The University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development has earned a prestigious national recognition for its school counselor preparation program. 

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has awarded the program national recognition, affirming that its graduates are prepared to implement a comprehensive counseling program and are well-versed in the foundational concepts of the profession. Mizzou is now one of only five institutions in the country to receive this distinction. 

ASCA recognizes school counselor preparation programs that meet its national standards, which define the essential knowledge and skills beginning counselors must demonstrate across seven core standards and 24 components. These expectations are rooted in the ASCA National Model and supported by resources such as the ASCA School Counselor Competencies and ASCA Ethical Standards.

Programs seeking national recognition must provide direct evidence—typically through six to eight key assessments—that link curriculum and field experiences to each of the standards and components, demonstrating comprehensive alignment with the ASCA model. While the program is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), ASCA’s recognition is a separate distinction—highlighting the program’s commitment to preparing counselors who support K–12 students’ academic, social-emotional, and career development.  

“Earning ASCA National Recognition reflects our program’s deep commitment to preparing school counselors aligned with national best practices,” said Jessica Bendure, School Counseling Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology. “It’s a meaningful milestone that affirms the quality of our curriculum, faculty, and training experiences. It also signals to students, school districts, and families that our graduates are exceptionally well-prepared to meet the mental health, academic, and social-emotional needs of today’s schools.” 

The recognition adds to the long-standing success of the counseling program, one of the first to receive American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation, which has been maintained since 1953. 

The curriculum is based around a science-practitioner method of training, in addition to a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program model—approaches established by Norm Gysbers, Ph.D., a former University of Missouri faculty member who is nationally and internationally recognized as “the father of modern school counseling.” This approach emphasizes applied counseling psychology theory, research, and practice while providing developmentally appropriate mental health support and career guidance. 

Today, the program is fully online, allowing students from across Missouri and throughout the nation to learn from nationally recognized and published faculty. Students have the option to pursue licensure at the elementary, secondary, or all levels, and most states honor reciprocity with Missouri’s school counseling certification.