You don't need a teaching background to become a school counselor — you need the right preparation. GCU's School Counseling M.Ed. gives you the skills, the 600-hour internship experience, and the NJ state certification to support students at every stage of their academic and personal journey.
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Unlike many school counseling programs, GCU's M.Ed. welcomes applicants from any bachelor's degree background — not just those who already hold a teaching certificate. Whether you're a career changer, a recent graduate with a counseling-focused undergraduate degree, or a working professional ready to shift to school settings, you're welcome here.
By the time you graduate, you'll have spent 600 supervised hours in school counseling settings — working directly with students on academic, personal-social, and career concerns; collaborating with teachers and administrators; facilitating groups; supporting college and transition planning; and performing the full scope of a school counselor's role. That's not just fieldwork — that's a career-launching credential.
GCU's School Counseling M.Ed. includes 18 credits of coursework that counts toward New Jersey's Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) certification — a valuable add-on that expands your role in schools around substance abuse counseling, crisis intervention, and student support coordination. If you want to pursue full SAC certification, just one additional course completes it.
Certified school counselors who want to advance can continue at GCU with the Director of School Counseling Services endorsement program (9 additional credits). With three years of post-certification experience and three targeted courses, you'll qualify for this NJ administrative credential — opening doors to district leadership in student support services.
Current GCU undergraduates in their junior year can apply to begin M.Ed. coursework while still completing their bachelor's degree, taking up to 12 graduate credits early. You could have your M.Ed. in hand just one year after graduating — a significant head start on a counseling career.
Every student deserves a school counselor who truly sees them — one who can address academic struggles, social and emotional challenges, college planning anxieties, and career questions with equal skill and care. GCU’s M.Ed. in School Counseling prepares you to be that counselor.
The 48-credit program builds your competency across all eight domains recognized by the field:
professional identity, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, helping relationships, group work, assessment, and research and program evaluation. Coursework includes school law, counseling theories and techniques, substance abuse counseling, psychology of the exceptional child, career counseling, and multicultural issues — all grounded in the realities of school counseling practice across PreK–12 grade levels.
What distinguishes this program is the quality and depth of its field experience. Early in the program, you’ll complete a 100-hour observational practicum as part of the Foundations of School Counseling course — your first structured window into the scope and daily practice of school counseling. You’ll move from observer to practitioner through subsequent skill-building coursework, and into a 600-hour supervised internship where you carry real counseling responsibilities: managing caseloads, running individual and group sessions, supporting transition services, and collaborating fully within a school counseling program.
Embedded SAC content means you’re simultaneously building eligibility for one of New Jersey’s most in-demand school support credentials — without extending your degree. For those who want to go further, the Director of School Counseling Services endorsement is just 9 credits away after certification and three years of experience.
GCU’s M.Ed. in School Counseling is a great fit if you:
New Jersey school counselors are in steady demand — and among the best compensated in the nation.
| Entry Level (0–3 Years) | NJ Median (All Experience) | Experienced (10+ Years) |
|---|---|---|
| $55,000–$70,000 | $75,280 | $90,000–$110,000+ |
NJ public school counselors typically earn salaries aligned with district teacher salary guides, which in many districts exceed $90,000 at senior steps.
Job Outlook
School and career counselor positions are projected to grow 11% from 2023 to 2033 — significantly faster than the national average for all occupations — with approximately 38,700 job openings per year driven by growing recognition of student mental health needs and increasing school counseling caseloads.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDC5001 | Philo & Psych Found of Incl Ed | 3.0 |
| EDC5010 | Curr Leadership for the Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC5014 | Methods of Res for Leaders in Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC5032 | Comm Serv for Stdts at-Risk & w/ Except | 3.0 |
| EDC5037 | Psych & Ed Assess of Studnts w/ Disabl | 3.0 |
| EDC5038 | Psychology of the Exceptional Child | 3.0 |
| EDC5040 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3.0 |
| EDC5101 | School Law | 3.0 |
| EDC6092 | School Counseling Internship I | 3.0 |
| EDC6093 | School Counseling Internship II | 3.0 |
| EDC6301 | Foundations of School Counseling | 3.0 |
| EDC6302 | Theory & Procedures of Counseling | 3.0 |
| EDC6303 | Counseling & Interview Techniques | 3.0 |
| EDC6304 | Career Counseling & Development | 3.0 |
| EDC6307 | Substance Abuse Counseling I | 3.0 |
| EDC6308 | Substance Abuse Counseling II | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 48.0 | |
GCU’s School Counseling M.Ed. is open to any applicant with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution — a teaching certificate is not required.
To be admitted, applicants must submit:
GCU Undergraduate Advanced Admission (4+1 Pathway): Current GCU undergraduates may apply for early admission after completing 75 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Qualifying students may take up to 12 graduate credits (4 courses) in their senior year, with full admission deferred until the bachelor’s degree is conferred.
Contact Graduate Admissions at 732-987-2770 or [email protected] with any questions.
Graduates of GCU’s School Counseling M.Ed. earn their degree and New Jersey educational services certification as a school counselor, and will be able to:
Q: Do I need a teaching certificate to become a school counselor in NJ? A: No. New Jersey does not require a teaching certificate to earn school counselor certification — you need an M.Ed. from an approved program, 600 supervised hours, and to pass the Praxis School Counselor exam. GCU’s program admits candidates without a teaching background.
Q: What does “600 supervised hours” mean in practice? A: You’ll complete 600 hours of field experience across two internship courses (EDC6092 and EDC6093), working directly in a school setting under the supervision of a certified school counselor and GCU faculty. This includes individual counseling sessions, group facilitation, academic advising, college planning, crisis response involvement, and collaboration with teachers and administrators.
Q: What is the SAC certification, and is it worth pursuing? A: The Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) is an NJ-certified school professional who addresses substance abuse, behavioral issues, and student wellness across a school or district. It’s one of the most in-demand school support credentials in NJ. Eighteen of the 21 SAC program credits are already embedded in GCU’s School Counseling M.Ed. — meaning you need only one additional course (the SAC internship) to earn the full SAC endorsement after graduation.
Q: Is there a required exam to become a certified school counselor? A: Yes — you’ll need to pass the Praxis School Counselor exam and apply to the NJ DOE for your educational services certificate in school counseling after completing the program.
Q: Can I work while completing this program? A: Most students in this program work while enrolled, at least during the coursework phase. The internship semesters are more demanding given the 600-hour field requirement — you’ll want to plan your schedule accordingly and discuss logistics with your advisor.
Q: How long does the program take? A: Typically 2–3 years for students enrolled part-time. Fulltime enrollment can accelerate completion. The internship cannot begin until you’ve completed prerequisite coursework, so the sequence matters.
Q: What’s the 4+1 pathway, and am I eligible? A: Current GCU undergraduates who have completed 75 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher can apply for early admission and begin taking graduate courses during their senior year. Up to 12 graduate credits can be completed before your bachelor’s degree is conferred, putting you significantly ahead on the M.Ed. upon graduation.
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