The Department of Counselor Education offers a Non-Degree School Counselor Endorsement program designed for individuals who have completed a graduate degree in counseling or a closely related field and are seeking to meet the academic and clinical requirements to be eligible for endorsement as a school counselor in the state of Illinois.
admission information
The program admits students for fall only.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
The School Counseling program has secured a $4,270,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Education through 2027. During the final academic year when Non-Degree School Counseling Endorsement students are placed in their practicum/internship school site, students can receive a $20,000 stipend and tuition for the three advanced clinical courses, if they are placed in a high-need school. There is also grant funding for child care and transportation costs if needed. Students who receive the scholarship also participate in a series of trainings related to inclusive practices in schools. For more information, contact grant administrator Dr. Beth Gilfillan at e-gilfillan@neiu.edu.
application requirements
To be considered for admission, the applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and can apply to the program through Northeastern's online application system. An application is reviewed only if all application materials are received by the deadline date for the semester applied for.
The online application requires the following:
- Application form
- Application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Current resume
- Two recommenders (applicants will be prompted to enter contact information for two professional recommenders)
- Signed Informed Consent
- Essay: In 500-700 words, please respond to the following prompts:
How do you see yourself aligning with Northeastern's Counseling Department?
Talk about your personal and/or professional experiences that make you a strong candidate. - For applicants who hold a Professional Educator License (PEL): upload the PEL to your application portal
- For applicants who do not hold a PEL: results of a state and federal fingerprint background check. Review the instructions for taking and submitting your background check results. The state results will be sent directly to the Goodwin College of Education. Upload the federal results to your application portal. If you are a DACA student we recommend going through Scenario B exclusively, listed on the GCOE website under the Federal and State Fingerprint Background Check Instructions. Please contact the Associate Dean of the Goodwin College of Education at at gcoe@neiu.edu for more information.
- Successful completion of coursework in the following areas: counseling theories and interviewing, human growth and development; assessment and evaluation; individual and group counseling; career development; family counseling; and multicultural counseling. Those who have not successfully completed the necessary coursework may fulfill them during the course of their studies toward earning the Endorsement.
Contact Counselor Education at (773) 442-5550 or counsedu@neiu.edu for further questions or if the links are not working.
Curriculum in the Non-Degree School Counselor Endorsement Program
The courses required to complete the Non-Degree School Counselor Endorsement program are listed below. All courses are graduate courses:
21 credit hours
- COUN 410 Seminar in School Counseling (3 cr)
- COUN 411 Post-Secondary College & Career Counseling (3 cr)
- COUN 412 Topics in School Counseling (3 cr)
- COUN 415 Children & Youth in School & Family Systems (3 cr)
- COUN 442 Practicum: Group Supervision in School Counseling (3 cr)
- COUN 462 Internship I: School Counseling (3 cr)
- COUN 472 Internship II: School Counseling (3 cr)
A passing score on the #235 School Content Test is required before beginning Practicum.
Non-Degree School Counselor Endorsement program planning guide
Use the Non-Degree School Counselor Endorsement Program planning guide to outline your proposed plan of study.
