Do you remember your elementary school counselor? Maya Abodunde, a Wilmington University graduate student, not only remembers that counselor but also plans to intern with her as part of the M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program. 

“I’m super excited about this,” says Abodunde. “I just want to be the best school counselor I can be for all of my students.” 

A Flexible, Comprehensive Online School Counseling Degree  

WilmU’s master’s in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling, the only program of its kind in Delaware, is designed to accommodate educators, mental health specialists and career changers.  

“This program offers a unique combination of fully online coursework and live online coursework, ensuring both flexibility and the critical face-to-face engagement necessary for skill development,” says Dr. Tracey Pritchard, program chair. 

Required internships or practicums provide practical, real-world experience so you can address the academic, social, emotional, developmental and mental health challenges children and teens face today. 

“You don’t have to feel at a loss when it comes to mental health issues,” says Dr. Pritchard. “You can educate yourself and be equipped to be impactful and to support children and adolescents around you — whether a teacher in the classroom, a practicing principal or superintendent, a specialist in a mental health setting, or raising your own kids.” 

Dr. Pritchard and many local school counselors in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and beyond are WilmU graduates. Choose the certification track to join them as a licensed school counselor. Another option is to follow the non-certification track if you’re working with children in some capacity and simply looking to better understand and support children, adolescents and their families.  

A Counseling Program That Combines Theory and Practice 

This comprehensive school counseling program aligns with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, the ASCA Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs, the ASCA School Counselor Competencies and the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. Instructors are clinical practitioners and active leaders in the field who will teach you research, critical-thinking, ethical decision-making and advocacy skills. 

WilmU fosters a strong sense of community. Students in the School Counseling program benefit from faculty mentorship and an inclusive, student-centered-environment.  

“One thing that I really strive for in my program is high student touch. I want every student to feel valued,” Dr. Pritchard says. “We want our students to feel truly connected. We want them to love their classes, engage with their professor and classmates, and know that they are valued as individuals.” 

Abodunde agrees that everyone in the program “really does care about you.” She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and attended another graduate school before transferring to WilmU. 

“Someone recommended Wilmington to me, and I fell in love with it,” Abodunde says. “Being at Wilmington, I feel heard and seen here.”