Program Description
The Department of Advanced Educational Studies offers a Clear Credential in Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) in conjunction with the Master of Science degree in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling. This combined Master and Credential Program is designed to provide graduate preparation for educational counselors in the areas of School Counseling. The main goal of the Program is to prepare professional counselors who have the skills to practice in a wide variety of settings. Extensive field-based experiences are woven throughout the Program. Courses are typically offered on weekdays in the late afternoon and evening for working students, although courses in Practicum and Internship will require extensive daytime commitments. Students must select one of the two concentrations described below in their initial application:
The Counseling Program with a concentration in School Counseling is a 52-unit program designed to prepare students for employment in K-12 settings. The curriculum includes counseling courses, specialty courses, an 800-hour field work experience, and a comprehensive examination. The curriculum has been designed for preparation toward a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS-SC) clear credential. This option reflects the recently updated preparation standards established by the American School Counselor Association and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). Students who complete this concentration may also meet requirements for some student affairs positions.
Admissions Process
To pursue the Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling and Clear Credential in Pupil Personnel Services (PPS-SC), the applicant must first apply to the University through Cal State Apply to the Office of Admissions and Records, CSUB (661-654-3036), designating the appropriate code for School Counseling (08261) or Student Affairs in Higher Education (08051). Following admission to the University, the applicant is to visit the Department of Advanced Educational Studies website for a brochure and application to the specific graduate degree program desired. The completed application is to be returned to the Office of the Graduate Studies Admissions Advisor (EDUC 130; 661-654-3193) for review. The Program Admissions Committee will certify admission or non-admission to the desired degree program. Applicants will be notified in writing of actions regarding admission taken by the Committee. Admission decisions are final and may not be appealed.
Only complete applications files will be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make certain that the application file is complete and contains the following information:
- Transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate study (photocopies acceptable)
- Counseling Program Application (including personal statement and other documents)
- CBEST Score Report or a BSR waiver (photocopy) [for School Counseling only]
- Certificate of Clearance (photocopy)
- TB Test Verification
- Mandatory Reporter Training certificate
- Professional Liability Insurance
Minimum Requirements and Prerequisites for Full Admission
Students must meet all of the following applicable conditions to be admitted as “classified”:
- Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate work attempted
- Evidence of meeting the Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., California Basic Educational Skills Test or CBEST score report)
- Please review CSUB guidelines here: CSUB Basic Skills Guidelines. Applicants seeking to meet Basic Skills through coursework may do so by completing the Basic Skills Verification Form
- Submission of Certificate of Clearance copy
- Submission of Mandatory Reporter Training certificate
- Submission of Professional Liability Insurance
- TB Test Verification
- Writing competencies (41 or higher in CBEST writing section or the passage of GWAR)
- Successful completion of Program Admission Interview
- Successful completion of an approved undergraduate/graduate course in statistics with a grade of "C" or higher within 7 years of application to program
Conditionally classified admission may be granted on an individual basis to applicants who do not satisfy all of the above conditions. Students accepted as “conditionally classified” will be limited in the number of courses they may take until all conditions are removed and they are reclassified as fully classified.
After Admission: Advancement Steps Toward Degree
Once the applicant is admitted, additional steps must be achieved to successfully matriculate toward the MS degree.
Each candidate is assigned a faculty advisor when admitted to the program, and candidates are required to consult with their advisor in developing a program plan prior to enrolling in courses.
Advancement to Candidacy
Students are required to be Advanced to Candidacy prior to enrollment in Field Work or the Culminating Activity (e.g., comprehensive exam). Decisions regarding Advancement to Candidacy in the Educational Counseling Program are delayed until a student has completed at least 12 semester units of coursework to determine, from the students’ perspective, whether the Program will meet their career and professional goals; and, from the faculty perspective, whether the student has demonstrated minimal knowledge and skills for continuance in the program leading toward a career as a professional counselor. Faculty may determine that students have not demonstrated the minimal knowledge and skills to be advanced to Candidacy and reserve the right to dismiss such students from the Program.
To better mentor the growth of students throughout the program and to ensure the quality of program graduates, Program faculty must ensure that all program requirements and SSE Professional Dispositions are met. A form requesting Advancement to Candidacy should be completed by the student in the semester prior to the first internship and submitted to the Graduate Studies Admissions Advisor (EDUC 130; 661-654-3193).
Candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all required courses attempted after entry in the program (credential or master's program). Candidates whose GPA falls below term or cumulative GPA of 3.0 will either be put on probation for one term or be dismissed from the program.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate professional dispositions at all times. Failure to do so will result in the implementation of a Candidate Improvement Plan. If the Candidate Improvement Plan is insufficient in supporting the candidate in demonstrating professional dispositions, the candidate will be dismissed from the program.
Ability to Work with People Effectively
Throughout the Educational Counseling Program and prior to completion, the student must continually provide evidence of the ability to interact competently, successfully, and ethically with people from a variety of backgrounds in a manner consistent with the role of a professional person in counseling. Such evidence may come from Practicum and techniques courses, courses with an experiential focus, or from the supervised field work experiences in the Program. The student is advised that this quality is difficult to evaluate prior to admission; it may become apparent only as the student progresses through the Program. The applicant who recognizes that these skills may be significantly difficult to achieve is urged to consider other career options. Faculty reserve the right to deny continuation or Advancement to Candidacy for students who do not demonstrate the ability to work with people effectively as described above, and/or do not meet the SSE Professional Dispositions.
Field Work Application
A student must submit a completed “Field Work Application” form to the Program Coordinator midway through the semester prior to each semester in which Field Work credit is desired. The form is downloadable from the program website.
Culminating Activity
Students are required to complete a culminating activity (i.e., comprehensive examination) as part of the Counseling Program. Students completing the Master Program Exam need to enroll in and pass EDCS 6330.
Time Limit
All credential coursework must be completed within a seven (7) year time period. This time limit requirement means that no more than seven years may elapse between the start of the first program term and the date the application for recommendation of a credential is approved. Candidates are responsible for both completing the program and applying with the CCTC for their preliminary credential within this seven-year period. Candidates who break enrollment are subject to any program changes from CSUB or the CCTC regarding credential eligibility.
Application for the Credential
Candidates are notified via email by the Graduate Studies Admissions Advisor of the credential recommendation process and given the link to CSUB’s in-house credential recommendation application. The application packet also contains a checklist of required documents necessary to be eligible to apply for their credential.
Upon receipt of the credential application, the Credential Analyst reviews and verifies eligibility and that all program criteria are met, and that only qualified candidates are recommended for the credential. This process is completed through a review of candidate data in the CSUB Credential database and digital document file. The database and digital document file house each candidate’s program documents and verification of credential coursework completed through CSUB. Once the Credential Analyst has determined all requirements have been met, the recommendation is submitted using CTC’s online recommendation system for final review and issuance of the credential.
Application for Graduation
The student should file an “Application for Graduation” in accordance with the Deadlines outlined by the Office of the Registrar. Please visit the Registrar’s website on Graduation for Application for Graduation Forms and specific Deadlines. (Please note that Deadlines for submission of Applications for Graduation vary depending on which semester you intend to graduate, and it is the student’s responsibility to adhere to these Deadlines).
The student should work closely with the Graduate Studies Admissions Advisor (Julia Bavier, 661-654-3193) to assure that the file is complete and accurate. Any deviation from the original Program of Study filed at the beginning of the MS program must be explained and approved.
