MS in Counseling – School Counseling Concentration
Working in schools as a counselor can be a very exciting career, guiding K-12 aged students through a variety of challenges to support learning and career choices. School counselors provide individuals support, group counseling, classroom guidance lessons, and crisis intervention, to mention just a few. It is a career of great service, variety, and flexibility that can fulfill a desire to help and give to a community. The M.S. in Counseling offers a specific concentration for those who are interested in school counseling as a professional program.
Coursework in this concentration prepares students to become counselors in grades K-12 through applying for the California Pupil Personnel Services School Counselor Credential (PPS) at the completion of the studies. The MS in counseling with a concentration in school counseling is a 60 semester degree, but can also be combined with the professional counseling concentrations, as core courses overlap, to be eligible for both the LPCC certification and PPS credential.
In addition to the breadth of coursework in the program that includes innovative and topical classes, a concentration in school counseling is supported by hands on placement experience. Students work towards their PPS credential by fulfilling 800 hours of practice in school settings, at a minimum of two separate K-12 levels. This provides students with the best opportunities for learning in a supported and safe learning environment.
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
| Year 1 |
15 Units COUN 6220: Intro to Counseling (3 units) COUN 6221: Intro to Research & Evaluation (3 units) COUN 6222: Law & Ethics in Education (3 units) COUN 6223: Learning Theories (3 units) COUN 6230: Human Development in Counseling (3 units) |
12 Units COUN 6224: Advanced Counseling (3 units) COUN 6227: Counseling Theories (3 units) COUN 6235: Crisis & Trauma in Counseling (3 units)* COUN 6240: Professional School Counseling (3 units) |
| Year 2 |
12 Units COUN 6229: Socio-Cultural Counseling (3 units) COUN 6231: Group Counseling (3 units) COUN 6233: Practice-Based Placement (3 units) COUN 6239: Family Counseling (3 units) |
9 units COUN 6226: Conflict Resolution (3 units) COUN 6233: Practice-Based Placement (3 units) COUN 6238: Aging, Death & Grief in Couples & Families (3 units)* |
| Year 3 |
9 units COUN 6232: Career Counseling (3 units) COUN 6233: Practice-Based Placement (3 units) COUN 6237: Appraisal (3 units) |
12 units COUN 6225: Systems Consultation (3 units) COUN 6228: Addictions Counseling (3 units)* COUN 6233: Practice-Based Placement (3 units) COUN 6241: Gender & Sexuality (3 units)* COUN 6980: Comprehensive Examination (0 units) |
Listen to what Maria addresses about what she learned in the program to prepare her for working in schools.
The Counseling Program, School Counseling Concentration, is accredited by:
