Endicott College Announces New M.Ed. in School Counseling

Endicott College’s School of Education has announced a new Master of Education in School Counseling program, set to launch in fall 2027, that will prepare graduates to support the academic, social-emotional, and mental health needs of students while driving meaningful change across K-12 school communities.

Grounded in Endicott’s commitment to experiential learning, the program brings together holistic student wellness, equity, and evidence-based practice to prepare counselors who can respond to the increasingly complex needs of today’s students. Graduates will be equipped not only to work directly with students, but also to use data, advocacy, and collaboration to identify barriers to student success and strengthen school communities.

“Schools are being asked to do more than ever to support the whole student, and school counselors are increasingly at the center of that work,” said Endicott College President Bryan Cain, Ph.D. “At Endicott, we have long believed that education has the power to change lives—and that meaningful change begins with professionals who understand students as individuals while also recognizing the systems that shape their opportunities. This program builds on that commitment by preparing the next generation of school counselors to lead with empathy, evidence, and purpose.”

Students may choose between two pathways based on their professional goals: a 48-credit initial licensure program leading to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) School Counselor licensure at all levels, or a 60-credit dual licensure pathway combining preparation for school counselor licensure with the educational requirements necessary for Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) eligibility.

The dual licensure option is designed for professionals seeking greater versatility in addressing student mental health needs, combining specialized school-based preparation with deeper clinical training.

“Today’s school counselors have an extraordinary opportunity to influence the culture and systems of an entire school community as well as its students,” said Julie Calzini, Myrt Harper Rose Dean of the School of Education. “We designed this program to prepare counselors who can build authentic relationships with students while also asking the larger questions: Who has access to opportunity? Who feels a sense of belonging? Where are students encountering barriers, and what can we do to remove them? By combining rigorous clinical preparation with an equity-centered approach and meaningful field experience, our graduates will be prepared to turn those questions into action and become powerful advocates for every student they serve.”

The curriculum is grounded in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and aligned with Massachusetts DESE Subject Matter Knowledge standards. Students will develop competencies in individual and group counseling, college and career development, family and community partnerships, student mental health and wellness, and the legal rights of children, while learning to use data and program evaluation to identify and address opportunity gaps.

A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on equity-centered counseling and systemic advocacy. Students will examine how identity, institutional structures, and systems of power can shape student experiences and outcomes, while developing the skills to cultivate belonging and expand access to opportunity within their schools.

That preparation will extend well beyond the classroom. In keeping with Endicott’s signature Experiential Edge, students will complete 500 hours of field experience across two 250-hour clinical experiences. The first will emphasize observation, reflection, and foundational counseling skills, while the second will allow students to assume greater responsibility for counseling interventions and the leadership of comprehensive school counseling programs.

Through these experiences, students will connect theory directly to practice under professional supervision and graduate with substantial experience working in school environments.

The M.Ed. in School Counseling expands Endicott’s longstanding commitment to preparing educators and educational leaders who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of students, schools, and communities, and marks the third new degree in 2026, including the B.S. in Artificial Intelligence & Analytics Management and an M.S. in Criminal Justice.

Applications for the inaugural fall 2027 cohort are open now.