The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in counseling is designed to further develop learners' knowledge and skills in counseling and to cultivate their capacity for leadership as professionals. The Ed.S. is suitable for master’s degree level counselors who wish to earn an additional graduate degree in counseling, or for individuals with master’s degrees in related fields who wish to satisfy the academic portion of the state requirements for licensure as a professional counselor or a school counselor. It is considered a terminal counseling practitioner’s degree.
Admission
Applicants may hold a bachelor’s degree in any field. A master's degree in counseling or related field is also required.
Deadlines for Admission
- New students are admitted twice each year and are eligible to begin during fall, spring, or summer semesters.
- Summer or Fall Semesters
- March 1 – Deadline for completed applications
- Spring Semester
- October 1 – Deadline for completed applications
Application Requirements
For details regarding the application process, criteria used to select students, materials required of applicants, where to send application materials, and taking courses prior to admission as a non-degree graduate student, see the program web site at http://education.odu.edu/chs/academics/counseling.
Curriculum Requirements
The Education Specialist degree in counseling requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work beyond the master’s degree. When licensed as a professional counselor or school counselor is an objective, more than 30 semester hours usually is required.
Required Courses
Ed.S. students select courses depending on their objectives. Courses must be selected from the below options. Ed.S. students can also select 700 or 800 level doctoral classes with the approval of their program advisor.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| COUN 601 | Principles of Professional Counseling and Ethics | 3 |
| COUN 631 | Counseling for Lifespan Development | 3 |
| COUN 633 | Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques | 3 |
| COUN 634 | Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques, Crisis, and Trauma | 3 |
| COUN 644 | Group Counseling and Psychotherapy | 3 |
| COUN 645 | Testing and Client Assessment | 3 |
| COUN 647 | Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| COUN 648 | Foundations of Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 650 | Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy | 3 |
| COUN 655 | Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 667 | Internship in Mental Health Counseling | 1-9 |
| COUN 669 | Practicum in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 670 | Introduction to Counseling Supervision | 3 |
| COUN 676 | Professional Issues in School Counseling K-12 | 3 |
| COUN 677 | School Culture, Learning, and Classroom Management | 3 |
| COUN 678 | Counseling Children and Adolescents in School Settings | 3 |
| COUN 679 | School Counseling Program Development K-12 | 3 |
| COUN 685 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 691 | Family Systems and Family Development | 3 |
Additional Requirements
Non-Matriculated or Non-Degree Status
Students may take a maximum of 12 credits beyond their master’s degree as a non-matriculated or non-degree student before being admitted into the program.
Continuance
Students must meet all University and program requirements to continue toward degree completion once they have been admitted. Students who earn three or more grades of C+ or lower will be dismissed from the Counseling Program. If faculty members have serious concerns about a student’s satisfactory progress in the program, they may initiate a process that could lead to the student being asked to withdraw. Students have the right to appeal decisions on continuance made by faculty
Exit
Students must successfully complete the required course of study (a minimum of 30 credits) with a grade point average of 3.00 or better, and pass a written comprehensive examination.
