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Change Lives.

Counselor Education, M.S.

Master of Science in Counselor Education

In Longwood’s CACREP accredited Counselor Education graduate program, you'll receive a solid foundation in counseling frameworks to help empower clients to change their lives.Cacrep_cm_BW. black and white

Program

Through in-person instruction, you’ll learn from dedicated faculty who have real-world clinical experiences and are active in professional counseling associations. Our faculty are strong mentors who are invested in providing the personal and professional support you’ll need to excel in a variety of counseling settings.

Our curriculum offers multicultural and social justice perspectives and is enhanced by our students who represent a wide range of ages and life experiences.  The coursework also satisfies all didactic training requirements for the Virginia Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) credential.

Tracks

We offer tracks in Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Our flexible program is year-round and includes full-time and part-time options. Students in all tracks will be prepared to assist clients in self-discovery, personal growth and in making healthy lifestyle choices. An initial practicum (100 hours) and a final internship (600 hours) are required in all tracks.

Do you have a degree in Mental Health Counseling and are looking for a pathway into School Counseling? Check out our Counseling Respecialization pathway.

Licensure

Our program is designed to fulfill the academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia under the Department of Health Professions. In addition, the school counseling track follows the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education licensure regulations for school counselors.

Career Paths

Our graduates become counselors who work in a variety of settings, including:

  • Community mental health agencies
  • K-12 school settings
  • Colleges and universities
  • Hospitals
  • Private practice settings

 

Admission Requirements

 Graduate of a four-year regionally accredited college or university.

  • Official bachelor’s degree transcripts from an accredited college or university and all transcripts for subsequent coursework
  • Minimum 2.75 overall undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale (options available if you do not meet this minimum)
  • Two Letters of Recommendation related to your competence and effectiveness in your academic and professional work
  • Resume
  • Essay of 250 to 500 words addressing your reasons for seeking graduate education in counseling, why this program would be a good fit for you, and why you would make a great counselor
  • Interview required - will be scheduled by program after complete application received
  • Criminal Background check required after admission to accept offer  

International Student applicants should review the international admission requirements and standards for TOEFL scores

Apply Here

Costs & Financial Aid

Longwood offers an outstanding and affordable education.

$27,660 - Estimated in-state cost
$461 per credit hour

$66,420 - Estimated out-of-state cost
$1,107 per credit hour

Graduate Assistantships are available.

Visit Graduate student tuition estimates and hours for information.

Visit Longwood's Financial Aid webpage.

Field Experiences

Practicum and Internship

Students in both tracks are required to complete a 100-hour supervised practicum experience towards the beginning of their second year of study. Each track also requires 600 hours of supervised internship experience at or near the end of their program of study.

The mental health counseling internship is typically distributed across two semesters. The school counseling internship is typically completed in one semester.

Licensure

Licensure in Virginia

School Counseling

  1. Visit doe.virginia.gov
  2. Select Licensure on the right-hand side
  3. Complete the Application for a Virginia License – Pupil Personnel Services License
  4. Receive college verification from the Longwood University Office of Teacher Preparation

Mental Health Counseling

Visit the Virginia Department of Health Professions website for:

Licensure in Other States

Visit our Professional Licensure Public Disclosure page and select the state or territory to find information about Counseling licensure in that area.

Deadlines

December 1 - Early Bird Decision Application Submission Date (decision made by the holidays)

January 15 – Early Application Submission Date

February 15 – Standard Application Submission Date

These are suggested application submission dates. We will continue to accept applications until the program is full.

Want to check if the program is full? Email us, graduate@longwood.edu.

Mission Statement

Through a collaborative and supportive environment, the Longwood University graduate Counselor Education Program fosters competent, ethical, and culturally sensitive counselors prepared to deliver direct, educational, and consultative services in a variety of mental health-related settings to people across the lifespan.

The Master’s program in Counselor Education will

  1. Prepare students to be effective practitioners in a variety of settings
  2. Provide required coursework and field experience for professional licensure and/or certification (clinical, school, college/university)
  3. Provide knowledge about and experience in culturally responsive counseling in various counseling settings
  4. Produce graduates with identities as professional counselors
  5. Prepare students with the knowledge and experience to be ethical counseling practitioners

Cohort Specific Course Sequences

Sample course sequences for our upcoming cohorts.

Mental Health Track, Accelerated Course Sequence (pdf)

Mental Health Track, Standard Course Sequence (pdf)

Mental Health Track, Part-time Course Sequence (pdf)

School Counseling Track, Standard Course Sequence (pdf)

School Counseling Track, Part-time Course Sequence (pdf)

Email Program Director, Dr. Marsha Rutledge rutledgeml@longwood.edu if you have a question about the course sequence for a specific cohort or application deadlines.

Program Flyer

View, download, and print the Master of Science in Counseling (pdf) flyer.

CACREP Accreditation

CACREP Accreditation Reports for Longwood University’s Master of Science in Counselor Education:

Visit the
Department of Education and Counseling
Request Information
Apply to the Counselor Education, M.S.

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College of Graduate Studies

"I chose Longwood for my M.S. because I felt that both the professors and my peers were invested in my success. I was attracted to Longwood’s accredited Counselor Education program, with opportunities for on-campus assistantships that paid for classes. This combined with fast track, normal, or part-time options for completing the program made it both accessible and impressive. I was able to form close relationships with my professors, and with my current classmates who will be my future colleagues. This program prepared me for a bright future as a counselor."

Abigail Rogers M.S.’24

Contact

Graduate & Professional Studies

(434) 395-2380

graduate@longwood.edu

Dr. Marsha Rutledge

Program Director | Assistant Professor

(434) 395-4915

rutledgeml@longwood.edu

A Closer Look

Student Organizations

Student Organizations

Faculty

Faculty

What Our Alumni Say

What Our Alumni Say

Graduate Spotlight

Graduate Spotlight

Next Steps