Program: College Counseling and Student Development

On-Campus Option

Students who enroll full-time and begin their studies in the summer session of their first year in the program can conceivable complete the program in two years by adhering to the following sequence:

• Summer Session I
• Summer Session II
• Fall Semester
• Spring Semester
• Summer Session I
• Summer Session II
• Fall Semester
• Spring Semester

Students who are unable to follow this sequence will need at least three years to complete the program as all internships are conducted during the spring semester.

Online Option

The online curriculum is a three-year, part-time cohort program that requires students to take courses year-round including summer. Students begin in Summer Session I, and typically take two online classes in fall and in spring.

Course descriptions can be found in the university course catalog.

Core Courses

• ECD 510 – Orientation to Professional Counseling, Identity, and Ethics (3 credits)
• ECD 524 – Career Counseling and Development (3 credits)
• ECD 525 – Multicultural Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 530 – Theories of Counseling (4 credits)
• ECD 535 – Introduction to College Counseling and Student Development (4 credits)
• ECD 539 – Group Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 540 – Gender Issues in Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 541 – Substance Abuse Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 542 – Research Issues (3 credits)
• ECD 545 – Counseling Couples and Families (3 credits)
• ECD 546 – Crisis Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 561 – Strategies for Clinical Assessment in Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 562 – Techniques in Counseling (4 credits)
• ECD 575 – Multicultural Life Span Human Development (3 credits)
• ECD 642 – Practicum in Counseling (3 credits)
• ECD 652 – Internship in College Counseling and Student Development (6 credits)
• ECD 652 – Internship in College Counseling and Student Development (6 credits)

During the admissions process, students have the opportunity to apply for residence director positions within University Housing. The University Housing department interviews the candidates and, in conjunction with the Counselor Education program, identifies candidates for admission. If a student is selected for a residence director position, the student is required to complete the degree program in a minimum of three years.

Students are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) in the final semester of the program. Completion of a master’s degree in counseling and passing the NCE are two of the prerequisites for becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, a career goal for many of our students.

• Completed online application, resume and non-refundable application fee
• Our masters program is no longer requiring the GRE/MAT exam.
• Three recommendations from people who know your academic record and potential for graduate study (letters should be uploaded online)
• A personal statement answering the prompts detailed in the application. Personal statements should not exceed 5 pages, double spaced, using 12 point Times New Roman
• Official* transcripts of all post-secondary education
• Official** statement of English Proficiency (TOEFL) for international students

Our admissions requirements align with the CACREP standards and admission decision recommendations, which includes consideration of each applicant’s

1. relevance of career goals,
2. aptitude for graduate-level study,
3. potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, and
4. respect for cultural differences.

Applications and all supporting documents must be received on or before the Graduate School priority deadlines or the program deadlines. International students should also consider their specific deadlines, whichever is earlier.

The Graduate School
North Carolina State University
Research Building III, Room 240
1005 Capability Drive, Box 7102
Raleigh, NC  27695

Review the Estimated Cost of Attendance associated with this master’s degree for the upcoming semester tuition and fees. Note that tuition and fees are subject to change.

For a complete and detailed description of the programs’ objectives and organization, as well as regulations, procedures and resources for all students, please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook.

Both the on-campus and online deliveries are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

NC State is accredited by SACS until 2024 and all the counseling programs are eligible for renewal of accreditation by CACREP March 31, 2024.

Adopting the School-College-Community Collaboration Model, we prepare students who can work with professionals in different fields to promote wellness and benefits of the clients. In addition to the traditional core on developmental theory and the design and implementation of preventive interventions based on this theory, the program focuses on clinical counseling theory and practice. Another major focus is the commitment to multicultural diversity, which is reflected in the required coursework and in the faculty-student community.

Founded in 1946, the Counselor Education Program at North Carolina State University has had a long and rich history of contributing to the needs of North Carolina and the nation.

In the design of the curriculum and throughout each course, the student’s competence in theory and practice is important. Students participate in individualized field experiences appropriate to their area of study in settings on and away from campus.

In light of our focus on multicultural diversity, we are particularly interested in attracting students from culturally-diverse backgrounds. In recent years, we have increased the proportion of culturally-different students from less than 5% to almost 20% of our degree candidates. Our curriculum content acknowledges the significance of cross-cultural perspectives in counseling theory, research and practice.

Mission

The Counselor Education Program at NC State shares the university’s land-grant mission. Through our Scientist-Practitioner and School-College-Community Collaboration Model, we train culturally competent counselors and counselor educators who are able to work collaboratively across settings to effectively lead, serve and advocate for the academic, career, personal and social development of children, adults, families and communities.

Vision

Our vision is to advance the frontiers of knowledge. Advanced video, computer, and networking technologies do and will continue to link Counselor Education graduate students and faculty with regional, state, national and international partners in teaching, research and service endeavors designed to offer hope to persons with the least access to educational and career opportunities afforded by life in the 21st century.

Faculty in the Counselor Education Program:

• Alex Becnel, Assistant Professor, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Rawn Boulden, Assistant Professor, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Cristina Braga, Assistant Teaching Professor, Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Nicole Childs, Assistant Teaching Professor, GCCE Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Briana Gaines, Assistant Teaching Professor, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Marc Grimmett, Professor, Program Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Rolanda Mitchell, Assistant Professor, Online School Counseling Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Sylvia Nassar, Professor, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Brean’a Parker, Assistant Professor, On-Campus Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Jose Picart, Senior Faculty Fellow, Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, Professor of Counselor Education, ELPHD Department and Executive Director, Wake Partnership for Postsecondary Success
• Angela Smith, Teaching Professor, Online College Counseling and Student Development Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Terri Tilford, Assistant Teaching Professor, Clinical Coordinator, Counselor Education, ELPHD Department
• Siu-Man Raymond Ting, Professor, and Director of Graduate Programs, On-Campus College Counseling and Student Development Coordinator, ELPHD Department