Programs in College Counseling and Student Services
Program Coordinators
Merril A. Simon, Ph.D
- merril.simon@csun.edu
- 818-677-2558
Master of Science in Counseling, Specialization in College Counseling and Student Services
The M.S. degree in counseling with a specialization in CCSS is designed to prepare students for career opportunities in higher education with particular emphasis on positions serving university and community college students on urban campuses. Special attention is given to working with diverse student populations including returning,minority and disabled students. This program is designed for two types of students:(1) for those individuals who desire training for entry level positions in student affairs, and (2) for those who are already experienced professionals in student affairs and wish to increase their theoretical background and range of experience. The program meets the accreditation standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).
Prerequisites for the M.S. Program (all majors) (9 Units*)
| *Each class shown is 3 units. Equivalent 3-unit courses may be considered at the department's discretion. | |
| EPC 600 | Educational Statistics for Research and Measurement |
|---|---|
| An equivalent statistics class taken in past seven years may be considered at the department's discretion | |
| EPC 430 | Development and Learning in Early Childhood Education |
| EPC 612 | Advanced Study in Child and Adolescent Development |
| Only one of either EPC 430 or EPC 612 is required. An equivalent 3-unit course may be considered at the department's discretion. | |
| EPC 451 | Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance |
| PSY 310 | Abnormal Psychology |
Admission Requirements for All Masters Programs
The admission requirements for classified standing in all degrees are:
- Completion of application and meeting admissions requirements of the University. (Application available online at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/)
Requirements include:- Acceptable score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.
- Successfully pass the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam.
- A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.
- Completion of application for admission to the Department graduate programs (may be downloaded here). See program advisors for specific details. This includes:
- Two letters of recommendation.
- An admission interview.
- Approval by the Department Student Affairs Committee.
- Satisfactory completion of all prerequisite courses pertinent to the specialization selected,with a grade of B-or better.
Core Program for the M.S. in Counseling (21 units*)
| *Each class shown is 3 units. In addition to the courses listed in the above table, an additional 36 units are required for the specialization in College Counseling and Student Services. A total of 60 units are required for the M.S. degree. | |
| *All programs must be approved by the program coordinator. This listing is provided for information purposes only, is subject to change without notice, and is not guaranteed to be correct. The student should consult the university catalog and the program coordinator for further details and course descriptions. | |
| EPC 601 | Individual and Group Assessment |
|---|---|
| EPC 602 | Research Principles |
| EPC 643 | Counseling in Cross-Cultural Settings |
| EPC 655 | Seminar in Counseling Theory and Practice |
| EPC 657A | Seminar in Career Counseling Theory |
| EPC 659A | Counseling Practicum: Communication |
| EPC 659B | Counseling Practicum: Skills |
Additional Requirements for the M.S. in Counseling with a Specialization in College Counseling and Student Services (39 units*)
| *All programs must be approved by the program coordinator. This listing is provided for information purposes only, is subject to change without notice, and is not guaranteed to be correct. The student should consult the university catalog and the program coordinator for further details and course descriptions. | |
| ELPS 601 | American Higher Education (3) |
|---|---|
| or EPC 695S | Special Topics in Student Personnel Services (3) |
| ELPS 605 | Administration of Programs in Student Services and College Counseling (3) |
| or EPC 695S | Special Topics in Student Personnel Services (3) |
| EPC 606 | Seminar in Adult Development (3) |
| or EPC 609 | Human Development:A Life-Span Perspective (3) |
| EPC 608 | Social Psychological Education (3) |
| or EPC 615 | Instructional Design (3) |
| or EPC 653 | Career Assessment (3) |
| or | Approved Course in Department of Management |
| EPC 542 | Meeting the Needs of Students (1) |
| EPC 543 | The Reflective Practitioner (1) |
| EPC 620 | College Counseling and StudentServices Profession (3) |
| EPC 622 | American College Student and Campus Environment (3) |
| EPC 658 | Seminar in Group Counseling (3) |
