Master of Arts in School Counseling & Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will this degree allow me to work?
The MA School Counseling and Guidance degree and State of Illinois Type 73
certification allow you to work as a Guidance Counselor in a public or private
school.
What kind of activities do guidance counselors perform on a daily basis?
It depends on the school and what other school service personnel are on staff.
Guidance counselors can assist with scheduling of classes, school and social
issues, refer students to outside services as necessary, and assisting with
future plans after graduation such as college, trade schools or the military.
Do you offer any cohorts?
Yes, we offer cohort formats at the Chicago and Tinley Park campuses. A traditional
format is offered at Romeoville. Chicago and Tinley Park offer once per year
starts and you start the program in Fall, Spring or Summer in Romeoville.
The courses at all three campuses are semester long classes. The main difference
is that the cohort classes are set up for you in advance and that classes
are back-to back on the same night, instead of different nights per week.
If you are interested in a cohort, please indicate that interest in the comments
section on the application.
Will I get hands-on experience to learn how to counsel students?
Yes, there are 100 hours in your practicum and as many as 600 hours in your
internship. These hours are supervised hours, spent in the schools with direct
contact with the students.
Can I work full-time while I am earning this degree?
You can, but keep in mind that you will need to earn your practicum and internship
hours to complete your degree and qualify for certification. Students may
work out with the schools and their employers to complete hours before or
after work at the school. Some students leave their jobs after their regular
courses are complete and complete their hours full-time (unpaid) at the end
of the program.
Do I select my school or does Lewis assign a school for me?
Most students prefer to select their own school. That way, they can select
one that is near their home or work or is willing to be flexible with your
hours. Students sometimes also select schools or districts in which they hope
to work at in the future.
Are there standardized tests required for this program?
We do not require the GRE, however students are required to take the Illinois
Basic Skills Test, as well as the Illinois School Service Personnel exam.
They do not have to be completed before admission into the program. We also
require a comprehensive exam near the end of the program. The comprehensive
exam is a Lewis University exam.
Where can I learn more about the state exams?
You can view study guides, check testing dates and regions and register for
the tests at www.icts.nesinc.com.
Can I complete this program online?
No. There are no courses offered online for this program although some professors
may enhance their courses using the internet.
What days and times are the classes offered?
For the cohorts, classes are
one night a week which varies from cohort to cohort. Cohort classes begin
at 4 pm and you will have one class after another.
Depending on the semester, there may be an additional class or weekend
workshops required as well. Romeoville classes are one night per week per
class in the
Fall and Spring and two nights per week in the summer. Romeoville classes
typically begin at 6pm with the exception of Internship and Practicum courses,
which start at 4pm.
Please note: If you are not a teacher and are a part of the cohort, you will
be required to complete two additional courses which are only available at
the Romeoville campus.
Can I apply online for this program?
Yes, you can complete a paper application or an online application at www.lewisu.edu/apply.
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