The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in School Counseling is a 49-credit program that prepares students to become an Elementary & Secondary School Counselor Pre K-12 (Educational Specialist Type Code 31) in Pennsylvania. Students will learn how to effectively serve, counsel, lead, and advocate for all students in Pre K-12 settings. Graduates will be competent in delivering counseling services that foster the social, emotional, career, and academic development of students and will utilize evidence-based interventions when creating and/or delivering comprehensive school counseling programs.
Students wishing to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania can become eligible by completing an additional four courses (12 credits). With the completion of two counseling courses and a 600-hour field placement in a mental health setting, students will be license eligible.
The M.S. in School Counseling was developed based on the guidelines of the ASCA model. Applying this national framework, students in our program will graduate with an in-depth understanding of the four components of the ASCA model of school counseling programs – Define, Manage, Deliver and Assess, as follows:
Chestnut Hill College’s Master of Science in School Counseling program is guided by the following Mission Statement:
The M.S. in School Counseling program supports a collaborative learning environment that prepares a culturally diverse student body to become competent, responsible, and ethical professional school counselors in both public or private school settings. The school counseling curriculum prepares graduates to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school counseling programs that are culturally sensitive and that promote the career, personal, social, and academic development of all students.
The program consists of core counseling courses, specialty area courses, and 520 hours of field experience. Our school counselor preparation program is structured around several core tenets:
Shared Core Courses with M.S. in Clinical & Counseling Psychology (30 credits) *
PSYG 500 (3) Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
PSYG 503 (3) Psychopathology
PSYG 506 (3) Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy I (prerequisite: 503)
PSYG 510 (3) Research Design and Methodology
PSYG 512 (3) Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling and Psychotherapy (prerequisite: 500, 503)
PSYG 514 (3) Development across the Lifespan: Individual and Family
PSYG 530 (3) Group Therapy
PSYG 532 (3) The Role of Culture & Gender in Counseling and Psychotherapy
PSYG 542 (3) Career Development and Counseling
PSYG 662 (3) Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents (prerequisite: 514)
* PSYG 608 Couple & Family Therapy, a core requirement for the M.S. in Clinical & Counseling Psychology, will be waived for School Counseling students.
School Counseling Courses (12 credits)
SCHC 501 (3) Foundations of School Counseling I
SCHC 502 (3) Foundations of School Counseling II
EDSP 530 (3) Theory and Pedagogy in Special Education
EDSP 535 (3) Evaluation/Assessment and the Law for Students with Disabilities
Clinical Training (7 credits)
SCHC 704 (1) School Counseling Pre-Practicum (20 hours)
SCHC 705 (3) School Counseling Practicum (100 hours)
SCHC 715 (3) School Counseling Internship (420 total hours)
Total = 49 Credits
Additional credits for Licensure (LPC)
As the State of Pennsylvania requires students to complete a 60-credit program to qualify for the educational component of licensure application, students who complete the M.S. in School Counseling and seek to apply for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status will need to register for the Post-Master’s Certificate of Professional Counseling for Licensure Preparation which includes four (4) additional courses (12 credits) beyond the 49 credits required for the M.S. in School Counseling degree, as follows:
PSYG 508 (3) Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy II (prerequisite 506)
PSYG 536 (3) Psychological Assessment
PSYG 715 (3) Counseling Internship (300 total hours)
PSYG 725 (3) Counseling Internship (300 total hours)
LICENSURE PREPARATION
For those with a Master’s degree in Counseling and/or a Counseling related field, the School of Professional Psychology offers coursework needed to complete the academic and clinical requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist.
The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors reviews applicants’ materials and determines what coursework, if any, is needed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as either a Licensed Professional Counselor or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. The State Board is the only entity that can determine if a candidate has met all the requirements for licensure.
Therefore, applicants pursuing this option must contact the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board prior to application to Chestnut Hill’s program. Once the State Board has assessed your coursework and identified what courses you need to take to become licensure eligible, you may then contact the Program Director to discuss course selection/options.
Field experience for the M.S. in School Counseling includes a 100-hour practicum experience that exposes students primarily to the counseling aspects of the school counseling profession. During practicum, students will learn assessment, case formulation, and school-based interventions, and will participate in a variety of individual and group counseling experiences. Most students will begin their practicum experience in either the fall or spring semesters, as that is when school is in session; however, there may be opportunities for students during the summer in alternative school settings.
Following successful completion of practicum, students will complete a 420-hour internship in the same district where they had their practicum experience. During internship, students will engage in all aspects of the school counseling profession, including, but not limited to individual counseling and planning, small group counseling, classroom guidance, consulting and systemic advocacy interventions, and any other types of educational training experiences offered by the district.
Though not required, it is recommended that students complete internship hours at different grade levels within their selected district (e.g., 100 hours at an elementary school, 320 hours at a high school). Students will work with site supervisors to determine this scheduling depending on students preferred educational level.
