Learn more about the CEHD's Tuition Reduction Initiative that can be applied towards the M.Ed. in School Counseling!
The Department of Counseling and Human Development offers a Master of Education (M.Ed) in Counseling and Personnel Services (CPS) with a concentration in School Counseling and Guidance. This degree is designed for those who wish to be certified as a school counselor, grades P-12.
The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to prepare counselors and counselor educators who contribute to society in a variety of professional roles by: supporting principles of social justice, fairness, and equity in their work; proactively promoting the welfare of those they serve; and engaging in a lifelong process of educational and professional renewal. Consistent with our focus on social justice, the Counselor Education Program is committed to building a culturally-diverse student body and providing a culturally-responsive educational environment for all students.
The program is intended to prepare school counselors who have the necessary knowledge and skills to promote achievement, personal and social development, and career planning. The coursework combines classroom and practicum and internship experiences to prepare students to work as mental health professionals, in P-12 educational settings
The ECPY Department also offers a Rank I in School Counseling as well as Standard Guidance Certification. Note: One must already have a master's degree in School Counseling and be certified as a School Counselor in order to be eligible for the Rank I program.
Student Handbook [PDF]
The Master’s of School Counseling (M.Ed) offers a 48-hour program. The 48-hour program offers the following benefits:
We also offer a 60-hour option, which includes the all of the above benefits in addition to the following:
You do not need to graduate from the 60-hour program if you wish to obtain provisional certification, but completion of the 60-hour curriculum is required if you seek Rank 1 certification
The faculty in the school counseling program are very involved in statewide and national initiatives. We strongly encourage school counseling students to be involved with the school, community, as well as regional and national initiatives. Students in the school counseling program have the opportunity to get involved with faculty research and service, which include activities, conferences, and presentations with the American Counseling Association, American School Counselor Association, Kentucky Counseling Association, Kentucky School Counselor Association, and other national and statewide affiliated divisions.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the School Counseling programs are currently in process for accreditation by Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The School Counseling program is currently accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Helpful Links:
Interactions with the professors was fantastic. Their ability to challenge me academically and professionally was instrumental in developing a transferable skill set that made me a marketable professional. I am very happy with School Counseling program and would recommend it to anyone without hesitation.
Paul Eddie Bobbitt, School Counseling Graduate
I am very pleased with my professors. They are intelligent, dynamic, and very willing to help. The professors make classes interactive and do not solely lecture - they seem genuinely interested in engaging the students.
Lacy Moore, School Counseling Graduate
For details about program curriculum, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Student Handbook [PDF]
Courses in the School Counseling concentration do not follow a specific sequence, however to ensure the quality of learning there are certain courses that are required prerequisites before more advanced courses can be taken. The following are courses that require prerequisites:
Read the 2022 evaluation [PDF].
We also offer a 60-hour option, which includes the all of the above benefits in addition to the following:
You do not need to graduate from the 60-hour program if you wish to obtain provisional certification, but completion of the 60-hour curriculum is required if you seek Rank 1 certification or eligibility as a LPCA in KY.
The faculty in the school counseling program are very involved in statewide and national initiatives. We strongly encourage school counseling students to be involved with the school, community, as well as regional and national initiatives. Students in the school counseling program have the opportunity to get involved with faculty research and service, which include activities, conferences, and presentations with the American Counseling Association, American School Counselor Association, Kentucky Counseling Association, Kentucky School Counselor Association, and other national and statewide affiliated divisions.
The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to prepare counselors and counselor educators who contribute to society in a variety of professional roles by: supporting principles of social justice, fairness, and equity in their work; proactively promoting the welfare of those they serve; and engaging in a lifelong process of educational and professional renewal. Consistent with our focus on social justice, the Counselor Education Program is committed to building a culturally-diverse student body and providing a culturally-responsive educational environment for all students.
Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums does not guarantee a student will be accepted to the program.
