Sessions to Explore School Counseling Master’s Program in Savannah

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SAVANNAH—Mercer University will hold two exploratory information sessions in Savannah to determine if there is interest in establishing a location for its Master of Science in School Counseling program. Mercer’s College of Continuing and Professional Studies will hold two exploratory information sessions on Mercer’s Savannah campus, located on the grounds of Memorial University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Ave. 

The first session will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m.  The second session will be held Thursday, Nov. 6, at 4:30 p.m.  Both sessions are free and will be located in the distance education classroom in the education building.

To RSVP for one of the information sessions or to express interest in a possible Mercer School Counseling Graduate Program in Savannah, e-mail or call Sharon Kaseric at kaseric_ss@mercer.edu or (800) 837-2911, ext. 6028.

The Program
Mercer University recently introduced this graduate program for individuals looking for a career in school counseling on its Atlanta campus.  The College of Continuing and Professional Studies, in partnership with the Tift College of Education, began offering the Master of Science in School Counseling program this fall. For those who already have a master’s degree in counseling, the college offers an add-on certificate program in School Counseling.
 
Both programs are preparing counselors to address Georgia’s efforts not only to meet the needs of its growing elementary, middle and high school populations, but also to help students remain in school and ultimately improve graduation rates across the state. Schools, particularly in rural and urban school systems, need these “graduation coaches,” said W. David Lane, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of the Counseling graduate program in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies.

School counselors in the State of Georgia must obtain certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Mercer’s Master of Science in School Counseling program, which is designed for individuals who plan to become counselors in public and private PK-12 school settings, prepares candidates for certification at the SC-5 level. In addition to the two-year Master of Science, the College will also offer a 16-credit hour, non-degree program for those with a master’s in other counseling disciplines, which leads to initial certification in school counseling by the Professional Standards Commission. These programs are offered pending Georgia Professional Standards Commission approval.

Graduates of the program will understand and know how to meet the standards established by the National School Counselors Association, upon which the Georgia Department of Education has based its mandate for school counseling programs throughout the state. In addition, the program, which complies with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs standards for School Counseling programs, will seek national accreditation, said Diane M. Clark, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and associate coordinator of the School Counseling graduate program.

About Mercer University:
Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University has more than 7,500 students; 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies; major campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah; three regional academic centers across the state; a university press; two teaching hospitals — Memorial Health University Medical Center and the Medical Center of Central Georgia; educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta; an engineering research center in Warner Robins; a performing arts center in Macon; and a NCAA Division I athletic program. For more information, visit www.mercer.edu.
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