(If students have worked three years as a licensed teacher, the credit requirement is reduced to forty-six (46) semester hours). This program is currently designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure from the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) as a Professional School Counselor. Students complete the coursework and fieldwork requirements within two years of beginning the program,
depending on time commitment and their availability to participate in summer courses. NOTE: Successful completion of this program requires enrollment in summer classes. Students should plan on attending late afternoon/evening classes beginning in May of the year they are admitted. Daytime attendance is required beginning in June and continuing through early July of the year students are admitted. A similar course sequence is required in the second summer of a student's program of study. Courses required for completion of the School Counseling Specialization are not offered every semester. Consequently, students should work closely with their faculty advisors to plan schedules to minimize complications that could delay graduation. Students who have taken prior graduate coursework in areas related to this program should consult with their faculty advisor to determine if any modifications to their program of study are necessary. Located in the largest metropolitan area in the Intermountain West, the Educational Psychology School Counseling Specialization program at the University of Utah has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1933. NWCCU is a body that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The program is currently approved by the Utah State Office of Education for training school counselors. Graduates in our program meet the educational requirements of the State of Utah and are prepared to function effectively as school counselors within the Utah public school system that currently reflects a complex and diverse society. The faculty that make up the School Counseling Specialization strive to provide theoretical and practical foundations in the following areas: foundational knowledge in counseling; counseling and career education for K-12 students; organization and administration of school counseling and guidance services; and the integration of professional and ethical practices in school counselor identity development.
