The Master of Education in Counselor Education (CNSL) program prepares individuals as elementary and secondary school counselors. Instruction is provided in working with students K-12 to help them benefit from their educational experiences; address educational, social, and personal problems; and prepare for careers and further education. The program is theory based and practice oriented.

The counselor education program also provides course work and training for individuals who already hold a master’s degree and wish to add certification as a school counselor and course work for individuals holding master’s degrees in related areas who need specific additional hours to qualify for their professional counseling license (LPC). School counselor certification requires an evaluation of transcripts by the program coordinator. Evaluation of transcripts by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling is required to identify specific courses needed to qualify for the professional counseling license (LPC). For more information about the graduate program in counselor education, visit the program’s website.

Admissions Requirements

Regular and Conditional Admission

All applicants must have:

• Eligibility for educator licensure. (Arkansas or other state)
• Interview and favorable recommendations from program faculty.
• Completed College of Education and Health Professions Biographical Data Form.
• Current résumé.

Regular Admission (additional requirements)

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75, or
• Grade point average of at least 3.0 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate courses, or
• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0

Conditional Admission

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of no lower than 2.5, and a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score of at least 144 on the Verbal Scale, 141 on the Quantitative Scale, and 3.5 on the Analytical Writing Scale, or
• Completion of at least 12 semester hours of graduate course work in another UALR graduate program or graduate program from another regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and no grade lower than a B.

Licensure

Students seeking school counselor licensure in Arkansas are required to have eligibility for an Arkansas Educator License. Eligibility requires a passing score on the Praxis CORE and Praxis II in the subject area of the license along with a completed degree or program of study in the area of the license. At UALR, the program of study or the master’s degree in Counselor Education is required for licensure in school counseling in Arkansas. A background check of criminal and/or other records is required by the Department of Education. See the Arkansas Department of Education for information regarding background checks. Candidates seeking licensure or certification in school counseling in other states need to check the requirements of the states where they plan to be employed.

Program Requirements

The Counselor Education degree requires a minimum of 36-48 credit hours depending on prior graduate work and undergraduate prerequisites, including 6 to 12 education core hours, depending on undergraduate preparation, 24 M.Ed. counseling core hours, nine supervised practice hours, SPED 7301 Foundations of Special Education  or undergraduate equivalent, and six to nine approved elective hours depending on prior graduate work. Arkansas licensure in school counseling requires 48 graduate credit hours. If students have prior graduate work or a graduate degree, credit may be granted toward the 48-hour requirement for licensure but not the minimum 36 credit hours for the M.Ed. degree. For students without prior graduate credits, the degree is 48 credit hours. A student’s progress is evaluated after 12 semester hours, and the student’s advisor approves advancement to candidacy if progress is satisfactory. In addition, state certification requires a score of at least 600 on the Praxis II School Guidance and Counseling, examination.

Completion of the degree requires successful completion of a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination will be evaluated by program and department faculty for the student’s ability to synthesize knowledge in response to questions covering all areas of his / her study. It is offered three times a year on specified dates. Students who perform inadequately may retake the exam as many as two times, but additional course work or study may be required before the second retake.