{"id":18030,"date":"2025-04-09T08:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T12:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=18030"},"modified":"2025-04-11T08:56:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T12:56:30","slug":"wilmus-masters-in-school-counseling-a-blended-approach-to-preparing-future-school-counselors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/09\/wilmus-masters-in-school-counseling-a-blended-approach-to-preparing-future-school-counselors\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU\u2019s Master\u2019s in School Counseling: A Blended Approach to Preparing Future School Counselors\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18030_ada60e-1e dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>Do you remember your elementary school counselor? <strong>Maya Abodunde<\/strong>, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m super excited about this,\u201d says Abodunde. \u201cI just want to be the best school counselor I can be for all of my students.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Flexible, Comprehensive Online School Counseling Degree\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"1252\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Maya-Abodunde.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18031\" style=\"width:150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Maya-Abodunde.jpg 842w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Maya-Abodunde-168x250.jpg 168w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Maya-Abodunde-323x480.jpg 323w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Maya-Abodunde-768x1142.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maya Abodunde<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>WilmU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/elementary-secondary-school-master.aspx#intro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">master\u2019s in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling<\/a>, the only program of its kind in Delaware, is designed to accommodate educators, mental health specialists and career changers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis 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,\u201d says <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/directory\/education\/tracey-prichard.aspx\">Dr. Tracey Pritchard<\/a><\/strong>, program chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to feel at a loss when it comes to mental health issues,\u201d says Dr. Pritchard. \u201cYou can educate yourself and be equipped to be impactful and to support children and adolescents around you \u2014 whether a teacher in the classroom, a practicing principal or superintendent, a specialist in a mental health setting, or raising your own kids.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Pritchard and many local school counselors in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and beyond are WilmU graduates. Choose the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/elementary-secondary-school-master-curriculum.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">certification track<\/a> to join them as a licensed school counselor. Another option is to follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/elementary-secondary-school-non-certified-master-curriculum.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">non-certification track<\/a> if you\u2019re working with children in some capacity and simply looking to better understand and support children, adolescents and their families.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Counseling Program That Combines Theory and Practice\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WilmU fosters a strong sense of community. Students in the School Counseling program benefit from faculty mentorship and an inclusive, student-centered-environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne thing that I really strive for in my program is high student touch. I want every student to feel valued,\u201d Dr. Pritchard says. \u201cWe 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.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abodunde agrees that everyone in the program \u201creally does care about you.\u201d She earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology and attended another graduate school before transferring to WilmU.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSomeone recommended Wilmington to me, and I fell in love with it,\u201d Abodunde says. \u201cBeing at Wilmington, I feel heard and seen here.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18030_980e42-fb alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18030_f2e042-ea kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18030_90f1d8-0e:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18030_90f1d8-0e.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18030_90f1d8-0e .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18030_90f1d8-0e image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wilmu-cta-logo-wu.svg\" alt=\"Wilm U post footer logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17727\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18030_2dc4d1-54 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Want to help students struggling with mental health, social, emotional or other issues? Pursue your <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/elementary-secondary-school-master.aspx#career\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling<\/em><\/a><em> in a blended online\/Online Live environment at Wilmington University. Classes start every eight weeks.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18032,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[78,943,14,15],"class_list":["post-18030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-college-of-education-liberal-arts","tag-m-ed-in-elementary-and-secondary-school-counseling","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"ACADEMIC NEWS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":78,"label":"College of Education &amp; Liberal Arts"},{"value":943,"label":"M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/school-counseling_-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Mckayla Imperatrice","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/mckayla\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","slug":"academic-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":559,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":460,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":460,"category_description":"","cat_name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","category_nicename":"academic-news","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":78,"name":"College of Education &amp; Liberal Arts","slug":"college-of-education-liberal-arts","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":635,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":90,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":943,"name":"M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling","slug":"m-ed-in-elementary-and-secondary-school-counseling","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1500,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18030"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18033,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18030\/revisions\/18033"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}