Skip to main
Student interacting with child at the Boys and Girls Club in Westminster.

School Counseling, M.S.

Today's school counselors are essential members of a student's educational team. As a school counselor, you'll help all students realize their full potential, becoming productive, well-adjusted adults.

Mortarboard
Degree Types
Master's
Dollar sign
Program Cost
$613 per credit
Key
Format
Online
Calculator
Total credits
51

About the Program

Through a combination of research, theory, and practice, our counseling program encourages graduate students to become reflective practitioners.  Our graduates are employed in public and private schools across Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Receiving Your Certification

The Master of Science degree in Counseling (School Counseling Specialization) is designed to meet requirements for licensure by the Maryland Department of Education (MSDE) and includes a counseling practicum (100 hours) as well as an internship within a school setting (600 hours). Upon graduation, students will be eligible to become a public or private school counselor.

This program may not meet educational requirements for licensure in other states or US territories. If students are planning to seek licensure in a state or territory other than Maryland, they should contact McDaniel College's Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu or 410-857-2505.

Why McDaniel for School Counseling?

We’ve designed our program to make sure it meets the needs of today’s best educators.

  • Reputation. McDaniel’s programs in education are respected across Maryland and the region.
  • Convenience. Courses are offered at times convenient for working adults, both in-person and online.
  • Flexibility. The self-designed course of study means you’ll get personalized guidance to build a program that meets your unique professional goals.

Nationally Accredited

McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Master of Science in Counseling program (School Counseling track) has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

Official seal of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)

What You Need to Know About the M.S. in Counseling

Admissions Requirements

  • Completed application for graduate study
  • Official transcript verifying completion of an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
  • Professional Resume
  • Goal Statement Essay
  • Successful completion of an in-person interview with a Counseling advisor

Upon admission, students must also must complete a criminal background disclosure statement and may be required to undergo a criminal background check and finger printing at the student’s expense.  Students should be aware that a criminal background may prohibit practicum and internship placement and therefore may be a barrier to program completion. Students should also be aware that it may also be a barrier to obtaining licensure. All incidents of criminal history must be self-reported to both the program and to the practicum and internship sites prior to enrollment and at any time throughout the program. All students may be subject to criminal background and finger printing by McDaniel College and by the practicum and internship site at any time.

Degree Requirements

  • Successful completion of 51 credits hours outlined in the curriculum
  • Minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
  • Successful completion of practicum and internship experiences.

State Authorization & Professional Licensure

Program & Course Details

M.S. School Counseling Catalog

Find Out More

Discover more about this program and others at one of our monthly, virtual open houses!  

Register

Now Enrolling

We are now accepting applications for Fall and Spring  enrollment.  

Start your application

Program Coordinator

Dr. Beth Aitken

eaitken@mcdaniel.edu

Request More Info

Special Opportunities

Student interacting with child at the Boys and Girls Club in Westminster.

Dual Purpose Training

Our training has a dual purpose: to ensure the counselor’s professional growth and skill development, and to increase the counselor’s personal growth and self-awareness.  This latter purpose is emphasized and given serious focus throughout the program.  Both cognitive and affective learning are considered necessary in counselor preparation, and this belief is reflected throughout the program.  

Kristina Stacey, a woman with long, blonde hair, wears a white sweater and smiles in front of a blue backdrop.

Faculty Spotlight Kristina Stacey, M.Ed.

Kristina Stacey has served as an elementary school counselor in Carroll County since 2010. In 2017, she began teaching the next generation of school counselors in McDaniel College’s master’s program in School Counseling. She emphasizes the importance of blending theory with real-life application, equipping students to navigate both practical challenges and emotional boundaries. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree and certificate in Advanced Study in School Counseling from Loyola University.

Read the full Q&A with Kristina Stacey, M.Ed.
Mike Southers ’04, M.S. ’13

Impressive Outcomes Mike Southers ’04, M.S. ’13 Capable and Confident

As an undergraduate Philosophy major, Southers discovered a welcoming community that made education enjoyable despite his own experiences with anxiety. After graduating with a School Counseling master's degree, Southers earned his counseling license and took on the confidence to launch his own practice. 

Read more about a School Counseling alum

Related Programs

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.

Find Out More

Discover more about this program and others at one of our monthly, virtual open houses!  

Register

Now Enrolling

We are now accepting applications for Fall and Spring  enrollment.  

Start your application

Program Coordinator

Dr. Beth Aitken

eaitken@mcdaniel.edu

Request More Info
McDaniel College
2 College Hill
Westminster, MD, 21157
© McDaniel College All Rights Reserved