Today, school counselors do much more than help students get into college and give advice. School systems look to them as advocates for the success of all students.

The Nicholls State University Master of Education in School Counseling program prepares students to provide a variety of counseling and guidance services in diverse educational settings. The program meets the certification requirements for school counselors as specified by the Louisiana State Department of Education.

Graduate students learn to create successful learning environments through school and community collaborations and to promote student progress through counseling, guidance and consultation services. The program emphasizes clinical training and K-12 field experiences while providing the background knowledge necessary for an integrated approach to counseling, collaboration and program development.

The curriculum is designed for those who hope to seek employment as a Certified School Counselor (K-12) and/or a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Graduates of the MESC program have obtained jobs in various settings and regions in the state including the following:

1. school counselors in PK -12 settings, including public, private and alternative, and charter schools. They have been hired in school systems throughout the region, including Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, Iberia, St. John, St. James, St. Charles, Assumption, Ascension, Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.

2. In addition to school counselor positions, graduates have also been hired as behavioral Interventionists in schools.

3. Counseling positions in other agencies, such as Magnolia Services, Options for Independence, Early Steps, Clair House, Nicholls Academic Advising, Lafourche Drug Court, Louisiana Workforce, Lafourche Juvenile Justice and other social service agencies in the area.

4. Graduates sometimes opt to continue teaching in their school district as a master teacher, directors of curriculum, RTI director, etc.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are in the process of a self-study for the purpose of CACREP accreditation which was initiated during the Fall, 2011 semester.  Both programs have a tentative plan to submit an application for consideration in December, 2012.

Contact us:
Dr. Zoe Tanner
Department of Psychology and Counselor Education
P.O. Box 2075
Thibodaux, LA 70310
985.448.4348
zoe.tanner@nicholls.edu

MORE INFORMATION:

Admission Requirements

Application Information

Degree Requirements

Program Faculty

Counseling Training Clinic