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Specialist in Education at UGA Gwinnett

Program History

The Department of Counseling and Human Development Services at The University of Georgia launched a Professional School Counseling Educational Specialist’s Degree in Professional School Counseling to be offered at the Gwinnett University Center in 2003. The degree is designed for individuals who have a master’s degree in school counseling or a closely related field (e.g., community counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or social work) who wish to pursue advanced study in school counseling. Successful completion of this sequence results in recommendation for certification as a school counselor at the advanced level. The program is designed to be completed as a unified sequence of courses over two summers and the intervening academic year. All students are required to enroll as members of a 16-24 person cohort who will complete the program together.

Mission
The mission of the Ed.S. Program in Professional School Counseling is to provide students who have a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field, an advanced graduate program within which they can enhance and extend the knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the new vision for school counselor role and school counseling program development. The program is designed to support the professional development of school counselors who are committed to principles of social justice and who accept responsibility for the educational experiences and outcomes for all students. The focus of the Ed.S. program is on the continuing development of school counseling practitioners. The program is built upon the foundation provided by the CACREP counseling core, the program components associated with Transforming School Counseling Initiative, the ASCA National Model, and the Board of Regents Standards for the Preparation of School Counselors.

Objectives – The Ed.S. Program in Professional School Counseling is designed to:

• To reinforce the knowledge base associated with both the profession of counseling and the specialty of school counseling.
• To extend and enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes of school counselors in order to support the academic achievement, career preparedness, and personal/social development of PK – 12 students.
• To provide knowledge of and experience in supervision and consultation in school counseling.
• To provide knowledge of and experience in research in educational settings.
• To extend and enhance multicultural and social justice competencies of school counselors.
• To enhance understanding of the ASCA National Model for School Counseling.
• To develop a comprehensive understanding of the mission and activities of professional organizations related to school counseling.
• To expand understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders.
• To support the development of a collaborative model for engaging in effective partnerships.