Clemson University College of Education
Master of Education/Educational Specialist Degrees in Counselor Education
Clemson University, USA
Master degree
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: Clemson University's Counselor Education Program prepares counselor scholar-practitioners to serve diverse populations through outreach, advocacy, experiential learning, and research. It offers a 60-credit hour CACREP-accredited Master of Education (clinical mental health or school counseling) and a 30-credit hour Educational Specialist (Ed.S.). Students study full-time or part-time; full-time can finish in two years (including summers) and all must finish within six years. Courses meet afternoons/evenings Monday–Thursday at Clemson and the University Center in Greenville.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work as clinical mental health counselors, school counselors, student affairs practitioners, or counselor educators, also serving P-12 schools, community agencies, and colleges.
The faculty of the Counselor Education Program is dedicated to educating counselors as scholar practitioners who can effectively serve diverse populations. We prepare counselors who also seek opportunities to engage in outreach and advocacy through collaborative partnerships. The program provides opportunities for students to apply theory, research, knowledge, and skills through experiential learning, with an emphasis on wellness, prevention, and intervention.
The counselor education program offers a 60-credit hour CACREP-accredited master of education degree with specializations in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling. The program also offers a 30-credit hour educational specialist degree in counselor education. Please see tabs below for details about each program.
Students may complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis. The full-time program can be completed in two years, including summers. All students must complete the program in six years. Courses are taught in the afternoons/evenings, Monday through Thursday. Approximately one-third of the courses are taught at Clemson University and the other two-thirds at the University Center in Greenville over the course of the program. All students will need to travel back and forth to both locations, and carpooling is encouraged. Most students tend to live in Clemson or Greenville. The program does not offer online classes.
Faculty
The program and faculty reside in the Department of Education and Human Development. Current program faculty include Dr. Corrine Sackett (Counselor Education Program Coordinator), Dr. Amanda Rumsey, Dr. Brooke Wymer Ellis, Dr. Liz Boyd and Dr. David Scott.
Counselor Education Program Objectives
- Students will develop and demonstrate a professional counseling identity
- Students will exhibit self-reflection and self-awareness and demonstrate professional growth
- Students will exhibit critical thinking skills
- Students will apply culturally sensitive counseling, career, and human development theories to individual and group counseling practice
- Students will identify and use counseling interventions and techniques that are grounded in research
- Students will identify processes of intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination and avenues for advocacy
- Students will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to identify and use culturally relevant assessment strategies
- Students will identify opportunities and processes for collaborating and consulting
- Students will acquire knowledge and skills in their counseling specialty area














