Master of Science - Counseling - School Counseling

The Master of Science in Counseling prepares professional counselors for employment in a variety of settings such as public and private agencies, universities and colleges, schools and private practice. This degree meets the educational requirements for becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and/or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the State of California. The Pupil Personnel Services, School Counseling Credential prepares professional counselors to work within the K-12 educational system. The programs are clinically oriented, with didactic and experiential courses, a 100-hour clinical practicum, and 600 hours of field experience. Students are admitted into a cohort and will follow the course sequence designated by their program concentration. The cohort model allows them to advance together throughout their education while building support and connections within their peer group. They are encouraged to advance their advocacy and professional experiences through such activities as participation in professional organizations, research, and presentations at the local, state, regional, and national level; involvement in the California State University, Sacramento Multicultural Conference; and/or involvement in the Counselor Education Student Counseling Society. Both leadership and research opportunities are supported through faculty mentorship. The curricular experience is organized around core foundation courses, an intensive on-campus practicum training clinic experience, interpersonal growth experiences, advanced theory and practice courses, and a culminating field study placement. The School Counseling Concentration is designed for individuals who seek to become elementary, middle, or secondary school counselors. This program meets the requirements for the K-12 California Pupil Personnel Services Credential, School Counseling (PPS-SC). Students in this program are prepared to function as key members of an educational team seeking to optimize children’s academic, socio-emotional, and career development. They obtain the expertise necessary to lead the educational team in working collaboratively with a broad range of education and human service professionals, paraprofessionals, and community representatives to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate programs that provide key services to both the individual child as well as the systems and subsystems in which the child interacts. The School Counseling Concentration is also designed to provide students with all the educational competencies required by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).