Master of Science in Education: Guidance and Counseling

CIP: 131101

The M.S.Ed. program in Guidance and Counseling is structured to prepare future school counselors to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive developmental guidance program at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level. Emphasizing the premises of the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program (Gysbers, Kostek-Bunch, Magnuson & Starr), the graduate program in Guidance and Counseling stresses the importance of student learning in the public school setting and the counselor’s role in the teaching-learning process. The primary goal of the graduate program is to prepare school-counselors-in-training for the school counselor roles and skills necessary to prepare children and adolescents to effectively cope with their academic, career, and personal-social development.

Program Admission and Completion Requirements

All students pursuing a graduate degree in the department must meet the general requirements of the University and specific department requirements. For the most recent changes in programs or requirements, visit our website at www.nwmissouri.edu/. Department requirements to be completed in the following sequence are:

1. In addition to applying for admission to the University, graduate students must apply for admission into a specific program in the department. Only summer entrants are accepted for the M.S.Ed. Guidance and Counseling program. The department application deadline is March 1. Students accepted into the program are expected to begin courses the following June.
2. Contact with the coordinator should be made prior to enrolling in any graduate courses.
3. M.S.Ed. Guidance and Counseling Student Selection Criteria
   1. Submission of an undergraduate transcript from an accredited college which indicates:
      1. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.50 or above;
      2. A minimum GPA in the undergraduate declared major of 3.00;
   2. Submission of scores from the general Graduate Record Examination
   3. A 2-3 page written statement that addresses why you are interested in the program, how the program aligns with your career goals, and your philosophies of working with children and adolescents is required. This paper is your writing sample for program admission. It will be evaluated based upon the content, how you address the 3 required topics, and grammar and mechanics.
   4. A letter of recommendation from a school counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a school administrator, or a college professor attesting to the applicant’s potential as a graduate student and as a school counselor.
   5. While a teaching certificate is preferred, an applicant can take additional coursework in lieu of a teaching certificate. An additional core of teaching courses in concert with Missouri certification rules is required.
4. Degree candidacy will be based upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Northwest after the student has completed a minimum of 12 required hours in the program with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
5. Satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination.
6. Satisfactorily complete a research project under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty.
7. An incomplete grade (I) must be removed within one year. 
8. Complete at least 45 graduate hours (M.S.Ed. Guidance and Counseling) in the approved program with at least a 3.00 ("B") overall GPA. Students receiving grades of “C” or lower in more than 6 of the hours required in their approved program (including grades that are superseded) will be removed from candidacy, and grades of “C” or lower in courses (SCGD 68671, SCGD 68640, SCGD 68628, SCGD 68629, and SCGD 68630) will not count to fulfill those course requirements.
9. All graduate students in the program are required to become actively engaged in research activities as part of their graduate training. These activities should be planned in consultation with the coordinator of advisement.
10. Continuous enrollment every trimester is required. Exceptions must be approved in writing by the program coordinator.

Detailed information on these requirements are in the Program Outline published by the department and can be obtained from any program faculty member or the department chairperson.

Restricted Enrollment

Enrollment in most courses in the M.S.Ed. program is restricted to students accepted into that program. However, 500-level courses permit enrollment by qualified undergraduate seniors and graduate students. Two other courses in the School Guidance and Counseling program (PSYC 08603 and PSYC 08627) allow graduate students to enroll when their own graduate program recommends it. Web-based 600-level courses require potential students to meet the academic qualifications for admission into the Guidance and Counseling program and those of the Graduate School; these classes also require consent of the instructor, relevant program director, and/or department chairperson. Enrollment in any other 600-level core area course is restricted pending approval of the program director and/or department chair. Approval is likely for those who have completed a counseling degree at another institution or for those who need some additional courses to meet licensure/certification requirements.