CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Graduate Program
Earn your Master’s in School Counseling from the CACREP-accredited, hybrid graduate program at Loyola. You will graduate eligible for two licensures in Maryland: Professional School Counseling (K-12) and Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC, entry-level clinical mental health licensure).
Program Overview
- Credits: 60
- Format: Hybrid
- Start in Spring or Summer
- Full-time or part-time
- Finish in as little as 2 years
- 75+ years of school counselor preparation in Maryland
About the Master's in School Counseling Program
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Students enrolled in the M.Ed. program complete two electives (6-credits) in school counseling. Elective offerings are available in courses pertaining to college advising, diagnosis and treatment, mindfulness, crisis and trauma, school counselor leadership, social emotional development, and instructional strategies to engage students in the classroom. The M.Ed. leads to certification as a school counselor.
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Students enrolled in the M.A. program complete a master’s thesis in lieu of school counseling electives. This program of study is designed for the practitioner researcher who wishes to further examine school counselor practice. Mentored by program faculty, students enrolled in the M.A. program complete a master's thesis in lieu of electives. The M.A. leads to certification as a school counselor.
School Counseling graduate courses are taught in a hybrid format, with a combination of online and in-person classes. Classes are 15 weeks during the fall and spring semesters. Classes are modified to 6 weeks during the summer semester.
Full-time students complete the program in two years, and part-time students have up to five years to complete the program.
Students complete a supervised, 100-hour in-school practicum experience during a 15-week semester, either in the fall or spring semesters. Practicum students should expect to work in schools during the school day, generally one full day or two half days per week.
During the practicum, students provide individual and small-group counseling and classroom instruction within schools, are exposed to school culture, and observe consultation practices.
Loyola’s School Counseling faculty partner closely with schools and districts to manage the entire practicum placement process for students. This ensures equitable access to high-quality sites aligned with each student’s goals and professional development.
Students complete a supervised, 600-hour in-school internship experience during one or two semesters (during the fall and spring semesters). Internship students should expect to work in schools during the regular school day, either 5 days a week (one academic semester) or 3 days a week (two academic semesters). Interns receive supervision from a Loyola professor and a professional school counselor.
During the internship, students deliver direct and indirect student services that align with the goals of a comprehensive school counseling program. Interns build on what they learned in the practicum to further their counseling skills related to individual counseling, group counseling, and classroom instruction.
Loyola’s School Counseling faculty partner closely with schools and districts to manage the entire internship placement process for students. This ensures equitable access to high-quality sites aligned with each student’s goals and professional development.
Apply to Loyola’s School Counseling Graduate Program
Loyola has been preparing School Counselors for over 75 years! Join the CACREP-accredited, hybrid graduate program taught by faculty with deep, applicable expertise and strong scholarship.
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Essay
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume (optional)
- $60 application fee (waived when you attend a virtual information session)
Loyola offers various opportunities for financial aid, including Merit Scholarships, Ignatius Grant Awards, and Graduate Assistantships.
Tell Me More About Loyola’s School Counseling Graduate Program
Connect with Loyola to learn more about the CACREP-accredited School Counseling graduate program, upcoming information sessions, and more.
Learn more about Loyola's school counseling program
Accreditation and Recognition
CACREP Accreditation
Loyola’s M.Ed. and M.A. in School Counseling programs are fully accredited by the
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) through
March 2029. CACREP Accreditation logo for Loyola's School Counseling programs.
School Counseling master's students complete a 60-credit hour program, in which nine credits are in Practicum and Internship. Upon graduation, students will be eligible for two licensures in Maryland: Professional School Counseling (K12) and Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC, entry-level clinical mental health licensure)..
CACREP is the gold standard in counselor education accreditation, recognized by many states and jurisdictions for licensure portability and the caliber of education the accreditation specifies.
Matriculation Requirements
Loyola’s M.Ed. and M.A. in School Counseling programs are recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Our programs meet the educational requirements necessary for licensure as a Maryland licensed professional counselor and certification as a school counselor in Maryland. For graduates interested in working outside of Maryland, it is important to learn about the state’s licensure requirements. For more information, review our Professional Licensure Disclosure website.
Maryland State Department of Education Recognition
Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and display the professional dispositions identified by the program to graduate. Students' progress towards the program's learning outcomes are reviewed before entering practicum and internship experiences. Professional dispositions are assessed at three points: GC701 Techniques in Counseling, Practicum, and Internship. Should students not be making sufficient progress towards the program's learning outcomes, receive one "C" or if dispositional concerns arise, students will be notified, and a remediation plan is developed. Students who earn a "F" in any one course or two grades of a C/C+ will be dismissed from the program. Additionally, students must earn a "B" or better in Practicum and Internship to graduate.
To graduate from the school counseling program, students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), which can be taken at the end of a student's program, either the semester prior to graduation or the semester a student graduates.
Course descriptions are found in our graduate catalogue and course syllabi can be obtained upon request by contacting the Assistant Dean of Assessment, Heather Moore, at hamoore@loyola.edu.
Ready to learn more?
Contact us at education@loyola.edu or 410-617-2990.Attend an Information Session
Desvan L. Moody, M.A. ’22
What helped me make it through was the support from my advisor and faculty. They encouraged me, held me accountable, and genuinely cared.
Allar Nesmith Miller, M.Ed. ’24
The professors and teachers want us to succeed. It's not competitive or intimidating. All the students are there for the same goal and genuinely want to support each other.
Madeline Christopher, M.Ed. ’24
Professors, students, and all the admins are really supportive and try their hardest to give us the best experience while we're here.
For the 2024-2025 Academic Year
School Counseling Program OutcomesExplore Similar Programs
Request information
Ready to learn more?Explore the following links or contact us at education@loyola.edu or 410-617-2990. For admission-related questions, contact Mechelle Palmer at mjpalmer@loyola.edu.