School Counseling Graduate Programs: Masters & Phd Degrees in California

What Can I Do with a Masters Degree in School Counseling?

A masters in school counseling is the entry-level education needed to begin a career. It allows you to pursue a state-issued credential which you'll need for jobs in public schools.

Jobs with a Masters in School Counseling

School counselors may work one-to-one or in groups. As advisors, they help students identify and solve issues that affect their performance. Sometimes these are behavioral, like skipping class. But they can also be academic such as helping students to adopt better study habits.

Another aspect of the role involves teaching school staff and students. For instance, they might speak to problems like bullying and drug abuse. Or about finishing high school and going to college. With college students, they often speak about career plans.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

What is the Difference Between a Master of Education in School Counseling or PhD in Counselor Education?

There are two main ways a MEd in School Counseling differs from a PhD in Counselor Education. One of these speaks to what you are likely to study. The other, to the kind of career each degree might prep you for.

Master of Education in School Counseling (MEd)

A MEd in school counseling may appeal to currents professionals with experience in teaching or counseling. They may be ready to pursue their credential as school counselor to grow in their career.

Because of this, the curriculum often focuses on connecting theory to practice. As a result, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling program includes extensive fieldwork.

This supervised practice may prepare learners to work in schools. Depending on one’s career goals, this may be K-12 or college settings. Either way, the program focuses on academic and guidance counseling.

PhD in Counselor Education

A PhD in Counselor Education is a terminal degree for professional counselors. It may ready learners to pursue leadership roles. These may be in areas like supervision, advanced counseling practice, and research.

Because it targets post-master’s licensed counselors, the curriculum often focuses on counseling. It may discuss a range of mental health issues, diagnosis and treatment. Other elements include teaching other counselors, consulting and research.

To earn their PhD, candidates write a final dissertation. The research for it goes on at the same time as their own practicum and may help to test a hypothesis. As such, it is one way to develop as a thought leader and expert in the field.

In sum, a MEd is for those with a bachelor’s degree. It may help them to pursue a career as a school guidance counselor and seek certification. The PhD may prepare post-master’s professionals to advance their career.

What Courses Are Needed for a Master’s in School Counseling?

Courses offered by master's in school counseling program vary by school. Yet most programs cover human growth, counseling methods and ethics. They also include a supervised practice in a setting related to an area of interest.

Many programs start with a core of counseling theories and therapeutic techniques. Then, they'll move onto a handful of school counseling courses and fieldwork.

The focus of these classes is to assist students of all ages to get the most out of their education. This may involve knowing how to assess common behavior and learning problems. Then, meeting them with solutions that promote mental health.

Yet other topics may cover administrative topics. They may touch on the ways to develop, install and maintain a school counseling program in a PK-12 setting. You may also learn the basics of career development planning.

Intro to School Counseling

This class introduces the field of professional school counseling. It may include some history, theories and points of view. At the same time, you may learn about current issues, advocacy and ethics.

Development Through Childhood and Adolescence

This class usually touches on theories of how humans develop. It also involves learning what factors can impact personal development.

Professional School Counseling

This class may expose you to various models of professional school counseling like the TEA and AMCA models. It might also cover responsive services and guidance.

School Counseling Accreditation

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs is the agency is a CHEA-recognized accreditor in the U.S. CACREP accredits:

• Entry-level masters degrees in counseling
• Doctoral degrees in counselor education and supervision

When the CACREP accredits a program, it must provide two things. An industry-standard mix of knowledge and real-world skills.

Enrolling in one may give you a reasonable sense of the program’s quality. This may be an asset when it comes time to taking the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

Because schools must recertify, they must maintain or improve on the set standards. This means teaching you about issues that are relevant to your career. You can check the status of your school on their database for extra surety.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Masters Degree in School Counseling?

A full-time student might need from 2 to 2 1/2 years to earn a master's degree in school counseling. Students pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education may need from 3 to 6 years.

How Much Does It Cost to Get A Masters’ Degree in School Counseling?

The average cost of a of a graduate degree from a public institution is $11,617 per year. This means you will be able to find programs both more affordable and more expensive than the average.

To give specific examples, this visualization shows graduate tuition costs of 4 institutions with School Counseling Graduate Programs as reported by the NCES. We have then compared those costs to the typically most affordable and most expensive college options, also as reported by NCES.

Find Top 21 School Counseling Graduate Programs in California Below: