The Educational Specialist program in Counseling with a School Counseling concentration functions to meet the diverse needs of professional school counselors seeking advanced professional preparation in the area of elementary, middle, and high school counseling.

The Ed.S. program typically entails two years of graduate study and has two goals:
(1) Prepare students to meet requirements to obtain an AAA Mississippi educator’s license
(2) Update and increase their knowledge, skills, and professionalism in the field of school counseling.

Students may also take required coursework needed to be licensed as a Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselor.

Admission Requirements:

1. All general requirements for admission to the graduate school of Delta State University must be met.
2. Transcript indicating receipt of a master’s degree in Counseling or Counselor Education (school counseling emphasis) with a 3.25 minimum grade point average from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent
3. MS class AA educator license in School Guidance and Counseling (or equivalent from another state)
4. Minimum of two years experience as a professional school counselor
5. Current employment as a professional school counselor in a public or private school
6. Minimal score on a nationally recognized standardized test of verbal/writing skills. Scores will be consistent with the minimal scores that are currently being used for admission in other Ed.S. programs in Delta State University’s College of Education.
a. Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) – 3.00
b. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) - 370
c. Miller’s Analogy Test - 30
d. Praxis: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) Writing Test -174
e. Praxis: Competency-Based Test (CBT) Writing Test – 320
7. Three letters of recommendation: (1) current or former supervisor in the field of education who can address the candidate’s professional school counseling qualifications, (2) college instructor who can address the candidate’s ability for successful graduate performance in this program, and (3) other professional reference who can address the candidate’s professional counseling skills and identity.
8. Curriculum Vita demonstrating leadership and professional counseling identity/involvement
9. Academic writing samples

Program of Study

Student Handbook

• American Counseling Association
• Mississippi Counseling Association
• American Mental Health Counselors Association
• American School Counselors Association
• Mississippi LPC Board

Mistie Barnes, Ed.D., LPC-S, RPT-S
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
Ewing 341, 662-846-4360

George Beals, PhD, LPC
Coordinator of Counselor Education Program
Ewing 343, 662-846-4355

Jemecia N. Calvin, MS, LPC, NCC, Board Approved Supervisor
Counseling Laboratory Director
Ewing 338, 662-846-4364

John Hawkins, EdS, LPC, NCC, NCSC
Instructor of Counselor Education
Coordinator of School Counseling
Ewing 340, 662-846-4392

Christine D. McNichols, Ph.D., LPC (TX), NCC
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
Coordinator of Clinical Mental Health Program
Ewing 342, 662-846-4389

Karl Witt, Ph.D., LPC (TX), NCC, CSC
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
Ewing 344, 662-846-4363

Through teaching, training, supervision, and experimental activity, students become ethical, competent, and culturally sensitive counselors prepared to work in a school or community setting.