Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in School Counseling degree requires a minimum of 56 semester hours of graduate credit. No credit will be given for courses taken more than six years prior to the date on which the degree is to be conferred.

There are certain conditions that must be met to transfer regular graduate credit to Mercer's graduate program. The institution must be accredited and the student must be admitted to the institution's regular graduate program. Graduate work taken at other institutions must be part of a planned program leading to a degree equivalent to the Master of Science degree at Mercer. The work must be appropriate for the student's planned program. The maximum amount of transferred credit is 12 semester hours. Only courses in which the student earned a "B" or better will be considered for transfer credit. Courses taken for another degree previously earned may not be applied to the M.S.

In addition to the 56 required hours of graduate credit, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC) requires that every candidate for the S-5 certification in school counseling has evidence of successful completion of at least three semester hours of credit for a course in the education of exceptional learners (special education).

Examinations

In order to be recommended for the S-5 certification in school counseling, the GAPSC requires a passing score on the GACE II, tests 102 and 103.

The graduate faculty for the Master of Science in School Counseling  also strongly urge candidates to take and pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) which is given at Mercer University in April and October.

Sample Course Plan