Curriculum

The Master of Counseling (M.Coun.) graduate program with an option in School Counseling will prepare you to work as a professional counselor who promotes the social, psychological and physical well-being of individuals, families, communities and organizations in order to continually improve global welfare.

Our program faculty believe professional counselors stand for social, economic and political justice and therefore must be prepared to be proactive educators, change agents and advocates in the face of injustice. Development across the life span, cultural diversity and a global perspective are integral to the preparation of professional school counselors.

You can find a wealth of program information in the College of Education's student handbook.

Degree requirements

A total of 90 quarter credits are required to graduate with your M.Coun. degree with an option in School Counseling. Curriculum details are available on Oregon State's academic catalog.

Sample course topics

• Developmental perspectives in counseling
• Social and cultural perspectives
• Addictive behavior counseling
• Legal, ethical, professional issues in counseling
• Leadership of school counseling programs
• Special education issues
• Theory and techniques of child and adolescent counseling
• Research methods in education
• Appraisal of the individual
• Group counseling procedures
• Family counseling
• Crisis, grief and loss
• Cross-cultural counseling

Please note: Only Oregon State students who are enrolled in a counseling degree program are eligible to register for online COUN courses at the 500 and 600 levels.

Additional program features

Internship

You are required to complete a minimum of 600 hours of internship, totaling 12 credits, although you may choose to complete up to 25 credits of field experience. This is a great opportunity to serve your community while learning how to provide services that will help others. You are also required to complete a minimum of 100 hours (8 credits) of practicum to develop counseling skills prior to enrolling in an internship.

Personal counseling

You are required to attend 10 individual counseling sessions and to participate in 10 hours of a group membership experience. These personal growth experiences allow you to observe and work with a practicing professional to achieve a greater understanding of the counseling process from a client’s perspective. This requirement is essential for personal growth.

Conferences and training

You are required to earn 6 contact hours (CEUs) of professional development activities by attending an approved professional conference.

Nationally administered exam

You must successfully pass a comprehensive national exam as determined by program faculty. You will be financially responsible for the cost of the exam.

Flexible hybrid learning format

Coursework is delivered in a hybrid format, with 50% of the instruction conducted online and 50% in face-to-face classroom meetings, held twice a term in Corvallis, Oregon. During fall, winter and spring terms, classroom meetings will be held the second and ninth weekends (Friday and Saturday). During summer term, the meetings will be held the first and seventh weekends (Friday and Saturday).

The online practicum and internship courses during years 2 and 3 are synchronous, which require “live” online attendance during specific dates and times.