MEd Interdisciplinary Studies – School Counselling
School Counselling - Step Three
This program is one of two Step 3 options within the Master of Education (MEd), Interdisciplinary route. Visit the MEd, Interdisciplinary Route page for complete MEd details including fees.
Who is this for? For teachers in the MEd-Interdisciplinary program who want to take steps to become a school counsellor and/or better inform their teaching practice. Whether a teacher in Alberta or across Canada, this program will grow their knowledge and help further their career. (This route is NOT suitable for individuals seeking to become registered psychologists.)
Program Overview: This is a flexible, high quality program that aims to set future counsellors up for success with relevant knowledge and training. While Alberta accreditation requirements are not yet formalized, this specialization is well situated to meet future accreditation requirements by the province, such as those proposed by the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA).
This unique program emphasizes research, working alliance skills, ethical considerations for working in educational settings with school children and youth, promoting health and wellness in schools, as well as career and life development. It weaves in context and content knowledge, perspectives, and practices committed to enacting responsibility and accountability towards decolonizing, Indigenizing, and incorporating principles of social equity, diversity, and inclusion advanced by ministries of education (e.g., Alberta’s Ministry of Advanced Education) and psychology governing bodies across the country (e.g., Canadian Psychological Association).
Program Learning Outcomes: To facilitate learners' integrated, applied knowledge of two core aspects of comprehensive health education from Kindergarten to Grade 12: the promotion of health and wellbeing in schools, and career development. This knowledge is "integrated" in that the courses weave together content related to the health/wellbeing and career development aspects of comprehensive health education using the social justice framework of guidance. It is "applied" in the sense that students will learn about theory and research in these areas, while also practicing skills related to these topics.
By the end of the School Counselling – Step 3, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate general knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts and practices in the field of school and career counselling.
- Develop a social justice lens that integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion and considers the impacts of imperialism and colonialism globally on Equity-Deserving people for school comprehensive health from grades K to 12.
- Consider decolonization and Indigenization of school counselling and career guidance practices and approaches that answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
- Conceptualize ethical decision making to promote health and well-being in schools. >
- Offer supportive approaches that account for the wellbeing of children, youth, and that of their families’ and communities’.
Pathway: In the final stage of the MEd Interdisciplinary degree, students have the opportunity to draw on their two specialization areas from year 1 and year 2. In year 3, students who have completed the core topic Foundations in School & Counselling Psychology and another topic within the specialization may choose between School Counselling - Step 3 or Educational Research – Step 3. This ensures students have the flexibility they need to get the credential they desire – and allows students who do not want to become school counsellors to still pursue the Interdisciplinary Studies specialization.
Graduate Certificate
Apply to one interdisciplinary topic and earn a Graduate Certificate
The Certificate is delivered over a year to accommodate busy working professionals. Beginning in the Summer term students will complete four courses over the academic year, (12 units of coursework) in the following topic:
- Foundations in School & Counselling Psychology
Graduate Diploma
Apply to one interdisciplinary topic and earn a Graduate Diploma
The Diploma includes 12 units of laddered credit from the Graduate Certificate program
PLUS
12 units of coursework in one of the following topics:
- Mental Health & Wellbeing in Schools: Social Justice in Practice
- Supporting and Enhancing Children's Mental Health
Master of Education
Complete 4 courses in School Counselling (below) to earn your MEd with a specialization in School Counselling
This is awarded to students who have completed their Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma programs (24 units of laddered credit) including:
- Foundations in School & Counselling Psychology (12 units)
PLUS
One of the following 12 unit topics:
-Mental Health & Wellbeing in Schools: Social Justice in Practice
-Supporting and Enhancing Children's Mental Health
Please Note:
- Completion of the Foundations in School & Counselling Psychology topic area is mandatory for admission into the MEd with a Specialization in School Counselling
- Students may complete the Foundations in School & Counselling Psychology topic area and their second topic area in either order (i.e., completing the Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools topic for their Graduate Certificate, and the Foundations in School & Counselling Psychology topic for their Graduate Diploma), and be admitted to the MEd with a Specialization in School Counselling
Courses in the Education Research Topic are offered fully online, using web-based applications.
Next program start date: Summer 2024 (refer to the Academic Schedule for specific dates)
Application period: February 1 – March 22
2024-25 Course Registration Information & Course Descriptions
Students may select from the registration options listed below each term. There are no assigned cohorts.
- Outlines are normally available 1-2 weeks prior to the start of term in D2L
- 3 units per course
Term 1 - Summer
Professional Ethics in School-based Wellbeing, Guidance and Counselling
In this course, students will explore ethical, legal and professional issues in the practice and science of school counselling, school-based guidance and wellbeing promotion. This course will prepare students to engage in a systematic ethical decision-making informed by relevant (a) the professional ethics codes, (b) provincial standards of practice and legislation, and (c) existing school board policies and community partners.
Registration info:
EDER 650 L01 (50717)
Term 2 - Fall
Supporting Students’ Aspirations in Schools
In this course, students will explore foundational knowledge that guides contemporary career development and career guidance practice, within the broader context of comprehensive school health education. The course focuses on approaches that define career broadly, in the sense of forming and pursuing future life goals (i.e., life management). The course will allow students to develop an understanding of the roles of teachers, counsellors, and other school personnel in promoting career development. The course will also enhance students' skills in implementing effective career guidance practice in school settings. The identification and appropriate application of specific skills for establishing and maintaining working alliances in the context of school-based guidance and wellness promotion will be emphasized.
Registration info:
EDER 652 L01 (76192)
Term 3 - Winter
Examining, Implementing, and Adapting Models of Mental Health-Part I
In this course, students will acquire additional skills for professional development in school settings. Models and theories of mental health provision will be discussed and critically analyzed from different positionalities and intersectionality’s. Students will explore and create cases that address common scenarios in the school context (e.g., bullying, alcohol and drug misuse, domestic violence) and conceptualize possible interventions and practices to support child and youth mental health.
Registration info:
EDER 654 L01 (16108)
Term 4 - Spring
Examining, Implementing, and Adapting Models of Mental Health-Part II
In this course, students will deepen their professional development in school settings. Building on the previous course students will extend their exploration of common scenarios in the school context (e.g., bullying, alcohol and drug misuse, domestic violence) to conceptualize possible interventions and practices to support child and youth mental health.
Registration info:
EDER 6-- (TBD)