University Catalog 2024-2025

College Counseling and Student Development

The NC State University Counselor Education Program is a multicultural and diverse learning community. Our program integrates and operates from our values of diversity, multiculturalism, social justice, advocacy, collaboration, leadership, technology and community engagement in our teaching, research, scholarship and service. We have a long, rich history as leaders in counseling and counselor education, responsive to the counseling needs of North Carolina, the United States and the world.

All master’s degree programs (on-campus and online formats) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs through March 31, 2024. The doctoral program concentration in counseling and counselor education is accredited by the by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs through March 31, 2024.

Master's Degree Requirements

For master's degree concentrations, admission is limited in order to maintain faculty student interaction in didactic classes, for supervision in practica and for informal contact. Generally, class size averages between 20 and 25 in didactic, 4-5 in practica, and the advising ratio is approximately l to 10.

The Master’s of Education Degree (M.Ed.) is primarily a practitioner-oriented master’s and is offered in the on-campus program or DE online program. The Department of Counselor Education offers three programs of study leading to the Master of Education Degree:

Degrees earned will be distributed as: "Master of Education" without program of study specifications. Programs of study will only be printed on transcripts.

These programs of study require a minimum of 60 credits. Students who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE).

Student Financial Support

At NC State, our goal is to assure that no student who can benefit from an NC State education be denied that opportunity due to finances. We are committed to allocating our financial aid resources to help the broadest range of students. Go to the following Internet site for information about financial aid: http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/financial_aid/.

Graduate students may apply for Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and for Federal Work-Study employment. Qualified graduate students pursuing masters or doctoral degrees may also apply for fellowships, assistantships and other awards offered through individual colleges and the Graduate School.

More Information

College Counseling and Student Development Program Website

Distance Website

Admission Requirements

Admissions Requirements for Master’s Programs (on-campus and online programs):

  • Completed online application, resume, personal statement/goals, and non-refundable application fee
  • We are no longer requiring the GRE Scores/MAT Scores for our masters program
  • 3 recommendations from people who know your academic record and potential for graduate study (letters should be uploaded online)
  • Official transcripts of all post-secondary education
  • Official** statement of English Proficiency (TOEFL) for international students

Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applicant Information

  • Delivery Method: On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
  • Entrance Exam: None
  • Interview Required: Yes

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: On-Campus and Online Delivery: Dec. 15
  • Summer 1: On-Campus and Online Delivery: Dec. 15
  • Summer 2: On-Campus and Online Delivery: Dec. 15

Faculty

Professors

  • Meghan Manfra
  • Sylvia Nassar
  • Kevin Oliver
  • Jose' A Picart
  • Margareta Thomson
  • Siu-Man Ting

Associate Professor

  • DeLeon Gray

Assistant Professors

  • Rawn Boulden
  • Roland Mitchell
  • Brean'a Monet Parker

Teaching Professor

  • Angela Smith

Teaching Assistant Professors

  • Cristina Braga
  • Nicole Childs

Adjunct Assistant Professors

  • Roger Callanan
  • Callie Edwards

Lecturers

  • Richard Tyler-Walker Jr.
  • Robert Kochersberger
  • Monica Osburn

Courses

ECD 510  Orientation to Professional Counseling, Identity, and Ethics  (3 credit hours)  

This course examines (1) the purpose of counseling, (2) the historical context for counseling, (3) the basic principles of major counseling theories, and (4) the practice of counseling in various professional settings.

Prerequisite: 6 credits in ED or PSY

Typically offered in Spring and Summer

ECD 524  Career Counseling and Development  (3 credit hours)  

Knowledge and skills needed to: (a) provide professional career counseling to individuals and (b) design, implement and evaluate career development programs for particular groups. Theories of career development and decision making; career guidance programs in educational, agency and industrial setting; career information sources and delivery systems; and assessment in career counseling.

Prerequisite: 6 credits in ED or PSY

Typically offered in Spring and Summer

ECD 525  Multicultural Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

Theory and practice of counseling culturally diverse clients. Client populations include African Americans, Asian-Americans, American Indians and Hispanics. Cultural assumptions, cultural values, counselor credibility, prejudice and racism in context of counseling.

Prerequisite: Six hrs. in ED or PSY, Corequisite: ECD 530

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ECD 530  Theories and Tech of Counseling  (4 credit hours)  

Theory, philosophy, roles, professional ethics, and techniques of counseling. Eleven major counseling approaches including behavioral, psychoanalytic, client-centered, existential, family and post-modern approaches, and related counseling strategies are discussed. Students have opportunities to practice related strategies through role-plays.

