Renowned for being the second oldest public institution in the United States since being founded by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693, the College of William and Mary has a long illustrious history of liberal arts education and a growing research commitment on its vast 1,200-acre suburban campus in historic Williamsburg. Named among the nation’s prestigious “Public Ivies,” William and Mary is ranked as the 32nd best college and 6th top public school in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. As the 39th best education school, the School of Education is home to accredited school psychology and counseling programs that prepare qualified professionals for practicing in educational or mental health settings.
With the goal of preparing graduate students for service as Licensed Professional Counselors to find employment in public or private human service agencies, the M.Ed. Community Counseling program places a strong emphasis on the needs for prevention, social justice, advocacy, and positive social change in communities as well as individual and group counseling intervention. In order to prepare counselors for being the critical first point of contact for troubled community members, the program is focused on delivering the skills and confidence to provide helping services. Within the 60-credit two-year program, students are required to complete a 100-clock hour practicum and a 600-clock hour internship under the guidance of a field supervisor. Students can also choose an optional specialization in Addictions Counseling to learn counseling interventions related to the use of alcohol and other drugs.
Offering coursework in family counseling theories and techniques with a particular emphasis on working with multi-challenged families, the M.Ed. Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy program is designed to satisfy the academic requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Virginia. Through a multi-dimensional and culturally inclusive approach, the program builds upon classroom instruction by offering counseling practicum and internship experiences at the on-campus New Horizons Family Counseling Center. After completing the required 60 hours of graduate coursework for the master’s degree, graduates must complete 2,000 hours of post-master’s supervision and successfully pass the licensure examination in order to practice independently in Virginia and many other states.
Based on a balanced programming approach to address the developmental needs of students as well as the mechanisms of support for children susceptible to arrested development, the M.Ed. School Counseling program is focused on guiding children through the school years to prepare graduates for assuming positions in elementary, middle, and secondary schools. With a strong emphasis on the cognitive, affective, and physical growth of children through young adulthood, the program ensures that all graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to maximize students’ learning for reaching their fullest potential. With a 150-hour practicum and 600-hour internship, the program’s didactic instruction and field work can typically be completed in two years and one summer full-time.
Structured to prepare qualified students for competency in graduate-level teaching expertise to contribute new knowledge to the field, train the nation’s next generation of counselors, and act as competent counselor supervisors, the Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision program encourages students to extend their abilities, explore experiential learning activities, develop critical thinking skills, and build a focused research agenda. In addition to delivering advanced clinical training in couples, family, and sexuality counseling at the New Horizons Family Counseling Center, students can choose to provide addictions counseling at the New Leaf Clinic. For a minimum total of 60 hours, the program includes seminars, counseling practicum, a counselor education internship, approved electives, and doctoral dissertation.
Accreditations
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)