The Master of Education, School Counseling program is geared toward socially responsible individuals who are aware that many of the issues that pupils confront have societal origins. Designed to prepare educators interested in becoming school counselors in grades pre-K through 12, this program focuses on the challenges, issues, and dynamics relevant to urban schools.

Successful candidates will obtain the ME School Counseling degree along with USC recommendation for the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential. Forty-eight units of course work, 100 clock hours in a practicum experience, and 600 clock hours of supervised field experience are required.

Distinctive Benefits

• USC is authorized to request issuance of an internship credential for students requested by school districts for early assignment to the field of counseling.
• Field-experienced professors.
• Coursework in school-wide prevention/intervention strategies, counseling services, staff development, and training programs for parents and teachers.
• Fieldwork assignments often lead to jobs before final completion of the credential. Placements available in LAUSD and other urban school environments.

Career Options

• Elementary, middle, and senior high school counselors
• College advisers in high school setting
• Leadership in administration

Program of Study - 48 units

Fall First Year

• EDCO 500 - The Counseling Process (3)
• EDCO 503 - Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling (3)
• EDCO 506 - Development, Administration & Evaluation of PPS (3)
• EDCO 541 - Theories in Counseling Psychology 1 (3)

Spring First Year

• EDCO 505 - Counseling & Collaboration Consultation in Schools (3)
• EDCO 504 - Behavior Management in the Classroom (3)
• EDCO 548 - Career Development: Theory & Process (3)
• EDCO 574 - School Counseling Practicum (2)

Summer First Year

• EDPT 550 - Statistical Inference (3)
• EDCO 542 - Group Counseling: Theory & Process (3)

Fall Second Year

• EDCO 544 - Applied Educational Ethnography (3)
• EDCO 575a - School Counseling Field Experiences (2)
• EDPT 502 - Learning & Individual Differences (3)
• EDPT 520 - Human Lifespan Development (3)

Spring Second Year

• EDCO 551 - Cross Cultural Counseling: Research & Practice (3)
• EDUC 514 - School Counseling Seminar (3)
• EDCO 575b - School Counseling Field Experiences (2)