Prerequisite: 6 credits in ED or PSY

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ECD 535  Introduction to College Counseling and Student Development  (4 credit hours)  

College Counseling and student development theory, research and practice as well as overview of profession. Discussion of counselor roles, professional ethics, history, identity, and development. Instruction in and design of structured group work in laboratory.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or PBS status

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

ECD 539  Group Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

Theory and practice of group counseling. Theoretical positions include client-centered, behavioral and rational-emotive. Aspects of group process include group leadership, group membership, establishing and maintaining a group.

Prerequisite: ECD 530 and one of the following: ECD 510, 534, 535 or 536

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ECD 540/WGS 540  Gender Issues In Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

Exploration of gender as primary identity and social construct. Emphasis on gender dynamics in counseling, client empowerment and preventive approaches.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or Six hrs. in ED or PSY

Typically offered in Summer only

ECD 541  Substance Abuse and Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

This course explores counseling as it relates to working with clients with substance abuse disorders. Ethical and legal issues, theoretical models, assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, techniques and individual/family/group interventions with diverse populations will be discussed throughout class sessions. This course is distinctively geared towards students who are training to be counselors. Substance abuse issues that clients might present within counseling are addressed by way of assigned readings, class discussions, video segments, case studies, internet resources and assignments.

Prerequisite: 6 hours of Graduate Coursework

Typically offered in Fall only

ECD 542  Research in Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

This introductory graduate level course in research in counseling is intended to provide students with an overview of the fundamentals of research methods and program evaluations in the field. Students will be able to identify various research approaches and the strengths and limitations associated to them. The course is also designed to give students the basic skills to conduct research in counseling and develop program evaluation skills.

Prerequisite: 6 hours of ECD Graduate Courses

Typically offered in Fall and Summer

ECD 545  Counseling Couples and Families  (3 credit hours)  

This elective course explores counseling as it relates to working with couples and families. Theoretical models, techniques and interventions will be discussed throughout class sessions. This course is distinctively geared towards students who are training to be counselors. Family and couples issues that clients might present within counseling are addressed by way of class discussions, assigned readings, video segments, case studies, role plays and Internet resources.

Prerequisite: 6 hours of ECD Graduate Courses

Typically offered in Spring and Summer

ECD 546  Crisis Interventions in Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

An overview of crisis intervention and theoretical models. Crisis situations are described across developmental age-span across a variety of service delivery settings. Students will develop conceptual competency for professional counselors to engage in crisis intervention.

Prerequisite: 6 hours of ECD Graduate Courses

Typically offered in Fall and Summer

ECD 561  Psychodiagnosis and Assessment in Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

Exploration of meaning and importance of assessment in the counseling process. The utilization of counseling assessments based on legal and ethical guidelines and cultural considerations. Identify, interpret, and explain assessments in clinical, college, and school counseling settings.

R: Graduate Students Only

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ECD 562  Techniques in Counseling  (4 credit hours)  

In this course students work towards mastery of counseling skills, review relevant theories, and prepare for Practicum. Students will practice counseling skills in class and spend their out of class lab hours practicing skills in partnering schools. Students will do some limited video taping of counseling sessions and receive feedback on tapes from Counselor Education doctoral students taking their supervision theory class.

Prerequisite: ECD 530

Typically offered in Fall only

ECD 575/EDP 575  Multicultural Lifespan Development  (3 credit hours)  

This course surveys theories, principles, and issues of psychological development throughout the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on understanding current developmental research and its application to the enhancement of development from birth to late adulthood. Implications for helping professionals working in multicultural contexts will be provided.

Prerequisite: Six Hours of Graduate Study

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

ECD 642  Practicum In Counseling  (3 credit hours)  

Student participation in individual and group counseling and consultation experiences under supervision in a school, college or agency setting. Prerequisite: 1. Completion of all ECD, PSY, and STAT courses with exception of ECD 539 Group Counseling that may be taken concurrently. [Other classes that could be taken concurrently PSY 535,582, 584, 475, 476] 2. Consent of concentration coordin

Prerequisite: ECD 641

Typically offered in Spring only

ECD 652  Internship In College Counseling and Student Development  (6-12 credit hours)  

A 600-hour internship, Professional experience in student affairs department with on-site supervision from qualified professional. Expectations including employment of broad repertoire of skills in roles of counselor, student development educator and administrator. Weekly student meetings with faculty and on-site supervisors.

Prerequisite: ECD 642

Typically offered in Fall and Spring