Program Features
UNC Charlotte’s post-masters certificate in school counseling has been providing a pathway for counselors to become professional school counselors since 2005. Below, key program features are highlighted.
COHORT MODEL
The post-masters certificate in school counseling is a cohort-model program. Students are accepted into small cohorts of 12-16 students once per year and complete coursework together from May to December. This program structure allows students to get to know their classmates and instructors while learning about school counseling.
EXPERIENCED FACULTY
Instructors who teach in the post-masters certificate in school counseling program include UNC Charlotte Department of Counseling faculty members like Dr. Sejal Parikh Foxx, Dr. Ed Wierzalis, Dr. Taryne Mingo, and Dr. Clare Merlin-Knoblich. Faculty have experience working as professional school counselors, regularly research school counseling topics, and are involved in school counseling service with ASCA, CACREP, ACES, and NCSCA. For more information on faculty, click here.
ONLINE COURSEWORK
The post-masters certificate in school counseling is offered through UNC Charlotte Distance Education. Instructors teach the four certificate courses online using Canvas, a learning management system, and WebEx, a video conference platform. Depending on the instructor’s course design, classes may meet synchronously, asynchronously, or a combination of both. Students can hear and see each other and the instructor through microphones and web cameras and/or interact through discussion forums.
DIVERSE STUDENTS
Post-masters certificate in school counseling program cohorts are highly diverse and composed of students from across the country representing a range of counseling specialties. Past and current cohorts have included students from Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and others. Students have brought expertise from Masters degrees in clinical mental health counseling, couples and family counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and career counseling.
SEVEN-MONTH PROGRAM
The 12-credit hour post-masters certificate in school counseling is designed to be completed in seven months, with students beginning in May and graduating in December. Upon completing the certificate and passing the Praxis II, students can be recommended for school counseling licensure with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
CURRENT TOPICS
The post-masters certificate in school counseling is rooted in recent research and current topics in professional school counseling. This includes learning about the ASCA National Model and data-driven comprehensive school counseling programs. Coursework emphasizes school counselors as leaders, advocates, and collaborators, who work to create systemic change in schools. Course instructors assess student knowledge and skills through a professional school counseling portfolio, consultation practice paper, and data and advocacy project.
