• Teacher and counselor taking to teen student in teachers office

Graduate Degrees | Online Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership

Online Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership

The Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership is a flexible, fully online degree designed for licensed school counselors who want to expand their leadership capacity and serve at the district level. This program prepares counseling professionals to shape school-wide initiatives, guide policy and program development, and support student success across multiple campuses.

Unlike administrative leadership tracks, this program is specifically crafted for school counselors looking to move into district-level leadership roles, not for those seeking school administration positions. Students deepen their expertise in areas such as advanced counseling practices, leadership theory, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative planning across schools.

Because the program is asynchronous and part-time, it is ideal for working professionals nationwide and qualifies for federal financial aid.

Quick Facts

100% ONLINE
No campus visits required

FLEXIBLE FOR PROFESSIONALS
Designed to fit the schedule of working school counselors

CREDIT HOURS
30

APPLICATION DEADLINE
April 1 (students accepted as late as August 1)

About the Online Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership

Designed for working school counselors who are ready to step into leadership within school districts, the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Counseling Leadership is a fully online, asynchronous degree that builds advanced skills for driving systemic change in K–12 settings.

As a fully online, leadership-focused Ed.S. for school counselors, the program:

  • Prepares you to lead at the district level by strengthening your ability to design, guide, and assess counseling programs across multiple schools.
  • Builds your expertise in data-driven decision-making, helping you evaluate student needs, improve services, and advocate for district-wide initiatives.
  • Develops advanced leadership, collaboration, and communication skills for school counselors who want to influence policy, practice, and student outcomes.
  • Expands your capacity to support counselors and students at scale, positioning you to create equitable, comprehensive counseling systems throughout a district.

Curriculum

The online Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership provides advanced preparation for licensed school counselors who want to expand their impact at the district level. Coursework deepens your understanding of data-driven decision-making, leadership theory, counseling program development, and collaboration across K–12 systems.

This fully online, asynchronous program is designed for working professionals, allowing you to complete assignments on your own schedule without required campus visits. Students progress through a fall-start cohort, building skills in leadership, supervision, research, policy development, advocacy, and the implementation of comprehensive school counseling programs.

In addition to the core Counselor Education sequence, the School Counseling Leadership emphasis explores:

  • Advanced leadership skills for district-level counseling roles
  • Collaborative strategies for influencing school-wide and district-wide initiatives
  • Assessment, program evaluation, and data literacy for improving student outcomes
  • Ethical, legal, and sociocultural considerations in school counseling leadership
  • Advocacy strategies for equitable, systemic support for all students
  • Counseling program design, implementation, and improvement across multiple schools
  • Supervisory skills for supporting other school counselors

View the School Counseling Leadership Ed.S. Degree Plan (PDF)

Careers in School Counseling Leadership

The Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership equips licensed school counselors with the knowledge and skills needed to serve in leadership roles at the district level. Graduates are prepared to guide comprehensive counseling programs, coordinate student services, and support counselors across multiple campuses.

Professionals with this credential may pursue opportunities such as:

  • District Director or Coordinator of Counseling Services
  • Lead School Counselor or District Counseling Supervisor
  • Specialist roles supporting multi-school counseling initiatives
  • Leadership positions focused on student services, data analysis, and systems-level improvement

As district-level leaders, graduates help shape counseling practices, guide policy, support school counselors, and ensure equitable services that benefit students across an entire school system.

The first cohort will graduate in May 2026.

Gain the Skills to Become a District-Level Counseling Leader

If you are a licensed school counselor looking to expand your influence and support students at scale, the online Ed.S. in School Counseling Leadership provides the advanced training needed to lead, advocate, and elevate counseling services across school districts.

Program Contact
Franc Hudspeth, PhD, NCC, LPC-S (MS & AR), ACS, RPT-S, RPh
Program Coordinator, Ed.S. in Counselor Education—School Counseling Leadership
Clinical Associate Professor
efhudspe@olemiss.edu