Option II - School Counseling/Pupil Personnel Services Credential, MA

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Completion of the School Counseling/Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) option, in addition to the major core requirements above, satisfies the academic requirements in order to be eligible for the Pupil Personnel Services credential in school counseling. While it is possible to complete all the courses required for the credential in a two-year period, such a program requires careful planning. The department intends to offer each PPS course at least once a year, but students need to plan the sequence with their advisor to ensure it matches the availability of courses.

Program Learning Outcomes

Establish a professional identity as a school counselor who works to advance the academic, career and social-emotional development of K-12 students, and to foster an inclusive and positive school climate that promotes positive development for students and other members of the school community.
Acquire knowledge of and continually demonstrate ethical and legal behaviors, and professional values consistent with the school counseling profession.
Demonstrate knowledge of clinical, developmental, and systemic theories of human behavior, human development, and human relating.
Acquire knowledge of neuroscientific and biological foundations of human development including its influence on development and mental well-being.
Develop a socially engaged and multiculturally competent orientation in working with the diverse individuals, groups and communities comprising a school community.
Demonstrate effective skills in individual and group counseling, including specialized knowledge of counseling theory and current, research-based prevention, intervention and consultation protocols.
Use preventive, developmental, and remedial interventions that effectively deliver a comprehensive school counseling program that facilitates their students’ academic, personal/social, and career development.
Demonstrate knowledge of career counseling, career development, and the role of work across the lifespan.
Develop the ability to understand and make good use of supervision and consultation feedback to support clinical outcomes and reflexive professional practice.
Gain the ability to critically consume, make use of, and contribute to research relevant to their counseling practice, including counseling outcome and process research and program evaluation.
Acquire specialized knowledge in psychopathology, diagnostic classifications, and psychopharmacology, and how these issues impact student development and academic outcomes.
Develop knowledge of culturally-appropriate assessment and measurement including selection, administration, interpretation, and application in school settings, with appropriate caution to prevent misuse.
Develop the ability to utilize counseling knowledge, attitudes, and skills to become socially-engaged school counselors who serve the school community in counseling, consultative, administrative, advocacy, and leadership roles.
Design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school counseling programs.
Consult and collaborate effectively with parents, teachers, administrators, community professionals, and others to advocate for the well-being of all students.

Requirements

COUN 510B - Applied Counseling Practicum and Advanced Techniques Unit(s): 4
COUN 511G - Academic and Career Planning and Counseling Issues of K-12 Populations Unit(s): 1
COUN 520 - Introduction to School Counseling Unit(s): 4
COUN 521 - Seminar: Pupil Personnel Services - Concepts and Organization Unit(s): 4
COUN 523 - Working with Families in School Setting Unit(s): 4
COUN 524 - Counseling Children and Adolescents Unit(s): 4
COUN 526 - Group Counseling in the Schools Unit(s): 4
COUN 527 - Law and Ethics for School Counselors Unit(s): 4
COUN 528A - Consultation Unit(s): 3
COUN 528B - Crisis Intervention Unit(s): 1