Applicants must submit an online application for admission to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
Please have transcripts sent to:
Graduate School
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
If transcripts are sent electronically,
please have them sent to the following e-mail: gradadm @ louisville.edu
The professors in the M.Ed in CPS with the School Counseling concentration are professional, knowledgeable, and very understanding.
Laquita Edwards, School Counseling Graduate
Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.
Spring Term Admission: October 1
Fall and Summer Term Admission: March 1
If you have questions about applying to the program, please email gradadm@louisville.edu or call the Office of Graduate Student Success at 502-852-7697.
I love the professors here. They are very helpful and knowledgeable.
Shauna Doering, School Counseling Graduate
Ahmad Washington
Associate Professor
Department of Counseling and Human Development
Room 313
College of Education & Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office: 502-852-0628
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
In recognition of valuable service to the preparation of teachers and the need for all teachers to have continual professional growth, a supervising teacher or a resource teacher for teacher interns may, with prior approval of the course-offering institution, take a maximum of six (6) credit hours per term at any public postsecondary institution and pay no tuition. The postsecondary institution shall waive the tuition up to a maximum of six (6) credit hours.
To apply, you must complete the Tuition Waiver Certification for Supervising and Resource Teachers Application [PDF]. It should be completed by the supervising teacher, certified by their principal, and returned to our office. Return the form to the Student Financial Aid Office at UofL, attention: Lindsay Driskell.
Eligibility: 6 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a full responsibility supervising or resource teacher, or 3 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a shared supervising or resource teacher. Students may exercise the tuition waiver option up to twelve months following the assignment. Tuition benefits are paid directly to the University of Louisville.
The Counselors for the New Millennium (CNM) program offers scholarships to defray expenses for tuition and textbooks for ethnic minority graduate students. It also provides collegial support in a dynamic and intensive program for school counseling students. This program employs a cohort model to build strong support groups that often lasts well beyond graduation.
Applicants to the CNM program must first meet the criteria below to be considered for admission by the CNM Advisory Committee.Interviews and recommendations complete the application process to the program.
Because this is a competitive scholarship, students are evaluated based on their academic achievement, financial need, and personal goals. The following criteria are considered in identifying eligible students:
Academic Achievement: The student's GPA and letters of recommendation are obtained from the application materials that the student submitted when they applied to the school counseling program.
Financial Need: Applicants are required to complete a FASFA application. This provides the CNM advisory committee with an understanding of the student's need for financial assistance.
Personal Goals: Applicants are required to complete a personal goal statement of no more than 350 words that explains their goals for their school counseling degree and why they believe they should be considered for the scholarship.
For further information, contact the Department of Counseling and Human Development, 502-852-6884.
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
No, you do not have to be a certified teacher in order to be a School Counselor in Kentucky. However, some school districts do require that a School Counselor be a certified teacher with teaching experience in order to be considered for a School Counselor position. Check with the school district where you would like to be employed as a School Counselor for their requirements.
The Counselors for the New Millennium (CNM) is a grant-funded program for Kentucky minorities who aspire to become school counselors. Applicants to the CNM program must be first admitted to the Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services program with a concentration in School Counseling. Upon admission to the program, applicant's names are submitted to the CNM advisory committee for consideration. Interviews and recommendations will complete the application process to the CNM grant program. CNM grants cover in-state tuition and a stipend for books.
Because this is a competitive scholarship, students are evaluated based on their academic achievement, financial need, and personal goals. The following criteria are considered in identifying eligible students:
Academic Achievement: The student's GPA and letters of recommendation are obtained from the application materials that the student submitted when they applied to the school counseling program.
Financial Need: Applicants are required to complete a FASFA application. This provides the CNM advisory committee with an understanding of the student's need for financial assistance.
Personal Goals: Applicants are required to complete a personal goal statement of no more than 350 words that explains their goals for their school counseling degree and why they believe they should be considered for the scholarship.
For further information, please contact Dr. Ahmad Washington at (502) 852-0628.