2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel

The Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel prepares professionals for careers in student affairs and student services in colleges, universities and community colleges. A master’s degree in this area prepares individuals to work in various functions of student services, including academic advising, career counseling, residence life, admission and enrollment management, student activities, disabled student services, multicultural affairs, international student programs and adult re-entry/post-traditional learners programs.

Program Outcomes

Counselor Education program graduates will be able to:

  1. Design, implement, and evaluate needs-based counseling and guidance programs in colleges and universities.

  2. Consult and collaborate with instructors and other professionals in order to support student success.

  3. Advise students about their educational plans.

  4. Advise students about their career plans.

  5. Counsel students individually about their personal and social development through a multicultural and pluralistic lens.

  6. Counsel students in groups about their personal/social and/or academic development through a multicultural and pluralistic lens.

  7. Understand factors contributing to and methods and programs for supporting student retention and success.

  8. Serve as an advocate for equity, inclusion, and social justice.


 

Admission to the Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel

To assure a prompt admission decision, applicants for admission to the Counseling and College Student Personnel Program should submit all application materials by June 15 for fall semester.

Admission decisions for regular standing are based on the following materials in the applicant’s file:

  • Completed Admission Application and non-refundable application fee
  • Official Transcript(s) from a regionally accredited college or university verifying the applicant’s bachelor’s degree or equivalent and any graduate work with an acceptable GPA
  • Two Academic or Professional Recommendations
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume
  • Admission interview and program advisement with a faculty adviser
 

Note: International applicants must submit the following:

  1. An International Student Application Form and additional required documents
  2. TOEFL scores if undergraduate work was completed at other than a regionally accredited U.S. institution

Note: Changes in state law may alter requirements.

Requirements for the Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel

  1. Completion of courses required for the M.S. in Counseling and College Student Personnel listed below totaling 45 units:
EDGN 509Situating Yourself As a Scholor andýTeacher Leader3
or EDCG 509 Introduction to Educational Research,
EDCG 511Program Assessment/Evaluation & Grant3
EDCG 513College Student Development3
EDCG 516Introduction to Student Affairs Practice3
EDCG 517Educational and Career CounselingýIn Higher Education3
EDCG 521Counseling Theory and Practice3
EDCG 523Group Process and Leadership3
EDCG 526Microskills in Counseling3
EDCG 528Practicum3
EDCG 535Field Study in College Student Personnel2
EDCG 566Leadership & Organizational ChangeýIn Higher Education3
EDCG 582Legal and Ethical Issues in Higher Educ3
EDCG 581Diverse Perspectives Educ/Cultural Ldrsh3
EDCG 583Professional Development in Practice1
EDCG 584Student Retention and Success3
Total Hours42

Courses

EDCG 5ST. Special Topics. (1-3).

EDCG 5XC. Comprehensive Exam-Counseling & Guidance. (0).

EDCG 504. Law and Ethics in School Counseling. (3).

This course provides candidates with knowledge about legal and ethical issues affecting K-12 education, particularly those matters pertaining to school counseling. Candidates will also gain skills around ethical decision making that aligns with the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model.

EDCG 509. Introduction to Educational Research. (3).

A course designed to introduce educational practitioners to educational research. Through an examination of the nature of research, ethical and philosophical principles, types of research, and characteristics of data students will explore quantitative and qualitative methods of designing and conducting research in the context of educational settings.

EDCG 511. Program Assessment/Evaluation & Grant. (3).

This course addresses program assessment and evaluation as well as grant writing. In this course students will learn about the characteristics of program assessment and evaluation. Moreover, in this course students will learn about and become familiar with the grant writing process.

EDCG 512. Lifespan Human Development. (3).

A comprehensive review and advanced study of the maturation of both typical and exceptional persons, from birth to senescence in physical, social/emotional, cognitive and language areas. The learning process and its application in a variety of settings with students of diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds will be examined. This course will also examine the relationship between counselors and teachers in K-12 settings.

EDCG 513. College Student Development. (3).

This course will introduce candidates to theories of college student development and the processes by which they occur. Factors that impact student development will be discussed and application of theory to practice to maximize student learning in college settings will be fostered.

EDCG 516. Introduction to Student Affairs Practice. (3).

This course provides candidates with an overview of college student services with a specific focus on the various functional areas in the field. Additionally, this course outlines key information about organization and administration of student affairs and services, including assessment, strategic planning, program development and implementation, and resource acquisition and allocation.

EDCG 517. Educational and Career CounselingýIn Higher Education. (3).

This course will cover theoretical approaches, resources and techniques utilized in assisting individuals to make their educational and career choices in higher education.

EDCG 521. Counseling Theory and Practice. (3).

Fundamentals of counseling: theoretical approaches, the counseling process, and cross-cultural perspectives. This course should be taken during the first semester offered.

EDCG 523. Group Process and Leadership. (3).

Group counseling: foundation process, techniques and application; lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: EDCG 521.

EDCG 524. Consultation Collaboration & Supervsn. (3).

Theories and methods of effective consultation, collaboration and supervision in educational settings. Coordination of personnel and services that impact student learning.

EDCG 525. Resiliency Development & StudentýRetention. (3).

This course will examine varying models and methods supporting student, school, and educator resiliency as it pertains to Henderson's Resiliency Wheel, Social Emotional Learning and CASEL's SEL framework, the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets, Multi-tiered/Multi-Domain Systems of Support (MTMDSS), trauma informed practices, restorative disciplinary practices, and other school-based means of intervention. The course will also explore strength-focused means of supporting and developing student resiliency for students from diverse backgrounds and with differing social/emotional and academic needs.

EDCG 526. Microskills in Counseling. (3).

An emphasis on counseling knowledge and skills. Includes in-class monitored practice. Corequisite: EDCG 521. (Graded P/NC only).

EDCG 527. Career & College Development & Planning. (3).

Theoretical approaches, resources and techniques utilized in assisting individuals to make their educational and career choices.

EDCG 528. Practicum. (3).

Supervised field placement in a school, postsecondary setting or community agency, with 100 (PPS) or 150 (CSP) field hours required. Candidates must be supervised by an experienced professional with an appropriate credential. Each student will be involved in on-site experiences which include the application of theory to practice. Permission of adviser and application required. Application must be submitted by the last month of the previous semester. Prerequisites: PPS Students-Proof of passage of CBEST and Certificate of Clearance, EDCG 521, EDCG 523, EDCG 526, EDCG 527, EDCG 538 (EDCG 504 and EDCG 529 may be co-requisite).

EDCG 529. Organization and Administration of PPS. (3).

Organization and administration of guidance and counseling services in the schools. Includes program planning, coordination, supervision, budgeting and evaluation.

EDCG 530. Organization & Administration CSP. (3).

Organization and administration of student affairs and services in higher education. Includes legal foundations, governance models, planning and goal setting, resource acquisition and allocation, personnel and financial management, training and evaluation. To be taken first semester offered.

EDCG 531. Programs & Functions in CSP. (3).

Overview and analysis of college student services, including historical and philosophical foundations, program components and standards, and evaluation. To be taken first semester offered.

EDCG 532. Systems Approaches in Schools:. (3).

Theoretical perspectives and application of systems leadership in school settings.

EDCG 533. Field Study in School Counseling I. (2-3).

Supervised field experience in a K-12 public school setting under the supervision of an experienced Pupil Personnel Services credential holder at either an elementary, middle school or high school, with 300-500 field hours required. Field Studies I and II combined must equal to at least 800 hours at the site with 150 hours (between 533 and 534) devoted to diversity issues and 100 hours (between 533 and 534) of experience in each of the following areas: Social/Emotional, College/Career, and Academics. Pre-Requisite: EDCG-528 and approval by the PPS fieldwork coordinator. (Graded P/NC only).

EDCG 534. Field Study in School Counseling II. (2-3).

Supervised field experience in a K-12 public school setting under the supervision of an experienced Pupil Personnel Services credential holder at either an elementary, middle school or high school, with 300-500 field hours required. Field Studies I and II combined must equal to at least 800 hours at the site with 150 hours (between 533 and 534) devoted to diversity issues and 100 hours (between 533 and 534) of experience in each of the following areas: Social/Emotional, College/Career, and Academics. The two courses may not be taken concurrently. Adviser approval and application are required. Prerequisite: EDCG 533. Fieldwork applications must be approved by the PPS fieldwork coordinator. (Graded P/NC only).

EDCG 535. Field Study in College Student Personnel. (2).

Supervised field experience in student services departments and programs in a post secondary setting under the supervision of an experienced college student personnel professional. Required number of hours: 150. Prerequisite: EDCG 528. Adviser approval and application are required. (Graded P/NC only).

EDCG 538. Educational Counseling &ýAcademic Resiliency. (3).

This course provides an introduction to and overview of academic counseling skills and knowledge. In particular, this course will address high school graduation requirements and academic resilience using grit and growth mindset as theoretical frameworks to support student success and retention in the K-16 pipeline. This course will provide an overview of supporting historically marginalized populations and critique the educational achievement gap.

EDCG 539. Systemic Approaches to Collaboration,ýConsultation, & Supervision. (3).

This course provides candidates with knowledge regarding systemic approaches to effective consultation, collaboration, and supervision in K-12 educational settings. In particular, this course is designed to equip candidates with theoretical foundations of systemic leadership approaches, advocacy tools to support family-school-community relationships, and data-driven decision making processes for systemic and equitable change.

EDCG 540. Child Welfare and Attendance Seminar. (3).

An emphasis on school, home and community factors contributing to school attendance, related laws and intervention programs designed to enhance attendance and school safety. 150 hours of fieldwork at a school site is required under the supervision of an experienced PPS credential holder. Prerequisite: Completion of PPS in School Counseling.

EDCG 554. Educational Measurement. (3).

Assessment of typical and atypical pupils, including the preparation, selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of culturally appropriate normed and criterion-referenced individual and group tests.

EDCG 566. Leadership & Organizational ChangeýIn Higher Education. (3).

The course is designed to develop an understanding of management and leadership theories, concepts, group processes, decision-making, and planning. A variety of leadership styles and practices which influence student and employee performance will be reviewed in these topical areas: power and influence, delegating, trust-building, vision and mission development, setting and fulfilling professional and/or personal objectives, situational, visionary and transformational leadership, impediments to leader effectiveness, organizational culture and principles of shared leadership.

EDCG 581. Diverse Perspectives Educ/Cultural Ldrsh. (3).

This is the foundational course in which the framework of Cultural Proficiency is introduced and woven throughout the Counseling and Guidance program. An exploration of candidates' self identity, beliefs and values, and the impact on their roles as counselors, advocates, and leaders in diverse and inclusive educational settings will be conducted.

EDCG 582. Legal and Ethical Issues in Higher Educ. (3).

This course provides an examination of the major legal and ethical issues confronting student affairs professionals and other administrators in higher education settings. Federal regulations and mandates, constitutional issues, tort liability, and contractual relationships will be covered. Ways of making practical decisions that are legally and ethically sound are examined. (This course also satisfies the Ed.D. law proficiency requirement.).

EDCG 583. Professional Development in Practice. (1).

Seminar on professional development opportunities and attendance at professional conference.

EDCG 584. Student Retention and Success. (3).

This course addresses: the history of college student retention and success in the United States; retention and success theories; and the retention trends and issues of four-year and two-year institutions. Specifically, this course emphasizes the retention and success of diverse student groups. Moreover, this course examines how retention and success is tracked and measured and practices and programs that contribute to the retention and success of all students.

EDCG 590. Independent Study. (1-4).