Master of Education in Educational Counseling

Support students’ academic progress, college navigation, persistence and career planning across higher education settings.

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Fall Term Application Opens: August 1, 2026

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Modalities On Campus or Online
Length 40 units
Full-Time: 21 months
Part-Time: 33 months
Scholarships Up to $30,000 in Merit-Based Scholarhsip
Start Date The program will reopen August, 1 2026 for an August 2027 start.

Empower Students to Thrive in College and Beyond

The Master of Education in Educational Counseling program provides an in-depth understanding of higher education systems, student development and counseling approaches used in educational counseling, academic advising and student support settings.

This program is designed for counseling roles within higher education and is not a clinical mental health counseling or psychology program.

Through this program, you will:

Learn to advance educational equity for historically marginalized students.
Select and apply for site placement opportunities from USC’s strong network of community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.
Receive mentorship and guidance on your specific research interests, with the option to complete a thesis under the direction of a faculty chair or a capstone group project.
Grow in a supportive community, learning from leading professors and practitioners who will nurture your ability to create change.
Develop advising, student support and counseling skills applicable to community colleges, four-year colleges and universities.

As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for limited, merit-based scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $30,000. There is no need to submit a separate application for these scholarships. The admission committee selects recipients based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. Priority consideration is given to those who apply by the Rossier Scholarship Deadline. All USC Rossier scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.

View USC Rossier’s scholarship finder to identify other scholarships and funding opportunities. You do not have to be admitted to apply to these scholarships. Carefully note the scholarship application deadlines, which may occur before the final program application deadline.

Outcomes

92^% of EC alums said their USC Rossier education prepared them to be more effective in their career.

85^% of EC alums said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them well for future employment.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of our program work at community colleges and four-year colleges or universities. Other graduates enter PhD and EdD programs immediately, often working in the field full-time or part-time as they earn their doctorate.

Common career paths include:

Academic counselor or tenure track counselor at a community college
Academic advisor/counselor
Student support specialist (graduation and retention, transfer, etc.)
Admission officer
Administrator (directors of advising, program coordinators, etc.)

Curriculum

What You’ll Learn

Learn to support academic, social, and emotional growth through a counseling program grounded in equity and student success.

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The Counseling Process

Explore the theories that shape effective counseling — and examine how ethical considerations, cultural values, and legal considerations inform your practice from day one.

Student Development Theory

Examine the theories behind how college students grow and change — and learn how to apply developmental models to design programs, interventions, and outreach that actually meet students where they are.

Theories of Counseling

Explore the major theories of counseling and examine how research in learning, development, and social psychology shapes effective practice across diverse educational and training contexts.

Counseling as an Act of Love

Examine love as an active, intentional force in counseling — and explore how centering culture, identity, and humanity transforms the way we support students and clients in educational settings.