Master of Education in Counselor Education
Department
Department of Counseling and Human Development
College
College of Education and Human Development
Overview of the program
The mission of the Counseling Program at Southeastern Louisiana University is to prepare future counselors with the knowledge and skills necessary for entry into the profession. The program’s core values are diversity, wellness, academic excellence, and the holistic embodiment of counseling. The program’s strategic priorities are as follows:
- To attract and maintain a diverse student population;
- To promote a sensitivity, understanding and respect for individual differences;
- To provide counselor training centered on the concept of wellness;
- To provide exemplary academic instruction and experiential learning opportunities;
- To foster the personal and professional growth of all students.
This 60-hour program is designed to prepare graduates for professional practice in the field of counseling. There are three program concentration curricula in the Counseling Program (School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling). All program concentrations are nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). All program graduates meet the current academic requirements for state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana as well as most other states. Graduates also are immediately eligible for certification as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).
Completion of the Counselor Education program typically takes approximately 2 ½ years for full-time students, and 3-4 years for part-time students. A two semester internship is the culminating experience of the program, and students work at a site that is related to their chosen concentration. Students are required to pass a nationally standardized comprehensive examination during the semester of graduation.
Concentrations
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
- School Counseling (SC)
- Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC)
Strengths of the program
- Recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Master’s Program Award by the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES).
- Nationally accredited by the Commission on Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- Program faculty members are nationally/internationally recognized as leaders in the counseling field.
- Program graduates are very successful in the counseling field and highly regarded by internship sites as well as employment sites.
- Graduates meet all academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana and most other states.
- Graduates are immediately eligible to apply for certification as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).
- Program fulfills requirements to become certified as a school counselor by the Louisiana Department of Education.
- Provides excellent school and clinical internship opportunities.
- Students learn clinical skills in a hands-on, state-of-the-art training lab.
Preparing for a job in the program
The master's degree is the entry-level educational requirement for independent practice in counseling. The Master of Education Degree Program at Southeastern Louisiana University is designed to prepare graduates for beginning careers as counselors. The Southeastern program combines academic knowledge and research with clinical practice skills. Upon graduation, Southeastern graduates in all concentrations may apply to the State of Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to begin a post-degree supervised counselor internship of 3000 hours. These hours must be completed in a period of no less than two years and no more than seven years. Upon completion of this post-degree supervised experience and successful completion of the National Counselor Examination, Southeastern counseling graduates are eligible for licensing and independent practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana and most other states.
Graduates with teacher certifications who complete the school counseling concentration are immediately eligible to add-on their school counseling certification. Graduates without teacher certifications who complete the school counseling concentration are immediately eligible to certify as school counselors through the Louisiana Department of Education's Ancillary Certification program.
Careers in the program
Qualified counselors are widely sought after to work in professional mental health roles in private and public organizations, schools, and private practice.
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) as well as post-degree interns working under board-approved supervision are employed in a wide variety of professional settings. Southeastern counseling graduates are prepared to work with diverse populations experiencing a broad range of problems and concerns, appropriate to their program specialization. Our graduates are employed in public and private settings, including schools, university and community college counseling centers, hospitals, employee assistance programs, family service agencies, adolescent and adult treatment programs, substance abuse facilities, community service agencies, state agencies, court-affiliated programs, and private practice.
Starting Salaries after completing the program (estimates only)
Starting salaries in Louisiana for entry-level counselors typically range from the low-to-mid 30K range. The average national salary for a licensed counselor is approximately $56,000. The average starting salary for a public school counselor in Louisiana is $32,000.
Campus organizations and activities affiliated with the program
Sigma Lamda Upsilon is Southeastern’s chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International. Students who have taken at least 9 hours in the program with at least a 3.5 GPA are invited to membership. CSI membership internationally includes Counseling students as well as counseling professionals. Sigma Lambda Upsilon chapter offers programming both for Counseling students and other counseling professionals in the community.
Related fields that might interest you
- Social work
- Psychology
- Marriage and Family Therapy
How do I know this is the degree for me?
Common Strengths and interests of students in the program
Helpful qualities for counseling majors include:
- A desire to help
- Good interpersonal skills
- Personal maturity
- Flexibility
- Non-judgmental acceptance of others
- Strong ethical foundation.
Contact Information
June M. Williams, Ph.D., LPC
Associate Professor, Counseling Program
Program Coordinator & Graduate Coordinator
SLU 10863
Hammond LA 70402
Telephone: 985-549-2309
Fax: 985-549-3758
jwilliams@selu.edu
