Master of Science in Counseling, Option in School Counseling with PPS Credential

Program Coordinator: Shyrea Minton, Ed.D.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Counseling with an option in School Counseling is a full-time program consisting of a core of counseling courses designed to prepare students to be counselors in a variety of settings, and specialization courses specifically focused on school counseling. Students entering this program will be prepared to work in PreK-12 public schools as school counselors, as well as in community agencies as professional clinical counselors. The program is driven by a vision for counselors who can develop comprehensive, results-based school counseling programs that promote educational equity and high academic achievement for all students. Program courses are integrated with school-based experiences and activities that prepare counselors to address the personal, social, emotional, career and academic development of PreK-12 students. The program meets the accreditation standards of and is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). At the completion of the program, graduates qualify for the State of California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling, required to become a School Counselor in PreK-12 education in the State of California. Graduates are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) to qualify for certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) [additional requirements must be met]. As clinical coursework and a clinical fieldwork requirement are embedded in the program, any graduate of the program wishing to pursue licensure post-graduation to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California may do so. After program completion, candidates would be required to complete post-graduate field experience and sit for state examinations.

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU, and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., Social Security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements is available from the department. See Notice to Students: Licensure and Certification for more information.

Pre-approved Prerequisite Course Equivalency List

Program Requirements

A. Admission Requirements for Classified Standing

1. Complete University application and requirements.

1.  Have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Have been in good standing at the last institution attended.
3. Have at least a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester/90 quarter units attempted.
4. If cumulative undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, score at or above the 50th percentile on one of the three sections of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (i.e., verbal, quantitative, or analytical).

2. Complete Department application for admission to graduate programs.

1. Submit two recommendations, either as letters or on the departmental form.
2. Participate in the admission’s interview process.
3. Be accepted by Counseling Program Faculty.

3. Complete all required prerequisite courses with a grade of “B minus” or better within the past 7 years. (Equivalent courses may be substituted for prerequisites.)

1. EPC 451 Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance (3)
2. PSY 310 Abnormal Psychology (3)

B. Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Counseling

1. Core Program (51 units)

• EPC 601 Individual and Group Assessment (3)

• EPC 602 Research Principles (3)

• EPC 609 Human Development: A Lifespan Perspective (3)

• EPC 643 Diversity in Counseling (3)
  
• EPC 655 Seminar in Counseling Theory and Practice (3)

• EPC 658 Seminar in Group Counseling (3)

• EPC 659A Communication Skills in Counseling (3)
  
• EPC 659B Practicum in Counseling (3)
• EPC 670A Systemic Family Therapy Theories and Their Evidence Base (3)

• EPC 671 Laws, Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling (3)
• EPC 672 Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis (3)
• EPC 673 Community Mental Health (3)
• EPC 675 Substance Abuse and Addictions Treatment (3)
• EPC 678 Psychopharmacology and Neurobiological Foundations (3)
• EPC 696 Directed Graduate Research (3)

Clinical fieldwork will be completed over two semesters in the final year 

• EPC 659JC Fieldwork in Clinical Counseling (3)
• EPC 659KC Fieldwork in Clinical Counseling (3)

2. Option (18 units)

• EPC 621 Collaborative Consultation for School Counselors (3)
• EPC 657A Seminar in Career Counseling Theory (3)
• EPC 659CC Fieldwork in Counseling Services (3)
  
• EPC 659DC Fieldwork in Counseling Services (3)
• EPC 682 Foundations of School Counseling (3)
• EPC 689 Leadership in School Counseling (3)

3. Culminating Experience (3 units)

• EPC 697 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)
  or 
• EPC 698C Thesis/Graduate Project (3)

Total Units Required for the M.S. Degree: 72

Practicum and Fieldwork: Students complete 100 hours of practicum during year 1 and 800 hours of fieldwork across year 2 and the final fall semester.

For Fall 2022 Entering Students and Beyond

Suggested Course Sequence (CC/SS Program Option)

Summer 1: Complete any remaining prerequisite requirements

Year 1:

• Semester 1: EPC 622, EPC 655, EPC 659A, EPC 671, EPC 672
• Semester 2: EPC 620, EPC 643, EPC 657A, EPC 659B, EPC 673
• *Summer 2: EPC 609

Year 2:

• Semester 3: EPC 601, EPC 659CC, EPC 659JC, EPC 695S, EPC 696 (does not meet)
• Semester 4: EPC 602, EPC 658, EPC 659DC, EPC 659KC, EPC 690C (1 unit), EPC 696 (does not meet)
• *Summer 3: EPC 675

Year 3:

• Semester 5: EPC 609 (as an alternative to taking during the summer), EPC 675 (as an alternative to taking during the summer), EPC 678, EPC 670A, EPC 697 or EPC 698C

Students graduate at the conclusion of the fall semester in year 3

*Courses offered in summer and fall or spring

**The M.S. in Counseling degree specializations are both 2.5-year programs

Suggested Course Sequence (SC Program Option)

Summer 1: Complete any remaining prerequisite requirements

Year 1:

• Semester 1: EPC 655, EPC 659A, EPC 671, EPC 672, EPC 682
• Semester 2: EPC 643, EPC 657A, EPC 658, EPC 659B, EPC 673
• *Summer 2: EPC 609

Year 2:

• Semester 3: EPC 601, EPC 659CC, EPC 659JC, EPC 621, EPC 696 (does not meet)
• Semester 4: EPC 602, EPC 659DC, EPC 659KC, EPC 689, EPC 696 (does not meet)
• *Summer 3: EPC 675

Year 3:

• Semester 5: EPC 609 (as an alternative to taking during the summer), EPC 675 (as an alternative to taking during summer), EPC 670A, EPC 678, EPC 697 or EPC 698C

Students graduate at the conclusion of the fall semester in year 3

*Courses offered in summer and fall or spring

**The M.S. in Counseling degree specializations are both 2.5-year programs

For Fall 2020 and 2021 Entering Students

Suggested Course Sequence (CC/SS Program Option) 

Summer 1: Complete any remaining prerequisite requirements 

Year 1:

• Semester 1: EPC 622, EPC 655, EPC 659A, EPC 671 
• Semester 2: EPC 602, EPC 643, EPC 620, EPC 659B 
• *Summer 2: EPC 609, EPC 681 

Year 2:

• Semester 3: EPC 601, EPC 658/L, EPC 659JC, EPC 672 
• Semester 4: EPC 657A, EPC 659KC, EPC 673, EPC 695S  
• *Summer 3: EPC 675 

Year 3:

• Semester 5: EPC 659JC, EPC 675 (as an alternative to taking during the summer), EPC 678, EPC 681 (as an alternative to taking during the summer), EPC 696 or EPC 698C 
• Semester 6: EPC 609 (as an alternative to taking during the summer), EPC 659KC, EPC 670A, EPC 697 or EPC 698C 

Students graduate at the conclusion of the spring semester of year 3

*Courses offered in summer and fall or spring 

**The M.S. in Counseling degree specializations are both 3-year programs

Suggested Course Sequence (SC Program Option) 

Summer 1: Complete any remaining prerequisite requirements 

Year 1:

• Semester 1: EPC 655, EPC 659A, EPC 671, EPC 682 
• Semester 2: EPC 602, EPC 643, EPC 658/L, EPC 659B  
• *Summer 2: EPC 609, EPC 681  

Year 2:

• Semester 3: EPC 601, EPC 659CC, EPC 672, EPC 689 
• Semester 4: EPC 621, EPC 659DC, EPC 673, EPC 687 
• *Summer 3: EPC 675 

Year 3:

• Semester 5: EPC 659JC, EPC 675 (as an alternative to taking during summer), EPC 678, EPC 681 (as an alternative to taking during summer), EPC 696 or EPC 698C 
• Semester 6: EPC 609 (as an alternative to taking during summer), EPC 659KC, EPC 670A, EPC 697 or EPC 698C 

Students graduate at the conclusion of the spring semester of year 3

*Courses offered in summer and fall or spring 

**The M.S. in Counseling degree specializations are both 3-year programs