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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Nov. 29, 2012) — Milligan College is expanding its Master of Science in counseling program to include options for students who want to become licensed school counselors.
The college announced the addition of the school counseling program at today’s Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Milligan is now accepting applications for the program, which is set to begin in fall 2013.
“This year, we welcomed the first class of students into the clinical counseling program, and it’s been very well received,” said Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer. “The school counseling program is our next step as we continue to develop our graduate programs to meet the demand and needs of our students. A master’s in school counseling, which like all of our programs will be taught from a Christian worldview, fits well with Milligan’s mission.”
Most of the classes for the school counseling program will be offered two evenings per week to accommodate the schedules of working adults. Some online courses also will be available.
“The school counseling program is a hybrid effort of both Milligan’s education and psychology faculty, and the education faculty was instrumental in encouraging it,” said Dr. Lori Mills, director of Milligan’s MSC program.
The school counseling program includes options for students with and without their teaching licensure.
“You do not have to be a licensed teacher to pursue a master’s in school counseling,” Mills said. “But we include additional courses and orientation experiences to provide students who do not have teaching licensure the opportunity to observe, participate in and analyze classroom instruction.”
The school counseling program can be completed in 21 to 24 months. Teachers who have licensure can complete the program in 48 credit hours; the program is 54 credit hours for students without teaching licensure. Both the licensure and non-licensure tracks include an internship that is built into the hours.
Students who complete Milligan’s school counseling program, which is currently pending approval from the state licensure board, will be prepared to take the Professional School Counselor Praxis II exam to become licensed school counselors.
Employment of school and career counselors is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rising student enrollments in elementary, middle and high schools are expected to increase demand for school counselors. As enrollments grow, schools will require more counselors to respond to the needs of their students.
To learn more about Milligan’s school or clinical counseling programs, email GPS@milligan.edu or call 423.461.8796. A complete list of admission requirements is available at www.milligan.edu/counseling.