School Counseling (MSE)
Preparing School Counselors to Make a Difference
As a UD School Counseling student, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to become positive voices advocating for the academic, career, and social/emotional needs of children in PK-12 school systems as professional school counselors. Courses are blended with professional practice and reflect the most current advances in the field of school counseling and education.
Faculty strive to empower all students to embrace holistic, ethical and innovative approaches to personal life, professional endeavors, and the school systems we serve. Diversity enriches our learning environment and expands our institutional ability, intelligence, and creativity.
To receive your license, you're required to pass the the Ohio Assessment for Educators exam in school counseling.
Starting Fall 2025, the School Counseling program is transitioning to a hybrid format to improve accessibility and flexibility for students on both the Dayton and Columbus campuses. Key updates include:
- School counseling-specific courses will be delivered online via Zoom, allowing students to participate from home, work, or other locations.
- Shared courses with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program will continue in their original on-campus format, with students attending in Dayton or Columbus.
The program remains CACREP-accredited, ensuring comprehensive training in the core areas essential for all counselors.
Certificate Option
Individuals with an active LPC license who are interested in becoming a school counselor can enroll in a 23-credit (four-semester) School Counseling certificate program that prepares you to sit for the OAE exam. The certificate program can be completed in-person, online or hybrid.
Program Accreditation & Approval
The UD School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and is approved by the Ohio Department of Education. In 2023 CACREP will require completion of 60 credit hours of coursework to meet the accreditation degree requirements in all accredited School Counseling programs. CACREP recognizes that the program meets or exceeds national standards, ensures that graduates have met prerequisites for credentialing and are ready for entry into professional practice, and focuses on professional counseling, not psychology, education or other helping professions. The program is also aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards.
We invite you to apply to the University of Dayton School Counseling Program. For additional questions, contact Dr. Brenda Gerhardt, Program Coordinator at bgerhardt1@udayton.edu
Application Deadlines
For Fall 2025, we are accepting applications beyond the traditional application window. APPLY NOW.
- Summer Enrollment Applications: November 10
- Early Fall Enrollment Applications: January 10
- Late Enrollment Applications: April 10
Admission Interview Schedule for Summer and Fall 2025
- Round 1: December 16, 2024 / Summer admission and GA eligible
- Round 2: January 11, 2025 / Early Fall admission and GA eligible (summer applicants are eligible for this interview time)
- Round 3: TBA / Fall admission, GA eligibility closed
- Round 4: TBA / Late admission Summer and Fall, GA eligibility closed
School Counseling at the University of Dayton
Hear from current school counseling students on what they love most about UD's program.
A High-Quality Education
Take Courses in Dayton or the Columbus Metro Area
UD School Counseling students have the flexibility of attending classes UD's main campus in Dayton, Ohio, or at a satellite campus in the Columbus metropolitan area. Other courses will be held synchronously online, so students are welcome to attend from anywhere.
Explore the Columbus Campus
School Counseling students are invited to join Chi Sigma Iota, the international honor society for students, professional counselors and counselor educators. Its mission is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling.
Explore Chi Sigma Iota
UD and the School Counseling program affirm that diversity, equity, and inclusion are inextricably linked with excellence, these core values align with our mission of building community in the world and working for justice for all people. As a Catholic and Marianist institution, UD embraces diversity and is committed to honoring the intrinsic value and dignity of all people, no matter their race, religion, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, (dis)ability, ideology, and other expressions of human difference. UD and the School Counseling program commit to eliminating discriminatory or hateful words and actions, pursuing equity, and becoming known as a fully inclusive and welcoming environment for learning, discovery, and community engagement.
Student Research
Students work alongside faculty to conduct and publish research in respected journals. Students also participate in UD's annual Stander Symposium, a campus-wide event that allows students from all disciplines to showcase their intellectual accomplishments.
Chi Sigma Iota
Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are invited to join Chi Sigma Iota, the international honor society for students, professional counselors and counselor educators. Its mission is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling.
Graduate Assistantships
School Counseling students must be accepted into the program, and must be enrolled full time at UD's main campus in Dayton upon accepting an assistantship. GAs are typically employed for 20 hours per week on a 9-month contract, and they receive partial tuition remission and a monthly stipend.
Private University Education at the Cost of a Public University
The UD School Counseling program, part of the School of Education and Health Sciences, offers a private university education at the cost of a public university. Discover tuition costs per semester for SEHS by clicking the link below.
Experiential Learning
Real-World Experience
School Counseling students complete a 100-hour practicum, where they can start to hone the skills needed for professional practice. Students also participate in a 600-hour internship, which takes place in a K-12 school district. In both instances, students are supervised by qualified school counselors and a UD instructor.
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