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School Counseling Credential (code 802)

The Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) and the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Programs are designed to prepare counselors to work in elementary, middle, and high schools. Both programs support a comprehensive, developmental, and collaborative school counseling model. Based upon the American School Counselor Association's National Standards for K-12 School Counseling Programs and their 2003 National Model, our programs further support a balanced, holistic approach that considers the academic, career development, and personal/social needs of K-12 students. Graduates are expected to become proactive leaders who will advocate for their students and themselves as counseling professionals working toward equity, achievement, and opportunity for all students.

The Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential (PPS/SC) is required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for persons employed by the public schools as school counselors. Neither a Master's Degree nor a teaching credential is required for school counseling positions in the State of California. However, in keeping with national standards, students entering the CSULB Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Program need to earn a Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) concurrently with the credential, unless they already have a Master's Degree in Counseling from CSULB or another institution. Thus, applicants to the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Program who lack a Master's Degree in Counseling must concurrently apply to the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) Program to be considered.

Courses required for the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential are the same courses that are required for the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option). Thus, students seeking the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential are required to take all coursework required for the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option).

Prerequisites

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with some coursework in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, or related fields.

2. Minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants whose overall GPA is less than 2.85 but meet the University minimum GPA requirement and who present compelling evidence of academic and professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program admission committee.

3. International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website at www.csulb.edu/cie for more information.

Application

Each year the School Counseling Programs Information and Application Packet is revised. Applicants must use the application developed specifically for the year for which they are applying. Candidates are admitted for fall only, although admitted candidates may begin coursework during the preceding summer semester. Applications and directions can be downloaded at www.ced.csulb.edu/graduate/application-packets.

CBEST Requirement

Admitted students must take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) no later than the second available administration date following enrollment in the program.

Requirements

1. Completion of the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) or an approved equivalent degree.

2. All of the following:

  • COUN 506 Counseling in School Settings (3)
    Prerequisites: Official admission to the School Counseling Program.
  • COUN 507 Career/Acd Counseling in K-12 Settings (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 506.
  • COUN 510 Law and Ethics for Counselors (3)
    Prerequisites: None.
  • COUN 513 Introduction to Clinical Interviewing (3)
    Prerequisites: None.
  • COUN 515 Counseling Theories (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 513.
  • COUN 555 Cross-Cultural Counseling (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 510, COUN 513, COUN 515; SDHE 538, or their equivalent upon approval of the instructor.
  • COUN 606 Current Issues in Professional School Counseling (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 506.
  • COUN 607 School Counseling Practicum (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 506, COUN 515.
  • COUN 638 Group Counseling (3)
    Prerequisites: Admission to the MS in Counseling, and/or PPS School Counseling Credential, or School Psychology Program, COUN 510, COUN 513, COUN 515 or equivalent upon approval of instructor.
  • COUN 643A Counseling Field Work: School Counseling (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 607, Certificate of Clearance, EDP 536 (must be taken concurrently with either COUN 643A or COUN 644A.)
  • COUN 644A Advanced Counseling Field Work: Advanced School Counseling (3)
    Prerequisites: COUN 507, COUN 638, COUN 643A; EDP 536 (must be taken concurrently with either COUN 643A or 644A); pass CBEST.
  • COUN 695C Integrative Seminar in Professional School Counseling (3)
    Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy; COUN 507, COUN 555, COUN 638; EDP 596; and permission to enroll from School Counseling Program Coordinator. Prerequisites/Corequisites: COUN 643A.
  • EDP 400 Intro to Educational Research (3)
    (or equivalent)
    Prerequisites: None.
  • EDP 520 Quantitative Research Methods in Education (3)
    Prerequisites: For majors in MA in Educational Psychology: ED P 419 or equivalent. For other majors: ED P 400 or equivalent.
  • EDP 536 Collaborative Consultation in the Schools (3)
    Prerequisites/Corequisites: COUN 643A, COUN 644A, EDP 642A, EDP 642B, or Field Placement in Special Education.
  • EDP 596 Program Evaluation in Education (3)
    Prerequisites: EDP 400 and EDP 520, or equivalent.
  • EDP 604 Seminar in Human Development (3)
    Prerequisites: EDP 301 or EDP 302, and EDP 400 or EDP 419.

3. Fieldwork:

  • A. School Counseling Field Work (COUN 643A) (300 hrs. of approved activities, average of 20 hours per week)
    • (1) COUN 607
    • (2) Certificate of Clearance
  • B. Advanced School Counseling Field Work (COUN 644A) (300 hours of approved activities, average of 20 hours per week):
    • (1) COUN 507, COUN 638, COUN 643A; EDP 536 (or concurrent enrollment in 536)
    • (2) Pass CBEST

4. Certification of program completion by the faculty is required. The faculty may require students to complete additional course work, fieldwork, or demonstrate specific competencies before recommendation to the CTC for the PPS School Counseling credential.


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