What Can I Do with a Master’s Degree in Professional School Counseling?

Graduates of the professional school counseling master’s degree program appreciate the program’s focus on application, allowing them to “hit the ground running” upon completion of their 48 credit hours. Blended course delivery combines the convenience of online study, as well as the real-time interaction that connects students to mentors, colleagues, and resources to ensure growth and success within the field.

The school counseling master’s program is supported and accredited by the North Central Association for colleges and the Iowa Department of Education. Curriculum is designed to meet the educational requirements for Iowa school counselor licensure and follows the ASCA model seen in school districts.

Why Study Professional School Counseling at BVU?

Learn Online and In Person

This two-year professional school counseling program is designed to be taken alongside your current career. You will spend 1 week at the beginning of each year learning at our Storm Lake campus. Then, you will complete coursework online and participate in a virtual meeting once each week in the evenings.

• Courses (48 credit hours)

  Professional School Counseling Year One

  BVU's Professional School Counseling courses begin each July (Term 6)

  • GMHC 519 Professional and Ethical Orientation to Counseling
  • GEDU 527 Assessment and Appraisal Techniques in Counseling
  • GEDU 528 Research Methods in Counseling
  • GMHC 530 Theories of Counseling
  • GMHC 540 Psychopathy and Psychological Disorders
  • GEDU 546 Methods and Procedures in Counseling
  • GEDU 549 Career Development and Assessment

  Professional School Counseling Year Two

  • GEDU 529 Human Development and Learning Through the Lifespan
  • GMHC 535 Program Evaluation and Consultation in Counseling
  • GMHC 544 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
  • GEDU 548 Group Counseling
  • GEDU 550 Supervised Practicum in Professional School Counseling
  • GEDU 551 Supervised Practicum II in School Counseling
  • GEDU 552 Counseling Children and Adolescents
  • GEDU 553 Internship I in Professional School Counseling
  • GEDU 554 Internship II in Secondary or GEDU 556 Internship II in Elementary School Counseling
  • GEDU 555 Capstone Professional Portfolio in School Counseling
  • GMHC 570 Advanced Counseling Practices and Crisis Interventions
• Application Requirements
  • Official transcripts 
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation  
  • BVU Analytical Writing Assessment  
  • Autobiographical Questions 
    • Describe significant personal experiences that influenced you to pursue the counseling profession. 
    • Describe significant professional experiences that influenced you to pursue the counseling profession. 
    • Discuss how you would make a contribution as a professional school counselor to the counseling profession, both within a local school district and the profession at large or as a mental health counselor to the counseling profession both within the local community and the profession at large.