Is the master's in Guidance and Counseling program for me?

If you want to be a school counselor or improve your skills in guidance and counseling in an educational setting, this could be a good fit. You have a couple of program options: M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling, or the M.Ed. Guidance and Counseling with ESA Certification.

What will I learn in the master's in Guidance and Counseling program?

You'll learn how to promote student success at school, at home and in the community. Our program is based on the American School Counselor Association model, which focuses on:

• Working with individual students
• Small group and classroom presentation skills
• Consulting with staff, families and community resource providers
• Systems support

What can I do with my master's degree in Guidance and Counseling?

CityU's master's degree in Guidance and Counseling program will prepare you to offer guidance and counseling to students in the classroom or for an educational organization. If you go the ESA route, you'll be qualified to work as a counselor in any public K-12 school in Washington state. Your skills will transfer well to other human services roles, too, such as private agencies, community colleges and independent schools.

Why CityU?

• Because you want an education that's relevant to what's happening in the real world, right now.
• CityU prepares more students to become Washington School Counselors with ESA Certificates than any other university (2003-2009).
• Our faculty teach what they do for a living, not just what's in the book. They're smart, successful people who can help you get there, too.
• You'll go through the program with the same group of students. We call it cohort learning. It's like a built-in support group.
• You can get an education without sacrificing your career.

How to get started:

Do you have at least a bachelor's degree? If so, you're eligible to apply. Here's how:

• Chat with an admissions advisor or call 888.42.CityU
• Attend an info session
• Complete the M.Ed. Guidance and Counseling admissions packet
• Apply online
• Submit application, fee and program forms

Be sure to talk with an admissions advisor to see if there are other requirements for your program.

