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School Counseling

Program Overview

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in School Counseling is a 49-credit program that prepares students to become an Elementary & Secondary School Counselor Pre K-12 (Educational Specialist Type Code 31) in Pennsylvania. Students will learn how to effectively serve, counsel, lead, and advocate for all students in Pre K-12 settings. Graduates will be competent in delivering counseling services that foster the social, emotional, career, and academic development of students and will utilize evidence-based interventions when creating and/or delivering comprehensive school counseling programs.

See Program Fast Facts

Students wishing to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania can become eligible by completing an additional four courses (12 credits). With the completion of two counseling courses and a 600-hour field placement in a mental health setting, students will be license eligible.

American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Model of Programming

The M.S. in School Counseling was developed based on the guidelines of the ASCA model. Applying this national framework, students in our program will graduate with an in-depth understanding of the four components of the ASCA model of school counseling programs – Define, Manage, Deliver and Assess, as follows:

  • Students will understand the three sets of school counseling standards that define the school counseling profession.
  • Students will learn how to effectively and efficiently manage a school counseling program to address the academic, career planning, and personal-social development of each student.
  • Students will learn how to deliver developmentally appropriate activities and services, either directly or indirectly to students across grade and ability levels;
  • Students will learn how to regularly assess a school counseling program for effectiveness and to demonstrate how students are different as a result of the school counseling program.

Learn more about the American School Counseling Association

Chestnut Hill College’s Master of Science in School Counseling program is guided by the following Mission Statement:

The M.S. in School Counseling program supports a collaborative learning environment that prepares a culturally diverse student body to become competent, responsible, and ethical professional school counselors in both public or private school settings. The school counseling curriculum prepares graduates to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school counseling programs that are culturally sensitive and that promote the career, personal, social, and academic development of all students.

The program consists of core counseling courses, specialty area courses, and 520 hours of field experience. Our school counselor preparation program is structured around several core tenets:

  • Development of personal awareness of the “self” as a counselor;
  • Gaining knowledge of the school counseling profession and relevant educational concepts; and
  • Skills in counseling and support of students at a variety of age, ability, and developmental levels.

Program Highlights

  • Licensure and certification: The program meets the academic requirements in Pennsylvania for both School Counseling Certification, and Licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Developed based on the guidelines of the ASCA model
  • Timeline to degree completion: Can be completed within two (2) years by taking 9-12 credits per semester
  • Two campus locations: Main Campus, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley Campus, Center Valley, PA
  • Full-time and part-time options
  • No pre-requisites required
  • Classes are offered in a face-to-face, hybrid and online modality: Held in the late afternoon and evenings
  • Small to moderate class sizes: Classes typically range from 6-18 students

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