Master of Arts in School Counseling
The Master of Arts in School Counseling program is a 48-semester-hour combined degree/credential program. It is designed for candidates who plan to serve as School Counselors in a California K-12 public or private school setting. As a combined program, it incorporates the required courses and fieldwork experiences mandated by the California CTC for the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. As such, candidates in this program do not pursue other specializations. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for the California PPS credential but not for the licensure as an LPCC.
The program leading to the School Counseling credential is approved by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Admission Requirements
The items listed below should be submitted directly to the School of Education Office of the Dean, unless otherwise noted:
1. Completion of the Graduate Division application form, submitted directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
2. Two official copies of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
3. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0; or a 3.05 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work taken or a 3.0 GPA in at least 9 semester hours of graduate level coursework is required. An appeal may be made to the Exceptions Committee.
4. A letter of application (intent) to the Academic Program Director in which the following issues are addressed:
a. Why the applicant wants to be a counselor;
b. characteristics the applicant possesses that he or she thinks will make him/her an effective counselor;
c. the applicant’s commitment towards preparing himself/herself to be an effective counselor (e.g., devote the required time to an internship; become active in related professional organizations); and
d. a summary of experience with culturally diverse individuals.
5. Two letters of recommendation. Forms may be accessed in the online application.
6. Interview and approval by Academic Program Director or Assistant Director.
7. Certificate of Clearance (COC): Completion of fingerprint clearance (Livescan) process through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI must occur prior to enrollment in first semester classes. Fingerprint applications are available on the School of Education website.
8. After steps 1-7 above have been completed, the candidate’s file will be reviewed for provisional or controlled admission. Under these designations, candidates are able to enroll in their first semester of coursework.
9. Completion of the CBEST no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment and before fieldwork assignment. The CBEST is not required for those students pursuing the Master degree without the PPS credential. Intern candidates must pass CBEST prior to beginning the internship program.
10. Signed Candidate Disposition Forms from two full-time faculty members in the School of Education with whom the candidate has had courses are required before a candidate is granted Formal Admission.
11. All entering candidates should first enroll in EDSS 6391 Foundations of Counseling . Candidates will be reviewed for formal acceptance upon completion of this course and steps 1-10 above.
12. Basic Computer Skills: All applicants must verify that they have basic computer skills that are necessary for success in the School of Education. Applicants may either verify their skills by signing a self-verification form provided by the School of Education or take EDUX 846, Basic Computer Skills of Educators, during their first year.
13. Prior to beginning fieldwork, candidates must verify 100 clock hours in a “practica” experience (e.g., shadowing a counselor, observing classroom instruction, attending school-based meetings, peer counseling, personal or group counseling experiences). Eighty of these hours are accumulated in the required course work.
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