Total units required for MS: 60

Program Description

The 60-unit 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 59-unit 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. The program is a full time three-year program and students will take between 9-12 units each fall and spring to complete within the three years. Students are admitted into a cohort and will follow the course sequence designated by their program concentration. The cohort model allows students to advance together throughout their education while building support and connections within their peer group. Students 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 CSUS 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.

School Counseling Concentration

• 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. Students 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.
• Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) requires 600 hours of field study, therefore the School Counseling students will complete a 60 unit program. 

• 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). The program is CACREP aligned which supports LPCC eligibility and meets most out of state standards for students wishing to move states where CACREP is required. 

Students in the School Counseling Concentration who intend to be employed in California will need to obtain the Pupil Personnel Services Credential, School Counseling (PPS-SC).

Note: Only students who are already enrolled in the School Counseling concentration at California State University, Sacramento may apply to the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Internship Credential Program. This credential is embedded within the master’s degree, School Counseling concentration.

The Career Counseling; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Rehabilitation Counseling, and School Counseling concentrations at Sacramento State are nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The School Counseling concentration is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 

Note: For additional information on credentials, see the “College of Education” section of this catalog. Program requirements are subject to change in order to maintain compliance with relevant state and national certification, licensure, and/or accreditation requirements.  Interested parties should refer to the current student handbook for up to date program information.

Special Features

• An on-campus Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services brings clients from off campus to be counseled by students in the program and provides opportunity for video and audio feedback.
• The Masters in Counseling Program and participating school districts collaborate with the Migrant Education Advisor Program (MEAP), which is a collaborative partnership with the Office of Migrant Education.
• Faculty actively support diversity and focus on multicultural counseling skills throughout the curriculum.
• Classes are offered during the day, late afternoon, and evening.

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student in the Master of Science in Counseling program requires:

• A baccalaureate degree;
• Good academic standing at the last college attended;
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter units);
• Completion of the University application materials;
• Completion and submission of all Departmental application materials which include:
  • Application form;
  • Written statements delineated in application, including Personal Statement and Writing Prompt;
  • Copies of transcripts (from all universities and colleges attended);
  • Professional letters of recommendation (2 required);
  • Relevant work experience via a Resume/CV.
• Participation in an In-Person Admission Evaluation, which may include (but is not limited to) interviews, experiential activities, and writing samples.

Selected applicants, based on paper screening of completed applications, will be invited for an In-Person Admission Evaluation. Decisions for admission into the Master of Science in Counseling program are made based on a comprehensive assessment of all application materials and performance in the In-Person Admission Evaluation.

Individuals must satisfy the basic skills requirement by one of the CTC approved methods prior to receiving the Pupil Personnel Services Credentials. 

Admission Procedure

Minimum Units and Grade Requirement for the Degree

Units required for the MS: 60

Minimum Cumulative GPA:  3.0

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student working toward a Master's degree must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy for the Master's degree. The purpose of this application is to provide certification to the Office of Graduate Studies that the student will complete or has completed the necessary requirements and acceptable electives for the Master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Advancement to Candidacy application should be filed upon completion of 30 units in the program but typically students complete this in their final year of our program.

Note: Students must meet the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) before advancing to candidacy. Our EDC 250 serves as our Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course to advance to candidacy.

The Advancement to Candidacy form is submitted online. Students should complete the relevant form  in consultation with their assigned academic advisor. Once the form is endorsed by the student and the advisor, it will be verified by the Department’s Graduate Coordinator and then forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies for final approval. An Advancement to Candidacy must be on file prior to submitting a Petition to Graduate to the Office of Graduate Studies.

For Counselor Education information please visit the College of Education: Master's Programs Website where you will find the Counselor Education webpage and under the “Current Students" link, the Forms and Handbooks page where you can obtain the Student Handbook. It is highly recommended that students read the Student Handbook.

Program Requirements^1,2

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Required Courses for All Concentrations (44 Units)
EDC 210	Advocacy, Social Justice, and Cultural Foundations in Counseling	3
EDC 214	Dynamics of Human Development	3
EDC 216	Counseling Theory	3
EDC 218	Assessment In Counseling	3
EDC 219	Group Processes in Counseling	3
EDC 231	Diagnosis and Treatment Planning	3
EDC 233	Substance Use and Addiction Counseling	3
EDC 244	Trauma and Crisis Counseling	3
EDC 250	Education Research 	3
EDC 252	Legal and Ethical Issues in Professional Counseling	3
EDC 260	Career Development	3
EDC 280	Counseling Skills Lab	2
EDC 475	Counseling Practicum	3
EDC 480	Field Study In Counseling Taken twice, 3 units each, over two separate semesters, in order to meet accreditation requirements.	6
Total Units		44

¹

Minimum GPA: 3.0

²

Academic Residence: A minimum of 42 approved semester units in 100-, 200-, and 500-series offerings must be earned in residence at California State University, Sacramento.

Concentration Requirements

School Counseling (15 units)

Course List

Code	Title	Units
EDC 215	Foundations of Professional School Counseling	3
EDC 242	Play and Art in Therapy with Children	3
EDC 270	Organization and Administration of School Counseling Programs	3
EDC 272	Counseling Children and Youth	3
EDC 274	Advocacy and Systemic Change in School Counseling	3
Total Units		15

Culminating Requirement (1 Unit)

All students in the M.S. in Counseling program must enroll in EDC 500¹ during their final semester in the program and complete the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).

In order to pass this multiple choice examination, a student must meet the minimum criterion score set by the Counselor Education Program. Categories covered include:

• Human Growth and Development
• Social and Cultural Foundations
• Helping Relationships
• Group Work
• Career and Lifestyle Development
• Appraisal
• Research and Program Evaluation
• Professional Orientation and Ethics

¹

Department petition required the semester prior to enrollment.