School Counseling FAQs

Candidates can obtain a full listing of our admission requirements on the School of Education Admission Requirement website. Once you submit the application, you will be able to view your application document checklist. 

The program accepts Bachelor’s degrees in any discipline from any accredited program.

Once the applications are reviewed, the admission committee does offer an interview day by invitation only. If you are invited to interview you must take part in an interview with the program.  

Yes. Students may apply for federal financial aid by submitting a FAFSA form and Institutional form. In addition, the program offers a limited number of scholarships each year. There is no separate scholarship application.  

Students have the option to apply for graduate assistantships.

Loyola does not offer graduate housing, but there are plenty of housing options (apartments, rentals) available in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. Loyola’s Graduate Student Services website also lists information about housing and other information about living in the area. On campus housing is available to graduate students who work as a Graduate Residence Coordinator (GRC).

Both our Master of Arts and Master of Education programs lead to certification as a school counselor, and coursework may meet the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Maryland.  There are no advantages to pursuing one track over the other. Candidates select tracks based upon their interests.

Our MA program is focused on preparing the research practitioner.  M.A. candidates complete a six-credit thesis seminar over two semesters where they are mentored in research methods to either evaluate their practice or identify student needs during the internship experience.  Candidates work with program faculty who becomes their thesis advisor throughout the process to select a research focus, choose methodology, analyze data and draw conclusions.  Candidates must receive permission from their thesis advisor to move on to Thesis II. 

Candidates in our M.Ed. program complete 6-credits in electives to deepen their knowledge and skills as a counselor.  Some electives we offer are in mindfulness, counseling refugee populations, trauma-informed practices, leadership and social justice. 

Student to professor ratio is 25:1 Lecture courses, 12:1 Skills courses and 9:1 Clinical Experiences, Internship and Practicum.

Yes. A student may switch programs prior to enrolling in elective courses or thesis seminar.

Upon acceptance, new students may transfer up to 12 credits from a CACREP program, or CACREP-aligned, toward our 60 credit hour master's program.  

To be considered to transfer into our program, course credits must be earned from a CACREP approved, or its equivalent, graduate program within the last five years. Your final grade in the course must be a B or better and courses must directly relate to those required for Loyola's school counseling program.

New students work with their academic advisors. Faculty advisors will determine if credits can be transferred into the program. Students must submit a syllabus and transcript for review to their academic advisor upon acceptance into the program. Academic advisors approve all transfer credits.

Clinical classes such as techniques, group counseling, practicum, and internship cannot be transferred into our program.

Yes. Upon admission each student meets with an academic advisor to develop a plan of study. Students may complete the program part-time and take up to 5 years to complete. However, students will need to either take a leave of absence from work or work part-time during internship. 

Our courses are offered as hybrid, combining in-person classes with online technology to appeal to the adult learner.  In-person classes are held at the Loyola Timonium Graduate Center in the evenings.  Course times vary, but most begin at 4:30 or 7:05 pm during the fall and spring semesters. 

CACREP stands for Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. This accrediting agency ensures that the highest professional standards for institutions preparing school counselors. As a CACREP approved program, we adhere to the training standards established by this accrediting body. Those who attend a program that has the CACREP approval can be assured that the training they receive adheres to high standards that will prepare them for role of a school counselor. It also assures your potential employer that you have been highly trained. To learn more about CACREP, visit www.cacrep.org.

The 600 hour internship experience is completed in K-12 schools. Internship can be taken over two or one semester during the fall and/or spring semesters. At the beginning of their program, candidates should seek advising from the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences to plan their internship experience.

Candidates apply for internship during the fall and/or spring semesters. Through collaboration between Loyola and the school districts or non-publics, candidates are placed in schools at the start of the semester in which they applied for internship. Candidates identify a school district and education level when they apply for the experience.

During internship candidates work at a school either 2.5 days a week (300 hour semester) or 5 days a week (600 hour semester). Please keep in mind that candidates must be available to work in schools the number of days identified for each hour experience. Due to the demands of working in a school during the week days, full-time employment is not possible.

The school counseling program maintains CACREP accreditation as a mark of excellence, which allows graduates of the program to meet the educational requirements necessary for licensure as a Maryland licensed professional counselor and certified as a school counselor in Maryland. If your career goals include working out of state after graduation, it is important to learn that state's licensure requirements. Please see our Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage for more information.