School Counseling Requirements

Completion of this program signifies that one has met the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) requirements for obtaining a Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential, and qualifies the graduate to work as a school counselor in public and private school settings, K-12. The curriculum also covers all areas of the National Certified School Counselor examination.

The Curriculum*

Summary: With Thesis 57 unit minimum
Without Thesis 51 unit minimum

Required Courses:

Course	Title	Units
EDP 400	Introduction to Educational Research and Statistics	3 units
COUN 506	Counseling in School Settings (Fall-only; must take in Fall 2006)	3 units
COUN 507	Career and Academic Counseling in K-12 Settings	3 units
COUN 510	Law and Ethics for Counselors	3 units
COUN 513	Introduction to Clinical Interviewing	3 units
COUN 515	Counseling Theory	3 units
EDP 520	Research Methods in Education	3 units
EDP 536	Collaborative Consultation in the Schools	3 units
COUN 555	Cross-Cultural Counseling	3 units
EDP 596	Program Evaluation in Education	3 units
EDP 604	Seminar in Human Development	3 units
COUN 606	Current Issues in Professional School Counseling	3 units
COUN 607	School Counseling Practicum	3 units
COUN 638	Group Counseling	3 units
COUN 643A	School Counseling Field Work	3 units
COUN 644A	Advanced School Counseling Field Work	3 units
COUN 695C	Integrative Seminar in Professional School Counseling	3 units
EDP 696	Thesis Study: Plan Development and Organizing Aspects**	3 units

Comprehensive Examination** 0 units
or
EDP 698 Thesis** 6 units

* The program reserves the right to implement revisions in the curriculum as needed or appropriate.

** Thesis/Comprehensive Examination Degree Requirement: Candidates for the Master of Science in Counseling degree must elect to submit either a thesis (EDP 698; two semesters, 3 units each semester) or complete a written comprehensive examination (0 units credit, administered in the Fall and Spring semesters). EDP 696 is strongly recommended, but not required, for thesis students only.

Advancement to Candidacy Requirement: Master’s Degree Students are required to file an Advancement to Candidacy form with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research in the College of Education after completing EDP 400, and COUN 506, 513, and 515. Evidence of passing the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) must be provided before Advancement to Candidacy may occur. Advancement to Candidacy provides the student with “catalog rights.” Refer to the Graduate Degrees and Other Post Baccalaureate Studies section of the current CSULB Catalog to understand the importance of this issue, and for additional University regulations governing the Master’s Degree. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they file for Advancement to Candidacy. Advancement to Candidacy must occur at least one semester before graduation.

Note: Some courses are available during the summer. Budget cuts may necessitate that fewer courses or course sections are available during all semesters.

Last update: 7/8/09