Master of Education in School Counseling

The Master of Education in School Counseling is designed to provide the framework for school counselor preparation and to enhance the professional development of educators who are seeking a graduate degree in school counseling.

The Master of Education in School Counseling is a 48-hour, non-thesis professional development program leading to the Texas School Counselor Certificate. The program is designed to meet or exceed the certification requirements for School Counselors as established by the State Board for Educator Certification. The program is interdisciplinary and builds on the candidate’s prior education and experience. A systematic schedule of shared self-appraisals threaded throughout the program allows students to monitor their progress toward professional goals in partnership with other forms of student development.

Upon the successful completion of the Master of Education in School Counseling at Dallas Baptist University, passing the School Counselor Examinations of Educator Standards, and submitting “teacher of record” indicating two years of credible teaching experience in K-12 public or private schools, the candidate will be recommended for the Texas School Counselor Certificate.

ADMISSION

• Admission to the graduate program at DBU.

• Valid teaching certificate

• 2+ years of credible teaching experience in a K-12 accredited school (public/private).

ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM

The College of Education graduate program directors provide guidance and provides support in areas such as advising, registration, monitoring your program and to offer support in your spiritual, academic, and professional walk.

Although you have been admitted to the University, it is your responsibility to complete the criteria as outlined in the Notice of Requirements document in order to become officially accepted and admitted to the Dorothy M. Bush College of Education Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Prior to applying to the Educator Preparation Program, a degree plan must be selected by the candidate and a College of Education program director/advisor. The College of Education faculty and staff are dedicated in helping you achieve academic success and assist you in achieving your educational goals.

Graduate candidates wishing to officially enter the Educator Preparation Program should review and comply with the requirements by the end of their first semester. Considerations will be based on the following criteria:

·  Upon completion of the requirements, the Educator Preparation Program Admissions Committee will meet to determine continued eligibility and candidates will be notified of their decision.

·  The GRE or MAT may be waived if a candidate maintains an A- or better during the first 12 hours of the program. If you have already taken the GRE or MAT, please submit the official scores to the graduate office at graduate@dbu.edu.

·  Grade Point Average of 3.0 and a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average at the time of application to the program

·   Teacher Service Record submitted if applicable (Blackboard submission)

·   Completion of the admission interview with the Graduate EPP Committee.

·   DBU admission letter signed and submitted

·   Signed and submitted both FERPA forms. (Blackboard submission)

·  Signed and submitted the Educator Code of Ethics. (Blackboard submission)

·  Signed and submitted Notice of Requirements (Blackboard submission)

·   Signed and submitted TExES testing guidelines (Blackboard submission)

·  Acknowledgment of Graduate Handbook (blackboard submission)     

·  Upon receipt of a letter of admission to the Educator Preparation Program, candidate must provide a written response acknowledging the acceptance of admittance to the program.

Other Requirements

·   The 3.0 GPA criteria must be maintained to remain in the program.

·  Candidates admitted to the Graduate Educator Preparation Program are required to upload the documents listed above

REQUISITES 

Entrance requirements for graduate programs in the College of Education must be met, including having at least two years of credible teaching experience in a K-12 public or private school by the time the candidate has completed the necessary coursework and is ready to take the appropriate certification examinations. Candidates must hold a valid classroom teaching certificate. A copy of the teacher candidate’s service record will be required to substantiate the teaching experience requirement prior to recommending the teacher candidate to register for the state certification examinations.

PROGRAM CONTINUANCE

Continuance in the program past the first 12 hours is pending submission of a satisfactory score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®).

A waiver of the GRE or MAT requirement may be considered if the student meets one of the following conditions:

• earns an “A-“ or higher in each of the first four courses (12 hours) of graduate coursework in the DBU College of Education, or

• holds a Bachelor’s degree from the DBU College of Education earned within the past five years with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, or

• holds a Master’s degree from DBU.

Master of Arts in Professional Counseling or Master of Education in School Counseling Agreement Contract:

Newly admitted students will meet with the Program Director, at which time the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling or Master of Education in School Counseling Agreement Contract will be explained and discussed. By signing this agreement contract, new students are stating their willingness to be evaluated on nine characteristics deemed necessary for the development of an ethical and competent counselor. These characteristics are implied from the expectations of professional and personal competence and responsibility and are as follows: openness, flexibility, positiveness, cooperativeness, willingness to use and accept feedback, awareness of impact on others, ability to deal with conflict, ability to accept personal responsibility, and ability to express feelings effectively and appropriately. In addition, the student's signature on the contract expresses agreement to attend eight counseling sessions during the first two semesters in the MA in Professional Counseling or MED in School Counseling programs. No student will be allowed to register for practicum courses until all sessions are complete.

Master of Education Practicum

The practicum experience consists of two courses. The practicums are an extensive supervised experience at a field site comprising the final component of the comprehensive preparation program. It is designed to bring together all the experiences, skills, and knowledge gained through the coursework and experiences of the program. Candidates will be expected to attend a practicum orientation and fulfill all required practicum documents prior to approval of a designated site. Students must earn a 3.0 GPA  in order to progress to Practicum II/Internship.

 Offered Fall and Spring.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GRADUATE DEFENSE OF DEGREE

Because of Dallas Baptist University’s quest for meaningful assessment of graduate candidates, a defense of degree is required in all College of Education Graduate Programs. The defense of degree is a capstone collection of signature assessments and artifacts with reflections that demonstrate a candidate’s personal growth, development, and acquisition of knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

A web-based format will be utilized by the candidate to enhance the presentation and to justify why the degree should be awarded to the candidate. The candidate’s formal defense will be presented to members of the Defense of Degree Committee and will take place on the main campus each semester.

Candidates must register for the Defense of Degree course as prescribed in their degree plan during the semester in which they will present their defense of degree. Practicing teachers, administrators, consultants, superintendents, guidance directors, personnel directors, and Educational Region Service Center personnel, as well as DBU professors and administrators, volunteer their time for this highly selective process.

(S-L)=Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.