M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling:		49
M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling with ESA Certificate:		54
Guidance and Counseling Concentration:		42
ECU 526	Current Issues in Education	3
This course examines current issues in education that have and continue to emerge within the context of the philosophical, historical, and recent legislation impacting the standards for student learning and assessment, and teacher performance. Candidates analyze educational practices from multiple perspectives and consider how to communicate essential elements to diverse audiences.
EGC 501	Introduction to School Counseling	3
This foundational course provides an overview of the comprehensive school counseling model, delivery, management, and accountability systems. Emphasis is placed on the evolving role of school counselors in the areas of system support, guidance curriculum, individual planning and responsive services. Candidates will learn the roles and responsibilities of school counselors and create a Professional Growth Plan.
EGC 502	Societal Issues in Counseling	3
This course explores societal issues that affect children and families in our rapidly changing world. Emphasis is placed on the counselor's response to child abuse, suicide, gangs, gender identity, violence, poverty, homelessness, the achievement gap, and dropout prevention. Candidates will explore the legal and ethical responsibilities of the schools related to these issues. Candidates will integrate resilience and protective factors in the school counseling programs.
EGC 503	Child/Adolescent Growth and Development	3
This course describes developmental norms in children and adolescents within the context of historic and current theoretical models. Candidates will apply theories to their school counseling practice in order to foster student success and resilience, and provide guidance to parents and teachers about developmentally appropriate practices which strengthen student learning. Strategies for optimizing learning and retention are explored and practiced in light of current brain research. Course Entry Requirements: EGC 501 Introduction to School Counseling.
EGC 504	Counseling Theory and Practice	4
Students will be introduced to major theories of counseling, their characteristics, and application to the individual counseling setting. They will develop a standard approach to analyze established theories in light of the needs of K-12 students that are representative of diverse populations. Basic interviewing skills will be introduced with opportunity for practice and application for a school counseling setting. Additional topics will include the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and professional issues applicable to the school setting.
EGC 505	Group Counseling	3
This course examines the utilization of group work in K-12 school settings to support student success. Emphasis is placed on both small and large groups, classroom guidance lesson planning, implementation, and evaluation. Candidates facilitate effective adult and student groups, and identify quality guidance curriculum.
EGC 506	Family Structures	3
This course examines the impact of family structures and parenting on the K-12 student. Emphasis is placed on parenting theories, model parenting programs, community agency referrals, and techniques to encourage parental involvement in education. Candidates will learn to view students with a systems perspective, practice healthy communication skills and identify interventions that strengthen families.
EGC 507	Career Counseling/Information Systems	3
This course examines how to increase student motivation through self-awareness and career awareness, decision-making strategies, and career/life planning processes. Topics include career development theory, information technology, career inventories, referral resources, career day activities and guidance presentations. Candidates leave knowing how to fulfill their role as a counselor who supports students in the career domain.
EGC 508	Counseling Testing and Appraisal	3
This course is designed to provide candidates with measurement tools that assess academic achievement, aptitude, psychosocial norms, and career and vocational interest. Principles of assessment, interpretation of results, behavioral observations, case studies, and cumulative file evaluation are covered using in-class studies and activities from the candidate's internship practicum. Candidates will develop case studies, participate in child study teams at the schools, interpret cumulative files, and be knowledgeable of related legal and ethical issues. Prerequisite: EGC 501
EGC 509	Health Issues in Schools	3
This course investigates health issues that affect students in the schools. Emphasis is placed on such issues as attention-deficit/hyperactivity, autism, substance abuse, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders and peer problems as they create barriers to learning. Candidates explore the design and application of systemic interventions which assist student learning. Related legal and ethical issues will be investigated.
EGC 510	Leadership for Change	3
This course provides the opportunity for candidates to understand the leadership role of the school counselor and consolidate their knowledge and skills. Emphasis is placed on the ASCA model, change theories, the school improvement process, leadership traits, traits of highly effective schools and systems thinking. Candidates will evaluate school improvement plans and create an action plan that address the achievement gap. Course Entry Requirements: Candidates must have completed the majority of course work in Guidance and Counseling before taking this course.
EGC 514	Counseling Practicum	1
This course focuses on skills used in school counseling. Through guided practice, candidates will demonstrate mastery of the brief counseling model, conflict mediation, solution focused therapy and narrative therapy. Candidates will be prepared to meet the clients' needs with appropriate interventions. Course Entry Requirements: EGC 620 and EGC 515.
EGC 596	Multicultural Counseling	3
This course is designed to build multicultural counseling competencies. Emphasis is placed on the principles of effective multicultural development: awareness, dispositions, knowledge, and skills. Candidates engage in a cultural self-evaluation; investigate community cultures and issues; identify resources that promote resilience and support for students in schools; and strategies that are culturally specific. This course increases candidate's ability to model cultural proficiency, promote social justice and work effectively in a multicultural environment.
OR:
ECU 535	Multicultural Perspectives: Increasing Family/Community Engagement and Student Achievement (non-cert only)	3
This course provides candidates with the skills, perspectives and strategies to engage family and community members for the purpose of increasing K-12 student academic achievement. Candidates will collaborate with a variety of individuals and organizations to deepen understanding of access and barriers for parents and their children. Through the development of a proposed Family/Community Engagement Plan, candidates will apply skills and strategies that are consistent with cultural competence, academic inquiry and K-12 school improvement goals within the context of the candidate's Professional Growth Plan (for Teacher Professional Certificate if applicable). Course Entry Requirements: This course is open to graduate-level candidates in education programs.
EGC 620	Counseling Practicum	1
This course focuses on the specific skills which comprise the foundation of school-based counseling. The brief counseling model includes empathy, reflective listening, identifying feelings, and paraphrasing. Through guided practice, candidates will gain increasing mastery of counseling skills to use in their field experiences.
M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling without Certificate: (Note: Take all Guidance and Counseling Concentration Courses, seven credit graduate level electives, plus the following:)		49
ECU 511	Tools for Academic Inquiry	3
This course introduces candidates to the language, expectations, and tools for academic discourse, research and reflective professional educator practice. Candidates will critically evaluate research findings as they begin the academic inquiry process.
M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling with ESA Certificate: (Note: Take all Guidance and Counseling Concentration Courses plus the following:)		54
EGC 513	Guidance and Counseling Culminating Seminar	3
Please check back soon for the full description of this course.
EGC 515	Counseling Practicum	2
This course focuses on the specific skills which comprise the foundation of school-based counseling. The brief counseling model is reviewed. Solution focused and narrative therapies are introduced. Through guided practice, candidates will gain increasing mastery of counseling skills to use in their field experiences. Candidates compare and contrast the implementation of the ASCA model at their internship site and complete the observation phase of their internship experience.
EGC 516	Tools for Academic Inquiry (for ESA Cet)	3
This course introduces candidates to the wealth of information and tools that are the foundation of graduate study. Candidates use the inquiry process to select research topics, evaluate sources and identify outcomes to become effective researchers. They learn how to evaluate academic research and use it to inform their work as school counselors.
EGC 632	Internship I	1
Please check back soon for the full description of this course.
EGC 633	Internship II	2
Having completed the observation segment of the internship series, the candidates now practice skills relevant to the school counseling role. Candidates are mentored by a cooperating counselor and overseen by a university field supervisor. Emphasis is placed on skill development and exploration of legal and ethical issues. Candidates learn individual planning, systems intervention, responsive services and guidance curriculum. Course Prerequisites: EGC 632 Fingerprint Clearance.
EGC 634	Internship III	2
Having completed Internship II, candidates continue to practice skills relevant to the school counseling role. This course provides support and a framework to prepare for certification during candidates' placement in schools. Candidates are mentored by a cooperating counselor and overseen by a university field supervisor. Emphasis is placed on skill development and exploration of legal and ethical issues. Candidates practice individual planning, systems intervention, responsive services and guidance curriculum.
EGC 635	Internship IV	2
This is the culminating experience of the internship sequence. Candidates hone skills relevant to the school counseling role and consistently show independent competence during work at their placement site. This course provides support and a framework for the completion of requirements necessary for certification. Candidates are mentored by a cooperating counselor and overseen by a university field supervisor. Emphasis is placed on fine-tuning skill development and exploration of legal and ethical issues. Candidates demonstrate mastery in delivering individual planning, systems intervention, responsive services and guidance curriculum. Prerequisites: EGC 633, 634 or Program Director permission.