School Counseling Master’s Programs: What You’ll Learn

School counselors are essential to student support systems. Their guidance extends beyond academics into personal development, career planning and crisis intervention.¹ Becoming a licensed school counselor requires advanced training in psychopathology, harm reduction, ethics in counseling, and theories and techniques of psychotherapy. William & Mary’s Online Master of Education in Counseling program with a concentration in School Counseling equips aspiring counselors with the tools needed to make a meaningful difference.

Read on to discover what you'll study in a school counseling master's program—from foundational theories to hands-on training—and how this preparation equips you to transform students' lives.

Core Curriculum

The curriculum in an accredited school counseling program begins by laying the foundation of counseling theories and techniques. As a student, you’ll consider the professional, legal and ethical issues in counseling. You’ll explore different modalities from which counselors may draw, as well as their theoretical backgrounds. From this broad base, you’ll advance to more complex coursework on human development and learning psychology.

The material you cover from here can help you select future areas of focus. Career development courses prepare you to guide high school students through the confusing process of choosing a direction; the study of research methods ensures that you have a firm grasp of data analysis and educational testing, in order to create best practices. You can become a lifeline for often-overlooked students by studying trends and legal issues affecting students with disabilities.

Specialized Courses

When you have a clear vision of the kind of work you want to do after completing your degree, you need an online school counselor program that offers specialized courses—academic advising, for example, as well as crisis intervention and career counseling. William & Mary sets itself apart with a thorough curriculum that includes all of these specialized areas and more, enabling students to develop and implement comprehensive school counseling systems. Courses prepare you for the full scope of school counseling work, from academic and career guidance to personal and family support.

These specialized courses build on the foundational knowledge from your core curriculum, helping you to develop targeted expertise while maintaining the comprehensive preparation needed for diverse school settings. Whether you're drawn to crisis intervention, career development or multicultural counseling, you'll graduate with depth in your areas of interest and breadth across the entire spectrum of school counseling competencies.

Expertise in multicultural and diversity counseling is an essential part of the W&M education. The American School Counselor Association holds cultural competence and humility to be of paramount importance, as they equip school counselors with the necessary sensitivity and knowledge to work with students from widely diverse backgrounds.²

Practical Training

Beyond coursework, aspiring counselors must complete supervised practicum and internships.

• Practicum is a chance for you, as a student, to put your knowledge into counseling practice under the direct supervision of faculty or site supervisors
• Internship is the next level of this process, as it involves reduced oversight and greater freedom. You’ll check in regularly with your supervisors for feedback, group instruction and advice³ 

While the exact number of mandated hours will vary from state to state, practicum typically consists of 100 hours, while internships must meet 600 hours. Consequently, the demands on time for second- and third-year counseling students can be significant, but this real-world counseling experience is irreplaceable: It builds confidence, communication and leadership skills and problem-solving abilities.

These supervised experiences also help you integrate classroom theory with practice, bridging the gap between academic concepts and the complex realities of working with students. The practicum and internship allow you to develop your professional identity as a counselor, refine your approach based on direct feedback, and begin building the professional networks that will support your career long after graduation.

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Supporting students’ mental health and well-being is not a matter of guesswork. Research and evidence-based practice will not only set you up for success in passing licensure exams, but also in your future practice. The use of data to guide student success transforms school counselors from reactive responders into proactive agents of change. As a school counselor, you’ll draw insights from information ranging from demographics and enrollment trends to shifts in grades or behavior. For example, tracking attendance patterns might reveal that certain student groups face barriers to consistent school participation, allowing you to develop targeted interventions. Needs assessments will become vital tools as you develop and evaluate programs and monitor their outcomes.⁴

Skills You’ll Gain

Ethical practice underpins every skill a school counselor uses. Active listening and empathy allow you to hear students' needs and agree on boundaries. Advocacy for equal access and inclusion of all students supports the identities and individual needs of those students. Imagine how empowering it is for students to have an adult in a leadership position validate their lived experiences, rather than encouraging them to conform.

Mediating student disagreements can be a daunting task at best. Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills allow future school counselors to act with grace, humility and agility in the search for fairness and mutual understanding.⁵

Empower Young People by Becoming a School Counselor

Now more than ever, we need trained school counselors. In the 2022-2023 school year, 40% of public schools stated they struggled to fill mental health professional roles adequately.⁶ The Online M.Ed. in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling from William & Mary offers a flexible route to full licensure and deeply impactful work in the nation's school system. This program's uniquely immersive residencies complement the intimate online classes with experiential learning and enormous networking possibilities. A diverse range of coursework led by world-class faculty means that graduates are not limited to one area of specialization.

The benefits of school counseling on student populations are tangible: A counselor-to-student ratio of 1:250 resulted in higher test scores, better graduation rates and increased college attendance compared to schools with poorer ratios.⁷ Be part of the movement to empower the next generation. Explore the admissions requirements for W&M's Online M.Ed. in Counseling program and schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor today.