FAQs
About School Counseling
School Counselors and School Psychologists often worked closely together to meet the academic and social emotional needs of school-aged youth.
The School Counseling program prepares counselors to work in elementary, middle, and high school settings (K-12). Emphasis is placed on meeting the academic, social-emotional, and career readiness needs of all students. Typically, this is a school employee who provides direct services through individual and group counseling, classroom lessons, academic advising and crisis response. School counselors also provide indirect services on behalf of students through interactions with others including referrals for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, and other educators. In addition to the MS in School Counseling degree, candidates are recommended for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
School Psychologists typically work more closely with students with disabilities, including conducting initial and three-year assessments of their needs. They also provide direct and indirect services such as consultation, counseling, crisis response preparation, and systems change. The CSULB School Psychology program awards the Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) and recommends candidates for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
The School Counseling program is designed for individuals who want to work in elementary, middle, and high school settings (K-12). For individuals interested in working with students at the college/university level, please see the Student Development in Higher Education program.
No, the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in School Counseling is offered in conjunction with the Master of Science in School Counseling. Individuals desiring the PPS credential in School Counseling must apply for admission to both the Master of Science in School Counseling and PPS in School Counseling program in order to earn the credential. All of the coursework for both the Master's Degree and the PPS credential overlap.
Applicants must meet the Basic Skills Requirement. Here is a link to more information Basic Skills Requirement for School Counseling - Graduate Studies Office
The job outlook for prospective school counselors is related to state and federal economic indicators. With retirements and some local, state, and federal school counseling program expansion initiatives pending, those entering the field in the next few years are likely to have employment options but may need to actively network for desirable positions. Additional information about the school counseling profession is available at ASCA's website.
Applying
Please visit the Application Process page.
Visit the GSO Tips & Tutorials for Applying page for an application flow chart, advice on how to be a competitive applicant, and free resources and tips on the statement of purpose, letters of recommendations, and resume.
The GPA requirement is a minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. For more information please see the Eligibility page.
Two. The program admissions committee has instructed you to input the names and email addresses for only two recommenders. Therefore, please do not input more than two recommenders. For additional information on recommendations, please visit the Online Application Submission website.
The application deadline is also the deadline for the letters of recommendation. Please note there is a short buffer period in which recommender(s) may submit evaluations after the application deadline. Please make sure your recommender submits the recommendation by the deadline for full consideration. For additional information on recommendations, please visit the Online Application Submission website.
No. This program does not have rolling admissions, and all applications are reviewed after the application deadline.
The GRE is not required for this program.
Graduate school fees are set by the CSU Board of Trustees each academic year. The current fee structure may be found on the Enrollment Services website. The approximate cost as of Fall 2023 is $19,644 for the entire program for California residents (4 semesters at "7 units or more" + 1-2 summer classes).
Admission to the school counseling programs is highly competitive (acceptance rate is approximately 10% of the total number of applicants). It is essential for applicants to adhere to application guidelines. Please visit the Application Process page for additional information.
Degree Requirements
Students are admitted in a group (or "cohort") each fall and take their courses together throughout the program to enhance the learning experience. The ultimate decision to accept a transfer course rests with the faculty who teach the equivalent course(s) at CSULB. With the volume of applications received each year we are unable to review transcripts of prospective students. However, once admitted, our students receive guidance from their advisor on seeking course equivalencies.
School Counseling program courses are typically offered weeknights from 4:00-6:45PM or from 7:00-9:45PM, subject to change. Students usually take around 15 units each semester, and can except to have class approximately 3 nights each week. Please note that the practicum and fieldwork experiences require that students be available to complete hours during the typical K-12 public school day (8AM-3PM).
