Learn to support the full spectrum of student needs, from mental well-being to college and career readiness. Prepare to make a lasting impact on students’ lives at critical moments in their development.
Master of Education in School Counseling
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Help Students Thrive
The Master of Education in School Counseling (SC) program will prepare you to support students’ social, emotional and academic development. Through the lenses of college and career readiness, restorative justice and trauma-informed practice, you will learn to understand and address the contextual issues that affect a student’s ability to succeed in school and life. During the program, you will complete the requirements to be recommended for the California School Counseling Pupil Personnel Services clear credential.
Through this program, you will:
- Learn to provide academic and socio-emotional counseling to students in K–12 settings
- Gain the skills to coordinate school counseling goals to meet the needs of the student and the organization
- Develop approaches to foster college access and career aspirations
- Remain employed while taking classes online from any location
- Have the option to complete the program full time or part time
The SC online curriculum prepares you to meet professional competencies and standards developed by the American School Counselor Association’s National Model for School Counseling and Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). The curriculum draws from critical research in the fields of counselor education, sociology, philosophy, education, and counseling and community psychology.
You will gain theoretical and practical knowledge through the lens of modern school counseling techniques, structured around three key focus areas:
College and Career Readiness
Prepare to support all students and their future, taking into account cultural, socioeconomic and emotional factors that influence success.
Restorative Justice
Help students overcome obstacles of institutional oppression, like poverty and racism, or individual circumstances related to mental illness, domestic violence or community barriers.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Learn to support teaching, learning and interacting in ways that address the long-term toll physical and emotional trauma takes on the lives of children and adults.
The SC online program integrates field experience with coursework. You will gain invaluable experience in K-12 schools in or near your own community, applying what you learn in the classroom to real situations affecting children, families and school administrations and the community.
You will complete a 100-hour practicum and 700 hours of fieldwork (split between two terms) as part of the degree program. Our team of field placement specialists will work with you to identify sites that fit your interests and needs.
The SC online program meets the credential and authorization program expectations set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). In order to be recommended for the California School Counseling Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Clear Credential and CWA, you must satisfy a series of requirements established by the CTC. Many of these requirements must be completed during your time in the program.
You are required to submit official documentation that you have satisfied the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) basic skills requirement by way of an acceptable method. Basic Skills documentation is required at the time of application submission.
After you have completed the program and all credential requirements, USC Rossier will formally recommend qualified candidates to the CTC for the California School Counseling Pupil Personnel Services clear credential. If you plan to work in another state, contact the state directly to identify any alternate requirements.
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 Regular Deadline (for spring admission) and the Rossier Scholarship Deadline (for fall admission). 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.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the SC online program are prepared to fill roles as K-12 counselors in public schools. Other career paths may include positions in:
- Community Agencies
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Private/Charter Schools
- Local Government Offices
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“My experience in this program has been a foundational, humbling one. I began this program expecting to master counseling standards, theories and mindsets, however the opportunity in class discussion and in fieldwork to deconstruct bias and privilege within myself and others is this program’s unexpected and beautiful challenge. I am convinced there is so much story in people, and my time at USC has opened my heart to both hear it and tell it in my profession. I am so thankful for this graduate program.”
Jeremy Garcia, ME ’21
Elementary Counselor, Hollyvale Innovation Academy
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Applicants are automatically considered for limited, merit-based scholarships of up to $30,000.
Apply NowQuestions about the program?
Contact:
Jessica Romero
Assistant Director, Office of Admission and Scholarships