| EPC 658L | Group Counseling Laboratory (1) |
| EPC 659JB | Fieldwork (Supervision of First Year Mentoring Experience) (3) |
| EPC 659JC | Fieldwork in College Counseling and Student Services (3) |
| EPC 659KC | Fieldwork in College Counseling and Student Services (3) |
| Electives | Must be approved by program coordinator (1-4) |
| EPC 697 | Directed Comprehensive Studies (3) |
| or EPC 698 | Thesis/Graduate Project (3-6) |
Suggested Two-Year Course Sequence by Semester*
For full-time students who are not employed beyond internships
| *All programs must be approved by the program coordinator. This listing is provided for information purposes only, is subject to change without notice, and is not guaranteed to be correct. The student should consult the university catalog and the program coordinator for further details and course descriptions. | |
| Semester 1 (Summer) | EPC 542, 543, 657A |
|---|---|
| Semester 2 (Fall) | EPC 622, 655, 659A, 659JB |
| Semester 3 (Spring) | EPC 602, 620, 643, 659B |
| Semester 4 (Summer) | EPC 659S, 609 |
| Semester 5 (Fall) | EPC 601, 658, 658L, 659JC, 698C or Elective (3 units) |
| Semester 6 (Spring) | EPC 659KC, 698C or Elective (3 units), 608 or 615 or 653 or approved MGT Course, 695S |
| Semester 7 | If needed to complete thesis or project |
Certificate in College Counseling and Student Services
Click here for Certificate Information and Financial Aid Disclosure
The Specialist Certificate program in College Counseling and Student Services is designed to prepare students for career opportunities and advancement in higher education with particular emphasis upon those positions that serve university and community college students on urban campuses. Special attention is given to working with diverse student populations including returning,minority and disabled students. The College Counseling and Student Services program is designed for two types of students: (1) for those individuals who desire training for entry level positions in student affairs; and (2) for those who are already experienced professionals in student affairs and wish to increase their experience.
Fieldwork
There is a strong emphasis on the fieldwork component in the College Counseling and Student Services program. Students will have an opportunity to participate in several student affairs placements at both the community college and university level. Placement opportunities include,but are not limited to:academic advising, athletics (development, club sports, intramural), campus religious organizations,career planning, clubs and organizations, cooperative education, Dean of Students (administration,discipline), educational equity, entertainment, EOP, ESL, financial aid, fraternities and sororities, disabled students,health services (administration, family planning),housing (administration, off-campus housing, residence halls), international programs, leadership training, Learning Resource Center, orientation, outreach and retention, student government, Student Union (food service, maintenance, operations, programming), veterans, volunteer organizations, Women's Center.
Requirements fof admission to the certificate program
The Specialist Certificate in College Counseling and Student Services is a post-masters program. Students applying for the Specialist Certificate should hold a Masters degree in Counseling (or the equivalent Masters degree). Students who hold Masters degrees in closely aligned fields other than counseling may be required to take courses beyond those outlined for the Specialist Certificate. Each candidate's background and experience will be taken into consideration in determining requirements. Master's degrees in education or other areas do not fulfill this requirement.
Program Requirements and Suggested Course Sequence by Semester*
The following course requirements meet the requirements for the Certificate in College Counseling and Student Services (CCSS) for graduate students who have a masters degree in counseling or equivalent masters degree.
| *All programs must be approved by the program coordinator. This listing is provided for information purposes only, is subject to change without notice, and is not guaranteed to be correct. The student should consult the university catalog and the program coordinator for further details and course descriptions. | |
| Semester 1 Fall | EPC 622 American College Student and Campus Environment (3) |
|---|---|
| EPC 657A Career Development (3) | |
| Semester 2 Spring | EPC 620 College Counseling and Student Services Profession (3) |
| EPC 643 Cross-Cultural Counseling (3) | |
| Semester 3 Summer | EPC 695S Introduction to Higher Ed |
| Semester 4 Fall | EPC 659JC Fieldwork in College Student Personnel Services (3) |
| EPC 601 Assessment (3) | |
| Semester 5 Spring | EPC 659KC Fieldwork in College Student Personnel Services (3) |
| EPC 695S Capstone | |