Shift into a school counseling career

This blended program prepares you for school counseling careers where you will work directly with students as a support system for both academic guidance and preventive or responsive services. Through the program, you will gain an understanding of guidance curriculums, individual student planning, special population needs, ethics and policies in school counseling, and intervention techniques for counseling positions in elementary or secondary school settings.

The UNK School Counseling Master of Science in Education (Elementary PK-8; Secondary 7-12) Degree program prepares graduates to be an important part of the educational leadership team and to provide valuable assistance to students. The Nebraska Department of Education Rule 24 provides a non- teacher pathway allowing professionals with any undergraduate degree (no longer limited to teacher education majors) to become school counselors by taking 12 graduate credit hours of online, teacher educator field-based training in addition to completing a master’s degree in School Counseling.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree in any field (non-education degree requires completion of additional courses toward a School Counseling Endorsement)

Career Opportunities with a Masters in School Counseling

Employment of school counselors is projected to grow 13% from 2016 to 2026. The median annual wage for school counselors was $55,410 in May 2017.

  • Elementary School Counselor
  • Middle School Counselor
  • High School Counselor

"I think what we see in schools is an increased kind of need for mental and emotional interventions to achieve academic development, so those school counselors are very needed. They would kind of be that first line of mental health work to help students achieve what they would like to achieve and do those early interventions. They also provide referrals to outside counselors and kind of collaborate with them when there's more major mental illness or long-term persistent stuff going on. There's absolutely a need and it's growing and growing"

Marissa Fye

Assistant Professor, Counseling and School Psychology

Accreditation

Nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation ensuring the highest educational and professionals standards. Approved by the Nebraska Department of Education for School Counselor Endorsement.

*Graduates are eligible for NE School Counselor Endorsement after successfully passing the Praxis School Counselor Assessment.

Benefits of a Master's Degree

A graduate degree helps you advance your career by qualifying for higher positions with additional leadership opportunities. The median salary for those with master’s degrees is 16% higher than for those with an undergraduate degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.