The Master of Science (MS) in Counseling degree is designed to prepare individuals to be social justice advocates and leaders in the counseling profession. The mission of the School of Education’s Counseling program is to prepare graduate students to serve as socially just School and Clinical Mental Health Counselors who implement theoretical, empirical, and practical frameworks that facilitate client growth and development, introspective awareness, and well- being in a global society. Our programs offer a nationally recognized evidenced-based counseling curriculum aligned with national and state standards, distinguished faculty with extensive counseling experience, a strong support system through partnerships with school districts and mental health settings, and access to the resources of a world-renowned institution. Students can choose to specialize in one of two concentrations:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- School Counseling
Students have a maximum of five years to complete the program, but are strongly encouraged to follow the prescribed program of study.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The 60-credit master’s degree in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares students to work in a wide range of clinical, community, and human service settings. The program provides future counselors with the knowledge and skills critical to the practice of clinical mental health counseling. It provides the required academic credits toward licensure in the state of Maryland and many other states. Moreover, the program is designed to meet the needs of students from diverse backgrounds who have a wide range of professional goals. Undergraduate degrees from a variety of disciplines (e.g. communication, sociology, anthropology, foreign languages, religion, philosophy, education, psychology) are considered for program admissions.
School Counseling
The part-time School Counseling Flexible Program, which is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), requires the completion of a minimum of 48 graduate credits for graduation. Graduates of the program are eligible for MSDE certification as a school counselor.
Note: Students also have the option of completing a 60-credit degree program that satisfies the course requirements for both certification as a school counselor and licensure as a clinical professional counselor in Maryland.
The program’s content includes the following areas: professional orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, helping relationships, group work, assessment, and research/program evaluation. Students are instructed via didactic experiences, small group experiences, and applied learning at community- or school- based sites (e.g., agencies, schools).
Admissions Requirements
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Applicants to the program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all previous undergraduate and graduate studies (including incomplete programs of study and for programs still in progress). Applicants must submit an application, official transcripts from all accredited post-secondary institutions attended, a résumé or curriculum vitae, an essay, dispositions survey, and two letters of recommendation. The content of the essay should address why the candidate wants to be a counselor, the type of contributions the candidate would want to make to the clinical mental health field, a discussion of how the candidate’s background and professional experiences may support and/or constrain their becoming an effective counselor, and an exploration of how the candidate’s experiences regarding human diversity, volunteerism, travel and/or work have impacted his/her desire to be a counselor. Selected qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a group admission interview.
In order to assess applicant dispositions, faculty will review the required essay and dispositions survey and evaluate responses at the group interviews. The admissions committee reserves the option to require that applicants successfully complete prerequisite coursework prior to admission.
School Counseling (Flexible Program)
Applicants to the program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all previous undergraduate and graduate studies (including incomplete programs of study and for programs still in progress). Applicants must submit an application, official transcripts from all accredited post-secondary institutions attended, a résumé or curriculum vitae, a personal statement of goals, dispositions survey, and two letters of recommendation. Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a group admission interview.
In order to assess applicant dispositions, School of Education faculty will review the required goals statement and dispositions survey and evaluate responses in the group interview. The admissions committee reserves the option to require that program applicants successfully complete prerequisite coursework prior to admission.
Program Requirements
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The program’s plan of study requires 60 graduate credits to be completed through full-time or part-time matriculation and students must successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) prior to or during the last semester of their graduate program. With the approval of the program adviser, a student may transfer a maximum of six graduate credits from an accredited college or university if the course directly aligns to the student’s degree requirements and is taken within the five-year time limit. Students admitted prior to Fall 2020, can opt to complete 600 or 1,000 hours of internship activity. Students admitted Fall 2020 and beyond complete 600 hours for internship
For a complete list of program plan requirements, please visit: https://education.jhu.edu/academics/ms_counseling/#programplan
School Counseling
For students admitted prior to Fall 2020, the program’s plan of study offers a 48- or 60-credit option that may be completed through full-time or part-time matriculation and require students to successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) prior to or during the last semester of their graduate program. These students also have the option to complete the 60-credit degree also that allows students to complete the School Counseling program as well as coursework toward licensure as a clinical mental health counselor. The Counseling program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Students admitted Fall 2020 and beyond, the program’s plan of study offers a 60-credit option that may be completed through full-time or part-time matriculation and require students to successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) prior to or during the last semester of their graduate program. The Counseling program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
With the approval of a faculty adviser, a student may transfer a maximum of six graduate credits from an accredited college or university if the course is directly applicable to the student’s program. In their last year of study, students complete a 600-hour internship.
For a complete list of program plan requirements, please visit: https://education.jhu.edu/academics/ms_counseling/#programplan
Master of Science in Counseling
Mission Statement
The mission of the Johns Hopkins School of Education Counseling Program is to prepare graduate students to serve as socially just school counselors and clinical mental health counselors who implement theoretical, empirical, and practical frameworks that facilitate client growth and development, introspective awareness, and well-being in a global society.
Facilitate students’ mastery of requisite
Programmatic Goals
- Facilitate students’ mastery of requisite knowledge, skills, and dispositions aligned with CACREP Standards to deliver counseling services that embody social justice principles, advocacy, multiculturalism, and upholds the worth and human dignity of all clients from culturally diverse backgrounds.
- Support and encourage students to incorporate a developmental approach to promote client wellness across the life span.
- Facilitate students’ development of dispositions to serve as social justice advocates and leaders in the profession.
- Cultivate a collaborative learning atmosphere that incorporates cutting edge research and excellent didactic and experiential instruction.
Program Objectives
- PO1 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to incorporate a developmental approach to promote student/client holistic well-being across the life span, inclusive of mental health, academic, social/emotional, cultural, and career goals. (CACREP F.3 Human Growth & Development, F.4 Career Development)
- PO2 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to serve as advocates and leaders in educational and/or mental health settings that value social justice principles, multiculturalism, human dignity and the worth of all clients from culturally diverse backgrounds (CACREP F.2 Social & Cultural Diversity; 5.G. School Counseling)
- PO3 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to assess needs, develop goals, and counsel students/clients in educational and/or mental health settings from culturally diverse backgrounds. (CACREP F.5 Counseling & Helping Relationships; F.7 Assessment & Testing)
- PO4 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies that reflect the knowledge, roles, and functions of the school and/or mental health counselor. (CACREP 5.C. Clinical Mental Health Counseling; 5.G. School Counseling)
- PO5 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to effectively facilitate group work with students/clients from diverse backgrounds in educational and mental health settings (CACREP F.6 Group Counseling & Group Work)
- PO6 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to develop equitable data-driven school counseling programs that meet the unique needs of student populations in educational settings. (CACREP F.8 Research & Program Evaluation; 5.G. School Counseling)
- PO7 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to develop, apply, and evaluate evidence-based practices that meet the developmental needs of students/clients from diverse backgrounds in educational and mental health settings. (CACREP F.8 Research and Program Evaluation; 5.G School Counseling; 5.C. Clinical Mental Health Counseling)
- PO8 Graduates will demonstrate the skills and competencies to work ethically, legally, and professionally in educational and/or mental health settings (CACREP F.1. Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice)