School Counseling and Dual Degree School Counseling with MFT/PCC
Degree Overview:
Today’s students face a wide range of academic, social, and emotional challenges both inside and outside the classroom. An MA in Counseling with a focus in School Counseling prepares students to support K–12 learners through these challenges, promoting academic success, college and career readiness, and overall student well-being. Students have the opportunity to expand their impact by combining School Counseling with MFT/PCC as a dual degree!
What the Program Prepares You For:
This degree is designed to meet the educational requirements set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Upon completion, students are prepared to earn their Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling and pursue roles as school counselors in elementary, middle, and high school settings.
Aligned with the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Standards, the School Counseling degree prepares PPS candidates to support K–12 students’ academic, career, and social-emotional development through counseling, advising, and comprehensive school-based services.
School Counseling Program Duration
- Sequence of 60 units; designed to build skills that extend beyond the classroom and empower you to support students’ academic, social, and emotional success
- Options for 2-4 year plans of study
Dual Degree School Counseling with MFT/PCC Program Duration
- Sequence of 81 units; designed to build skills that extend beyond the workplace, empowering you to support students, families, and communities across school and clinical settings
- Options for 3-5 year plans of study
Frequently Asked Questions
These courses fulfill the CCTC requirements for the School Counseling PPS + SC Credential:
40 units of core courses, plus 20 School Counseling specific units (below), for a minimum of 60 units:
- COUN 703: School Counseling Practicum and Action Research (3 units)
- COUN 713: Psychological Perspectives of Gender (2 units): Introduction to psychology of gender, with emphasis on psycho-social effects of genderization of women and men from an ecosystemic, multicultural, and feminist perspective. Attention is paid to gender-specific issues pertinent to mental health and well-being.
- COUN 731: Treatment of Children (3 units)
- COUN 723: School Counseling (3 units)
- COUN 733: Systems Consultation (3 units)
- COUN 793: Counseling Field Experience (1-3 units each term; 6 units total): Students are engaged in fieldwork in clinical, school or college settings appropriate to department specialization(s) and career objectives. Weekly seminars held for specific specializations. Supervision provided by Counseling Department campus supervisors and department-approved field supervisors.
We no longer offer the PPS credential as an add-on for students who did not graduate from Saint Mary's Counseling programs. If you are an alum of Saint Mary's Counseling programs and would like to add your PPS credential, reach out to Admissions.
You can find a list of our Counseling scholarships here. One highlight is The Alameda County Office of Education’s School Counselor Residency Program, developed in partnership with Bay Area schools including Saint Mary’s College. This initiative is reshaping the School Counseling profession by preparing a new generation of highly skilled, equity-driven School Counselors who reflect the lived experiences and backgrounds of the students and communities they serve.
- Earn a $31,000 Stipend
- Receive 1:1 Mentorship
- Build Community Through our Cohort Model
- Hands-On Training & Experiential Learning
School and Department Information
We believe that education can transform lives and make a positive impact on our future and in our communities — particularly those that are underserved. Our curriculum prepares leaders who understand the causes of inequities within society and how these affect our communities, including students, parents and teachers.