Educational Psychology

As a student in the MEd in Counseling - School Counseling program, you’ll take courses, do fieldwork, and participate in practica and internships that will prepare you to be a professional school counselor.

Upon obtaining your degree, you’ll be prepared to provide counseling services in the following areas:

• human growth and development
• social and cultural foundations
• career and lifestyle development
• research and program evaluation
• professional orientation

It is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Mission Statement for the EPS CACREP-Accredited Programs

The mission of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited masters programs is to prepare professional counselors who meet national standards of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as well as state counseling licensure or certification in their specialty area. Our programs are designed to be comprehensive in nature and to focus on the development of evidence-based counseling practice in a variety of settings and with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Objectives for School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs

We prepare professional counselors using theoretical and experiential approaches to work effectively in community and school work settings by:

1. Recruiting and admitting qualified graduate students who are able to successfully engage in the learning activities of a training program to prepare professional counselors.
2. Providing studies in understanding the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
3. Providing studies to increase knowledge and competencies in issues and trends in a multicultural and pluralistic society.
4. Developing effective counseling skills.
5. Providing studies in group dynamics and developing group counseling skills.
6. Providing an understanding of career development and related life factors and developing career counseling skills.
7. Providing an understanding of assessment processes and developing skills in individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
8. Providing an understanding of research, statistics, and program evaluation as they apply to the practice of counseling.
9. Promoting a clear sense of professional identity in counseling, which includes professional ethics, legal responsibilities, participating in professional organizations, and obtaining necessary credentials.
10. Providing supervised counseling experiences that allow students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills that they have acquired to practice.
11. Evaluating the progress of students throughout the program and providing necessary feedback to enhance their professional development as they become professional counselors.
12. Conducting periodic evaluation of the counselor training programs to assure that we are maximizing the accomplishments of program objectives.

• Electronic portfolio: You must purchase and maintain an electronic portfolio through Task Stream, sections of which you will upload for review. We will use your portfolio to review our program and assess its outcomes. Data will also be submitted to NCATE and CACREP during review cycles.
• Credit transfer and GPA policies: Visit the GraduateCollege website for more information about these policies.

The program of study is the agreed-upon plan between you and your faculty adviser on completing program requirements.

It is used as a verification document when you apply for graduation. You should complete the program of study with your adviser during the first semester of graduate work.

The original, signed program of study should be given to the Department Chair to be placed in your file in the Educational Psychology Department and you and your adviser should both keep copies.

Amendments to your program of study can be made with your adviser’s approval.

The time line policy for completing a Masters degree can be viewed online through the Graduate College.

Some of your courses may have prerequisites you must meet before enrolling. Find more information in the academic catalog.

Clinical Hours

Please review the clinical hours table for the number of practicum hours and internship hours required in clinical, testing, and intervention School Counseling classes.

Related Forms

EPS Course Offerings by Semester

Recommended Sequence of Courses
Program of Studies
Program of Studies Worksheet 

Students in this program should follow the professional code of ethics and licensure guidelines established by the following organizations:

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
Arizona School Counselors Association (AzSCA) 
State of Arizona Department of Education 

The most recent criteria for obtaining a Guidance Counselor Certificate (K-12) are available from the Arizona Department of Education. These include:

1. a master’s or more advanced degree from an accredited institution
2. completion of a graduate program in guidance and counseling from an accredited institution; valid guidance counselor certificate from another state may substitute for this requirement
3. One of the following:
   
   • completion of a supervised counseling practicum in school counseling from an accredited institution
   • 2 years of verified, full-time experience as a school guidance counselor (verified by letter from District Superintendent or Personnel Director)
   • 3 years of verified teaching experience

Flagstaff

Dr. Pit Kolodinsky, Associate Professor and Program Director
Phone: 928-523-8495
Pit.Kolodinsky@nau.edu

Dr. Tom DeStefano, Professor
Phone: 928-523-6302
Thomas.DeStefano@nau.edu

Dr. Susan Longerbeam, Associate Professor
Phone: 928-523-8800
Susan.Longerbeam@nau.edu

Dr. William Martin, Jr., Professor
Phone: 928-523-6757
William.Martin@nau.edu 

Dr. Gene Moan, Professor
Phone: 928-523-9604
Eugene.Moan@nau.edu

Dr. Tim Thomason, Professor
Phone: 928-523-1341
Timothy.Thomason@nau.edu 

Kayenta

Dr. Russ Bull, Assistant Clinical Professor and Program Coordinator
Phone: 928-523-0503
Russell.Bull@nau.edu

Phoenix (North Valley)

Dr. Patricia Young, Assistant Clinical Professor and Program Coordinator
Phone: 602-776-4673
Patricia.Young@nau.edu

Tucson

Dr. Joyce DeVoss, Professor and Program Coordinator
Phone: 520-879-7940
Joyce.DeVoss@nau.edu