Ed.M. with Certification in School Counseling

The Ed.M. program with school counseling certification at the GSE is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and is designed to prepare culturally competent professional school counselors. Students exiting this 60-credit degree program are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for counseling in grades preschool through 12, These include capabilities to study and assess individual students, counsel students regarding personal, social educational and vocational plans and programs, collaborate with school administrators, teachers, and parents to advocate for student success, and develop cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and their families. In alignment with the GSE’s mission, the program has a multicultural programmatic focus dedicated to empowering all students, supporting parent engagement, and eliminating the achievement gap. Expert faculty will lead students through curriculum encompassing counseling, psychology, sociological and cultural influences, college and career-readiness, assessment, evaluation, statistics, and research while encouraging self-reflection and personal growth in our developing school counselors, so they are capable of acting as counselors, leaders, advocates, and consultants in the communities they serve.

After the program is completed and the master’s degree is awarded, the GSE will make a recommendation to the New Jersey State Department of Education on behalf of the graduate to receive their Standard Certificate as a School Counselor.

Program Goals as of 2022-2023
(Last updated: 5/09/2023)

Knowledge/Understanding

• School Counseling students will develop knowledge and expertise necessary to implement a comprehensive school counseling program to address academic, career, and social-emotional development of their own students , as well as a deep understanding of contemporary issues that impact school counseling practice.
• Students will learn and apply theories and models of counseling and school counseling, as well as research in the field, to inform their professional practice as school counselors.
• Students will learn to effectively integrate their developing knowledge of Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs ( CACREP), American Counseling Association (ACA), and American School Counselor Association (ASCA) professional competencies and standards into their roles as counselors, leaders, advocates, and consultants.

Communication/Community Building

• Students will engage in communities of practice in their coursework and develop community relationships through their work in their school counseling practicum and internship settings.
• School Counseling students will develop their written and oral presentation skills and other interpersonal skills that contribute to effective communication, including giving and receiving feedback, engaging their own students, collaborating with parents, colleagues, and administration, and effectively advocating for their students and school communities.
• Students will develop professional relationships through participation in clinical placements and organizations such as ASCA and the New Jersey School Counselor Association (NJSCA) .

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

• Students will engage in practices that promote DEI and social justice in school counseling through coursework that explores the concepts of diversity and equity and their importance in school settings.
• Students will develop skills relevant to cultural humility and culturally responsive pedagogy through class assignments and continual self-reflection. Students will learn about themselves and others through activities that reflect an understanding and appreciation of cultural and human differences.
• Students will understand the importance of the role of social justice and advocacy in educational and counseling settings and promote educational equity by establishing a counseling environment where diverse backgrounds and perspectives (educational, cultural, personal, social, economic) are valued and respected and inequities are addressed.

Research/Professional Practice

• Students will be introduced to research methods and develop an understanding of how to apply these methods to practice.
• Students will learn to examine, interpret, and evaluate research evidence that enables them to become more sophisticated consumers of educational and counseling research.
• Students will conduct original research and interpret and evaluate evidence from other peer-reviewed research to inform their professional practice and address problems of practice that may require change in policy and programs.
• Students will gain essential experience in school counseling practice through diverse classroom opportunities and practicum and internship placements.

• Students will learn about assessment models and approaches, including data-driven frameworks for comprehensive school counseling program (CSCP) and Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and how to effectively apply these methods to effective design and implementation of assessment.

Professional Development/Self-Reflection

• Students will engage in multiple opportunities for self-reflection through coursework that incorporates self-reflection as a key component of applying theory to practice and addressing one’s biases and assumptions as students build a professional counseling identity.
• Student will participate in opportunities for critical self-reflection, personal development, and the exploration of professional goals and interests through their practicum and internship experience.
• Students will participate in professional development activities through active engagement in clinical placements, professional school counseling organizations such as ASCA and NJSCA, and professional development trainings and webinars.
• Students will develop essential skills for working as a professional school counselor, including effective counseling skills and interventions; interpersonal communication; time and task management; advocacy and leadership; professional ethics; and self-care.

For more information about this program:

• Download the program guide ( includes course list and application requirements )
• As required by CACREP, the School Counseling program publicly reports outcomes annually. These reports can be found on our Accreditation page.
• Contact Matt Winkler, Assistant Dean for Advisement in the Office of Student and Academic Services

Program Details

Degree + School Counselor Certification

Graduates of the Ed.M. with school counseling certification program will develop the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be effective, culturally competent professional school counselors. They will become familiar with the counseling, coordinating, and consulting responsibilities of the profession, learn to exercise culturally appropriate counseling practices informed by counseling research, demonstrate capacity for empowering students, families and communities, and adhere to ACA and ASCA ethical standards. The program curriculum will provide a range of didactic and experiential learning opportunities, and student exiting the program will be proficient and excel in developing and implementing comprehensive school counseling programs and support services based on data-driven and ethical decision making models that promote academic achievement, personal-emotional development, and career development for all students. For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the course catalog and online schedule of classes.

• 60 Graduate Course Credits
  • 21 Credits – Counseling Core Courses
  • 6 Credits – Testing Courses
    
  • 6 Credits – Psychology Elective Courses
  • 3 Credits – Sociological and Cultural Foundations Course
  • 3 Credits – Statistics or Research Course
  • 3 Credits – Community Agencies, Organizations, and Resources Course
    
  • 9 Credits – Supervised Counseling Practicum
  • 9 Credits – Electives

  Click here for a sample course schedule for a full-time student.

  Graduates are expected to complete the required course sequence and satisfy their general education requirements, liberal arts credits, and complete their portfolio concurrently through completion of their coursework. Accepted students have 5 years to complete the program.

  Graduates of the Ed.M. program with school counselor certification will be proficient and excel in developing and implementing comprehensive school counseling programs and support services based on data-driven and ethical decision making models that promote academic achievement, personal-emotional development, and career development for all students. Coinciding with successful completion of the program requirements, graduates typically receive their school counselor endorsement and go on to be school counselors or educational service personel in New Jersey public, private, or charter schools. Obtaining school counseling certification authorizes graduates to perform school counseling services including the study and assessment of individual pupils with respect to their status, abilities, interest and needs; counseling with administrators, teachers, students, and parents regarding personal, social, educational, and vocational plans and programs; and developing cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and families.

  • Personal Statement
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Undergraduate Transcripts
  • Official Graduate Transcripts (if applicable)
  1. Collect the materials required for admission
  2. Submit your application online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
  3. Submit supporting materials online
  4. Any supporting materials that cannot be submitted electronically should be mailed to Graduate Admissions’ New Brunswick office. Their mailing address can be found here: https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/about/contact-us

  Tuition : For tuition and fees information please visit the tuition landing page . Financial Aid: While students are encouraged to apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are a number of other merit- and need-based support options, including loans and college work-study programs within and external to Rutgers. For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website. Scholarships, Fellowships & Assistantships : Generous GSE alumni, friends, and community members have established and continue to donate to more than one dozen fellowships and scholarships to help deserving students reach their goals. These awards are granted on the basis of academic achievement and or financial need. While these awards are competitive, interested students are encouraged to apply for consideration and submit the required materials. Students must also submit a FAFSA application to be eligible. To review all current awards and learn more about the donors that established them, please click here .