SCHOOL COUNSELING
Students in the school counseling program at 棉花糖直播 are trained to be school leaders and advocates across the school system. They learn to provide evidence-based counseling services to support social/emotional, academic, and career development of youth.
Completing all requirements of the School Counseling concentration leads to approval for PK-12 School Counselor certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and prepares students for professional counselor licensure.
Program Highlights:
- Focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools and apply multicultural counseling and social justice competencies;
- Develop, manage, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program to foster student success at the elementary, middle, and high school levels;
- Learn techniques involved in counseling children and adolescents, as well as consulting with teachers, parents, and other professionals;
- Understand the key mental health issues in schools and learn theory and skills in crisis counseling;
- Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP);
- Students may elect to begin the program full-or part-time. Teachers can receive a discounted tuition and may be able to continue to work throughout much of their time enrolled in the program鈥攕ee the program director for details.
- The coursework is based on the standards and recommendations of: the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model for School Counseling Programs and National Standards for School Counseling programs, Ethical Standards for School Counselors developed by ASCA, certification requirements for school counselors as outlined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania Standards for School Counseling Programs, NCC examination requirements, and professional counselor licensure requirements of the State of Pennsylvania.
Please note: Students who enroll in this degree may decide to pursue licensure/certification, the requirements for which vary by location. For more information on educational requirements, please review the professional licensure/certification disclosures.
What makes us unique?
- Join a small cohort of school counseling students welcomed each fall.
- Experience a sense of community, support, and partnership with faculty and peers.
- Connect with our counseling honor society, Chi Sigma Iota, through social and service events, as well as a peer mentorship program.
- Work with expert faculty to present at conferences, co-author papers, and work on research studies.
- Develop a professional edge by taking electives in or adding the Online College Admissions Counseling Certificate.
Questions about this program, please contact Dr. Terence Yee, School Counseling Program Director.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Program Requirements
Students enrolled in the School Counseling Concentration are required to:
- Complete the core program, including electives related to areas of interest.
- Complete the .
- Complete the comprehensive examination, which is an integral part of the program. Students may opt to conduct a thesis (6 elective credits) in lieu of the comprehensive exam.
- Demonstrate proficiency in counseling skills during one-semester Practicum and a two-semester (six-credit) Internship.
Students seeking certification to work in Pennsylvania must complete all requirements for a Master's of Science degree in Counseling with concentration in School Counseling. In accord with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, a total of 60 credits are required for the completion of the degree. Students may take up to six years to complete the program.
Prospective Students interested in reviewing course syllabi or visiting a class are directed to contact the Program Director.
Core Program Courses
Level I (15 credits)
- CHR 8605 Laboratory in Counseling Skills
- CHR 8655 Laboratory in Group Dynamics
- CHR 8687 Counseling Theory and Practice
- CHR 8680 School Counseling Orientation
- CHR 8883 Ethics and Professional Orientation in Counseling
Level II (33 credits)
- CHR 8683 Consultation Processes
- CHR 8855 Assessment and Appraisal
- CHR 8600 Special Education for Counselors and Teachers
- CHR 8854 Therapeutic Strategies
- CHR 8750 Mental Health in Schools
- CHR 8884 Human Growth and Development
- CHR 8860 Counseling Diverse Populations
- CHR 8685 Lifestyle and Career Development
- CHR 8604 Research and Evaluation
- CHR 8675 Development of ELL Students
- CHR 8677 Practicum in School Counseling
Level III (six credits)
- CHR 8692 Internship I in School Counseling
- CHR 8694 Internship II in School Counseling
Elective Credits (six credits)
Students can select from a wide range of electives to fulfill this requirement. This includes taking online classes from our certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.
The culminating field experiences of the Counseling Program are the 100- hour Practicum and the 600- hour Internship experiences. Below are overviews of the classes and experiences. School counseling students must serve in both an elementary and secondary setting during their field experiences. More detailed information regarding expectations and hours can be found in the Practicum Handbook and Internship Handbook.
Practicum Overview
- One class over one semester
- Three credit hours
- 100 hours over the semester
The Practicum is designed to give students familiarity with the schools, school counseling, the counseling process and conceptualize cases. Students will receive support from a field experience coordinator to find their own placement for Practicum, and must work under the supervision of a certified school counselor or clinical mental health practitioner.
Please note: For full-time students in the School Counseling track, it is recommended that Practicum be completed in the Spring semester of your first year to allow for completion of Internship I & II beginning the following Fall semester. Part-time students will meet each semester with an advisor to plan their courses.
Internship Overview
- Two classes (Internship I and II) over two semesters
- Six credit hours total
- 600 hours over two semesters
The Internship is designed to provide the school counselor trainee with the opportunity to work directly with students individually, and in the classroom, and in small groups. Students will integrate theoretical knowledge with the realities of school counseling practice.
School Counseling students must work in an approved school under the supervision of a certified school counselor. Scheduling is to be developed by the sponsoring supervising school personnel and the counselor trainee with the approval of their professor.
Comprehensive examinations are required for all students in degree programs, with the exception of those who have written a thesis. Please note, the comprehensive exam is an exit exam for the master's in counseling program, taken by both school and mental health counseling students. This is a different test than the National Counseling Exam (NCE), which students take as part of the process in applying for state licensure (e.g., to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
The format of this comprehensive exam is the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), which is distributed through the Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. The purpose of the CPCE is to assess counseling students鈥� knowledge of counseling information viewed as important by counselor preparation programs.
The Counseling Program supports students enrolled in its master's programs to write a thesis as the culminating exercise of their program of studies. A thesis can serve in lieu of the comprehensive exam and fulfills 6 elective credits. Students who are considering doctoral studies at some future point in time are especially encouraged to write a thesis. Prospective students interested in a thesis, should consult with the program director about the process and ensure there is a faculty member who can serve as chair to the thesis committee.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Denzell Stanislaus, 鈥�19
Denzell Stanislaus, 鈥�19 MS in Counseling, School Counseling Track, High School Counselor, Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego, California
My first counseling course at 棉花糖直播 was 鈥淪chool Counseling Orientation鈥�. One of the activities for the class involved learning about the tasks school counselors are asked to perform. I learned at 棉花糖直播 about being an effective counselor 鈥� to meet people where they鈥檙e at, not where you want them to be.聽I graduated from 棉花糖直播鈥檚 Counseling program and received K-12 certification as a school counselor. My first job as a school counselor was at an alternative high school in Brooklyn, New York, my hometown, called Brooklyn Frontiers High School. The lessons from all those classes practicing counseling techniques and theories, honing my knowledge of DEI and Special Education, and utilizing data and research to help students make informed decisions to improve their lives and reach their goals started to shine through. I was ultimately promoted from School Counselor to College Counselor at Brooklyn Frontiers, and after 3 years, received a job offer from Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego to join their School Counseling team. In my current role, my fellow counselors and I are co-creators of the future of counseling at our school. The 棉花糖直播 Counseling program聽set the bar for what a school counselor and school counseling program should be. The program and faculty provided the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for me to have success in any setting. It helped me set a higher bar for what I could become and accomplish and I鈥檓 forever grateful.