School Counselor Master's Program Builds Character & Understanding

We've all been there. Those awkward elementary, middle and high school years that are very trying times for adolescents and teenagers. You remember - it was rough. However, you also know that having someone there to help you guide you through it can make it a lot more bearable, even enjoyable.

That’s where our school counselors with their master’s in counselor education come in. Through a school counselor master’s program, you can learn how to help steer adolescents through some tough times so they’ll emerge as responsible, prepared young adults.

All students in the school counselor master’s program at UL Lafayette take a curriculum that is based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) educational and ethical standards and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

As part of this curriculum, we focus on teaching you individualized and group counseling methods, how to develop and manage comprehensive school counseling programs, and core curriculum lessons. You’ll study social and cultural perspectives to better counsel diverse populations, especially in schools, where you’ll find students of every socioeconomic level, family background, and academic ability.

Students look to their counselors to help with personal, academic, and career goals, and with your school counselor master’s degree you can help them figure out what their goals are and how to achieve them. Ultimately, you are helping them understand their potential and how to fulfill it.

Helping adolescents solve the issues and problems they have at that age is intertwined with removing barriers to learning, achievement and success.

School counselors who earn their master’s in counselor education are prepared to evaluate, assess, and help students resolve challenges -- academic and otherwise -- that arise on school grounds everyday. They help students with their academic goals by helping them improve their academic confidence, develop a sincere interest in learning, and have pride in what they accomplish. For students to succeed, they need to accept their mistakes and understand that their persistence and effort pay off—and that there is no shame in asking for help when they need it.

Adolescents also need guidance when it comes to dealing with their peers. It’s imperative that school counselors help teens to develop healthy relationships with others, along with treating others and themselves with respect, especially at such a formative time in their lives.

In keeping with the ASCA standards, school counselor master’s program graduates know how they can help students see themselves. With the help of a school counselor, adolescents also learn how to identify and express their feelings in constructive, rather than destructive, ways.

In schools, where classes and settings can often be culturally and ethnically diverse, school counselors help students to recognize, accept, and appreciate that diversity and other students’ differences. Furthermore, school counselors can show them how to grow and learn from those who are different.

Are you ready to make a difference in students’ lives? Learn more about our master’s in counselor education >