a few ways to learn more!

INQUIRE – Complete a brief inquiry form and we will connect you with the program coordinator and provide you with additional information about the curriculum, admission requirements, faculty information, and more.

VISIT – We hold information sessions and campus visits throughout the year, or we can schedule an in-person advising appointment – come check out our beautiful campus in Plymouth, NH

EMAIL – Have a quick question about our wide array of graduate programs and certificates? Send us an email at forgrad@plymouth.edu

CHAT – We would be happy to chat with you – just submit a question to one of our admissions advisors.

Want an answer right away? Give us a call – the Admissions Office is open Mon-Fri from 8:00am-4:30pm at 603-535-2237 or 800-FOR-GRAD.

Graduate Admission Team – Whether you are just graduating with your bachelor’s degree or have been out of school for a while, we are here to help guide you through the application process, assist in getting you registered for your first semester of classes, and provide you with “next steps, information, and resources on campus.

Program Coordinator/Advisor – Once you have been admitted into a graduate program, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will be your go-to person for class scheduling, program and/or curriculum questions, and academic guidance.

Office of the Registrar – can assist with course registration, transcript requests and degree conferral information

Student Account Services – please contact them with questions regarding your bill, employer reimbursement, or financial holds on your account.

Financial Aid Office – is here to assist financial aid, student loans, or other financial related questions.

External Funding Website

School Counseling Course Offering
This course planning matrix shows a tentative schedule of when School Counseling classes will be offered. Please note this is subject to change.