The Counseling program offers an M.A. in School Counseling. Students in the School Counseling program take coursework in the areas of human development, legal and ethical issues of the profession, career development, appraisal methods, counseling theories, groupwork, practicum and research, and program evaluation. Additional specialized courses focusing on school counseling are offered in areas such as internship,special populations, consultation, and professional development.

Students are engaged in field-based activities during almost every enrollment. Students without prior training as teachers who wish to become certified school counseling professionals must complete additional courses in classroom management, curriculum and instruction, and reading.

Counseling Program Mission

The mission of Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) Counseling Program is to prepare exemplary professional practitioners, leaders, and scholars. The program uses a research-practitioner approach that integrates the use of current technology, supervised field experiences, scholarly inquiry, and intellectual and creative resources to work with an increasingly diverse and global society. The program trains counselors who work in pre-K through grade 12 schools, social service, government agencies, hospitals, community organizations, and private practice. The FGCU counseling program educates well-rounded counselors who demonstrate competence included in the high standards as set forth by our accreditation and professional organizations.