MSE in School Counseling - Special Populations Online
This online program equips you to counsel K-12 students facing distinctive challenges in subgroup populations, including special education, gifted and talented and English as a second language. Gain the preparation you need to practice in public, private, charter or virtual K-12 school settings. Teaching experience is not required for admission.
Program Overview
Dive into our online MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations program
Earn the advanced counseling credentials you need to support the mental health needs of K-12 students with distinctive backgrounds. The MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations online program is designed to empower aspiring counselors in maximizing the academic, career and social potential of students from subgroup populations, including gifted and talented, English language learners and special education. This school counseling program online prepares you to practice in public, private, charter or virtual schools.
This track will specifically cover:
- Counseling and supporting students with disabilities in the K-12 Setting
- Best practices in supporting English language learners to better support their academic, social and emotional growth
- Knowledge and best practices in supporting gifted and talented students to promote their holistic success academically, socially/emotionally and vocationally
Coursework is delivered 100% online—making this program flexible and accessible for recent graduates and working professionals alike.
The A-State MSE School Counseling Program is a 48-credit program. Didactic classes are capped at 70 students and clinical courses including Practicum, Internship 1 and Internship 2 are capped at 20 students. The MSE School Counseling Program is approved by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE).
Upon completion, students will meet school counselor licensure requirements in the state of Arkansas. Please note that out of state students must meet licensure requirements in Arkansas before being eligible for reciprocity in their state of residence.
You will gain an understanding of:
- Knowledge pertaining to psycho-social aspects of development and counseling across the lifespan
- Importance of culturally responsive counseling in the K-12 school setting
- Significance of ethical principles and practice
- Group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods, skills and other group approaches in a multicultural society through both theoretical information and experiential exercises
- Relevant theoretical approaches utilized in the K-12 school setting
- Overview of the history and growth of the school counseling profession, as well as the significance of the ASCA National Model
- Importance of using data and incorporating evidence-based techniques into practice to elicit positive student outcomes
- Relevance of developing needs assessments and program evaluations as data-driven practitioners
- Fundamental counseling skills and techniques in order to facilitate impactful counseling sessions
- Experiential practice in clinical courses to amplify and apply skills and knowledge obtained throughout the program
- Knowledge pertaining to psycho-social aspects of development and counseling across the lifespan
- Importance of culturally responsive counseling in the K-12 school setting
- Significance of ethical principles and practice
- Group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods, skills and other group approaches in a multicultural society through both theoretical information and experiential exercises
- Relevant theoretical approaches utilized in the K-12 school setting
- Overview of the history and growth of the school counseling profession, as well as the significance of the ASCA National Model
- Importance of using data and incorporating evidence-based techniques into practice to elicit positive student outcomes
- Relevance of developing needs assessments and program evaluations as data-driven practitioners
- Fundamental counseling skills and techniques in order to facilitate impactful counseling sessions
- Experiential practice in clinical courses to amplify and apply skills and knowledge obtained throughout the program
As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for roles, such as:
- Licensed K-12 School Counselor (Public, Private, Charter or Virtual)
- Licensed K-12 School Counselor (Public, Private, Charter or Virtual)
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.
Accreditation
Licensure programs within A-State’s College of Education & Behavioral Science are accredited by CAEP.
Tuition
Choosing our online education degree is cost effective
Our MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations online program features the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
These are the important dates you need to know
The MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations online program features accelerated coursework and multiple start dates, making it ideal for working professionals.
Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/12/26 | 12/8/25 | 12/8/25 | 12/18/25 | 1/9/26 | 2/27/26 |
| Spring 2 | 3/9/26 | 2/2/26 | 2/2/26 | 2/16/26 | 3/6/26 | 5/1/26 |
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Admissions
Follow our streamlined admission requirements for the online special populations degree
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. To be admitted to the MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations online program, students must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Although a teaching certificate is not required for this program in Arkansas, students should be prepared to have access to a classroom setting as part of the internship component of the program.
Please note, meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Student applications that meet minimum requirements are forwarded to the School Counseling Program Coordinator in the Department of Psychology and Counseling for final review, after which a decision on admission will be determined. Students should check for specific requirements in their state. See full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum 2.75 GPA
- Official transcripts
- Bachelor's degree
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
- If you have lower than a 2.75 GPA, you may still be admitted, dependent upon your references and your essay responses.
- Note: If you are admitted and have less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you must make a grade of B or better during the first 12 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University
- Two references who could speak to your professional responsibilities and academic potential
- Answers to three essay questions (listed below)
Application submission requirements
- Complete online application
- Submit a nonrefundable $30 fee
- Have official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- Official report of a score, obtained within the last five (5) years, on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- A typewritten essay that addresses
(1) personal, educational, and career goals and aspirations
(2) personal perceptions of influences on goals and aspirations
(3) personal view of the role and value of school counseling
- Three appraisal/recommendation forms, with at least one completed by a work supervisor and at least one completed by a faculty member in the applicant’s most recent academic program of study. (When the applicant has not completed that program of study, a statement of status in that program also is required.)
- Applicants who have not been enrolled in an academic program for more than five years may substitute a recommendation from a current or recent employer for the faculty recommendation. The third form may be completed by anyone who can attest to the applicant’s ability and/or character, except that it may not be completed by anyone who is a relative of the applicant.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
Additional information
For more information on state eligibility, please visit our State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page.
Appeals process
- Students who fall below the minimum admission requirements (GPA) or who are denied may send a written letter of appeal, GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial), and additional supporting information to [email protected]
- The appeal request will be forwarded to the department chair for conditional admission review.
Transfer credits
Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
Courses
View the degree plan for our online MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations program
Students in the MSE in School Counseling – Special Populations online program must complete a total of 48 credit hours. Required coursework includes 13 core courses (39 credit hours) and three concentration courses (9 credit hours).
Practicum, Internship 1, and Internship 2 will involve weekly supervision sessions that will help to promote awareness through learning and processing the complex needs and challenges of K-12 students, as well as to augment preparation in becoming impactful school counselors. In addition, students will be required to attend live weekly sessions for COUN 6123 and COUN 6663.
Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.
Please refer to the Program Approval Map for eligibility information related to this program.