Master of Arts in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling (PPSC) with Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization

Mission Statement

The mission of University of Massachusetts Global's California School Counseling Program is to develop innovative and caring School Counselors that are leaders, scholars, advocates, and practitioners who collaborate to support all students in the PK-12 education systems to maximize their academic potential.

Program Learning Outcomes

• PLO 1 – Foundations of School Counseling: Professional, Legal, and Ethical Standards: Application of core counseling theories, ethical decision making, and the Laws, Codes, and ordinances related to school counseling to a case study, current trend, or real world scenario. 
• PLO 2 – Social, Emotional, Academic, and College and Career Development: Model and apply counseling strategies to address student social and emotional challenges, as well as academic goals, to prepare students for transitioning to college and/or careers.
• PLO 3 – Leadership and Advocacy in Social Justice, Equity, and Access: Create, analyze, and present a plan for improving a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses social justice, equity, and access.
• PLO 4 – Counseling Program Development, Research, and Technology:  Consult and collaborate with multiple stakeholders for student, program, and educational success, by designing, implementing, and evaluating data and using technology to inform practice.

University of Massachusetts Global offers a Master of Arts in Counseling. The program in school counseling prepares students to serve as counselors in the public schools for grades K-12 and meets the requirements for a California state credential authorizing service as a school counselor. Students with a previously earned master’s degree in counseling or a related field may earn a California state PPSC credential without enrolling in this master's degree program. Those candidates who enroll only in the PPSC credential program will be governed by credential policies. All other candidates will be governed by graduate degree and credential policies with credential policies superseding graduate policies.

Program Start Dates

The Master of Arts in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling (PPSC) program starts four times a year in Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, and Summer I. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Admission Requirements

Acceptance into the graduate program in counseling will be based on multiple criteria. These criteria include academic potential, experience with children and youth, and compatibility with program philosophy. To be considered for admission students must complete the following:

1. Submit a graduate application with the following:
   1. A current resume which includes experiences working with children.
   2. An autobiographical essay (2-3 pages) describing life experiences that have shaped the candidate’s approach to working with children and what led them to the decision to become a school counselor and their commitment to the PPSC program.

Credential and Program Information and Requirements

The School Counseling program requires 48 semester credits of coursework. Students entering the Counseling program or within the first session of being fully admitted to the program are expected to have the following:

Certificate of Clearance: Verification of a receipt of Certificate of Clearance or Certificate of Clearance (including fingerprints) or a copy of a valid credential or short-term permit must be submitted to the School of Education within the first session of enrollment. Candidates who do not submit verification of a certificate of clearance cannot advance in any credential coursework that requires observation or fieldwork in a K-12 setting. Anyone with a revoked credential will not be admitted to any credential program until the credential is reinstated by the CTC. A certificate of clearance or child development permit must be active prior to clinical practice.

Tuberculosis Test: Candidates must submit to the School of Education, within the first session of enrollment, a current “negative” tuberculosis test that verifies the candidate does not have active tuberculosis or a tuberculosis risk assessment questionnaire administered by a licensed health care provider verifying that the candidate does not have risk factors for tuberculosis.

Transfer Policy: No more than 12 semester credits may be transferred into the school counseling program from other graduate institutions upon approval by course transfer request to the Associate Dean. Transferred courses must have been awarded a grade of “B” or better and cannot be older than seven years at the completion of the program.  CSPU 618 Best Practices in Counseling,  CSPU 619 Practicum and Supervision in School Counseling, CSPU 620 Supervision and Mentoring in School Counseling I, and  CSPU 621 Supervision and Mentoring in School Counseling II must be taken at  University of Massachusetts Global.

Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Authorization: All candidates completing the program will receive the CWA authorization. Requirements to meet the CWA are embedded throughout coursework, practicum and fieldwork.

The School Counseling program also requires the following:

Fieldwork and Internship: Candidates must complete a minimum of 100 hours of practicum. A minimum of 800 hours of post-practicum fieldwork or internship is required to apply for the credential.  Of the 800 hours of post-practicum fieldwork or internship the following must be met:

• A minimum of 600 hours must be done at an approved California public school setting at two different levels. All public school hours must be under the supervision of an experienced professional who holds a PPS credential.
• A minimum of 150 hours of total hours accrued meet requirements for CTC CWA authorization.
  • A portion of the150 hours will be accrued in inter-disciplinary experiences in a setting that is outside the field of education.
• All public school and CWA hours accrued must be under the supervision of an experienced professional who holds a PPS credential in School Counseling. 

Applications for the supervision and mentoring in School Counseling must be submitted online through the SOE Services MyUMassGlobal site by the established due date.  All Credential and Program requirements must be met prior to starting any supervision and mentoring courses.

Exit Interview:  An exit interview is conducted by a faculty mentor at the end of the program to determine that the CTC’s Standards have been met. All coursework, non-coursework requirements, and the professional expectations folder must be completed and passed prior to the exit interview.  Candidates must fill out the exit interview application found on the SOE Services MyUMassGlobal site prior to participating in an exit interview by a faculty mentor. 

Completion of Degree Programs

Praxis Exam

Candidates who wish to earn a Master of Arts in Counseling must meet all the course requirements and earn a score of 159 or higher on the ETS Praxis Examination in Counseling and Guidance (#5422 - candidates must select UMass Global when registering for the ETS).  If the Candidate does not meet the minimum score on their first attempt, they must meet with program faculty and review their test scores to create a mitigating assignment that would equal a passing score for program completion purposes.

Basic Skills Requirement 

A bachelor’s (or higher) degree earned at a regionally accredited college or university fulfills the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR).  

Recommendation for Credential

Upon successfully completing all coursework and the exit interview, the candidate may apply to be recommended to the CTC for the Pupil Personnel Services credential in School Counseling (PPSC).  To apply for the credential, candidates complete the Recommendation Form on the SOE Services MyUMassGlobal site.  Once the recommendation is made by the Office of Credentials and Clinical Practice (OCCP) candidates can submit the credential fee to the CTC for the credential.