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School Counseling
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Grade Levels:
all levels
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Credits for Licensure:
48
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Degree:
Master of Education
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Program Approved:
Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education
Program Description
The master’s in school counseling provides education and professional training to work with PreK-8 or 5-12 grade levels. Emphasizing the role of the school counselor as a facilitator of educational reform, the program features a variety of career development and experiential learning opportunities, including onsite school guidance counselor training. The degree in school counseling at Cambridge College is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
What Is School Counseling?
School counselors are vital members of school leadership teams who help students to access high quality educational and vocational experiences and make the best use of opportunities. School counseling also involves working with students to help guide social and emotional development, as well as college and career readiness. School counselors have a minimum of a master’s degree in school counseling, and must meet state certification and licensure standards.
Cambridge College School Counseling Program Highlights
Take the next step in your education and career. The School Counseling program at Cambridge College offers a flexible, affordable master’s degree option designed for working professionals.
- Experiential learning. The master’s in school counseling features extensive onsite, hands-on training experiences via school counseling internship fieldwork and seminar classes following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling.
- Day, evening, weekend, and online classes. Earn your master’s degree in school counseling while balancing work and family time with flexible, convenient class options designed to fit the needs of adult learners.
- Experienced faculty. Cambridge College faculty are experienced counseling professionals, accomplished researchers, and accessible teachers who are dedicated to helping you succeed.
- Exceptional value. Rated one of the most affordable four-year private nonprofit colleges in the nation, Cambridge College offers quality education and low tuition.
- Diverse students. Cambridge College welcomes over 300 students from more than 50 countries and was recently ranked as one of the most ethnically diverse colleges in America.
- Convenient locations. All of our classroom locations are close to public transportation and/or offer free parking for students.
Research shows that school counselors and school counseling programs have a positive impact on K-12 student outcomes. In particular, students of color and students from low-income families benefit from having more access to school counselors.
However, there is a growing need for qualified school counselors. Across all schools, the average student-to-school-counselor ratio is 464 to 1, and nearly 1 in 5 students do not have access to a counselor in their school.
Schools serving the most students of color or the most students from low-income families are especially shortchanged when it comes to school counselors.
(Source: American School Counselor Association (ASCA))
School Counseling Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and skills developed through the school counseling master’s curriculum include:
- Group counseling, leadership, and consulting techniques
- School counseling research and the psychology of learning
- Curriculum frameworks and student testing
- Understanding normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development
- Diagnosis and treatment of learning and behavior disorders
- Strategies for prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, the spectrum of mental illnesses, and violence in PreK-12 students
- Post-secondary education and careers planning
- Federal, state, and municipal laws and regulations related to school counseling
What Can You Do With a Master’s in School Counseling?
Our graduates are group workers skilled in developmental guidance, and practitioners who know how to help students find their academic niche and achieve their best. They are also effective brokers of educational and community resources, skilled interpreters of assessment tools, and valuable consultants to students, parents, and staff.
Most graduates go on to careers as licensed school guidance counselors in public schools. Other career options you might pursue with a master’s degree in school counseling include working with community health organizations, going into private practice, or pursuing a doctoral degree in counseling or a related mental health field.
School Counseling Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school counselors earned an average of $55,410 per year in 2017.
Example School Counseling Courses
The master’s in school counseling at Cambridge College features classes such as:
- Group Work With Children and Adolescents
- Counseling and Consulting Techniques Laboratory
- Perspectives in Cross-Cultural Counseling
- School Counseling Internship Fieldwork and Seminar
Download the School Counseling program sheet.
School Counseling Scholarships and Financial Aid
Get help with tuition and other expenses. Grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study are available to help with tuition and education expenses. Learn more about applying for financial aid at Cambridge College.
Many companies also offer tuition assistance programs that can help to pay for education. Find information about getting your company to help.
Related Programs at Cambridge College
If you’re still exploring degree options, you might be interested in learning more about these programs at Cambridge College:
Curriculum
Courses should be taken in sequence:
Term 1 courses must be completed before term 2 courses. A maximum of 4 courses can be taken each term.
Non-Licensure option:
All program components are required except the Communication & Literacy Test (MTEL). Non-Licensure students must complete all pre-practicum hours embedded in the courses.
This course provides an experiential approach to career development for mental health, school and rehabilitation counselors to support clients with and without disabilities across the lifespan in both individual and group settings. Orientation to key assessment instruments, online resources, labor market information, transferable skills analysis, job placement strategies and work-related supports will be made to support the career guidance process and to develop comprehensive plans of action for clients.
This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Counseling: i. Career counseling.
- School Counseling Internship approval form signed by program chair or designee.
- Pass all teacher tests required by the state for this license: Massachusetts Communication & Literacy Test (MTEL).
- Complete and pass all term 1 and 2 courses.
Those in the PreK-8 track may take an elective instead of CCP 672.
CCP 698 should be taken in the summer term prior to enrolling in CSG 792.
CSG 792 School Guidance Internship Fieldwork and Seminar I (offered in the fall term only):
- For PreK-8 register for CSG 792E
- For 5-12 register for CSG 792S
In this course students will develop strategies to effectively counsel adolescents. This course will address the stages of development in the adolescents’ transition into adulthood, with a focus on the tasks of differentiation, autonomy, relationships, family, work, post-secondary education, military service, and other developmental challenges. Collaboration and consultation with parents/guardians, community collaterals, school support staff, and employers, as well as access to resources will be addressed. For those adolescents considering entry to higher education, the college/post-secondary training program and its funding will also be discussed. Special emphasis will be placed on ways to help those who traditionally face substantial barriers to success, including low-income students, minority and ELL students, and students with disabilities. The fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction are emphasized throughout the course.
This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: m. Development of skills for consultation with parents, teachers and administrators. n. College counseling and use of college and other post-secondary resource materials (grades 5-12).
Registration in this course is a prerequisite to field experience. This 0-credit course triggers Tevera fee and student access.
Class preparation and assignments reflect levels preK-8 or 5-12 depending on fieldwork level and license level sought.
Onsite training supervised by a state-approved licensed/certified school guidance counselor at the level sought is required; currently, 600 contact hours minimum, 240 of which must be in direct service with students, and 360 hours of indirect service (per CACREP National Standards). Entry requires approval from school guidance counseling program chair, Associate Dean of Academic Advising and Field Experience, or designee.
This is the first of a two semester capstone experience where interns engage in the role of school counselor and attend a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork. Interns work with children and adolescents under supervision of a licensed school guidance counselor. They participate in individual and group counseling; utilize technology in the counseling process; apply counseling principles to career, social, personal, and academic development of students, and students with normal and abnormal behavior. Students are taught to use measurable outcomes for school counseling programs and activities. They utilize behavioral observation and program evaluation in planning successful interventions for students. They work with special education teams in understanding diagnosis of learning and behavior disorders. Interns are introduced to resources within the school district and community for referral. They develop plans for the prevention, treatment and referral of students engaged in legal or illegal substance abuse, personal, physical, and sexual abuse, school violence, school crises and other trauma causing situations. Students engage in ethical and legal practices of school counseling; campaign for an identity as a school counselor; work in support service teams to identify opportunities that enhance or impede academic, personal/social and career development. They work with task and peer counseling groups; deploy multicultural strategies in relation to diversity, equity, and opportunity in student learning; involve parents to promote academic, personal/social, and career development. Students are taught to use data to make decisions regarding accountability; learn and practice concepts, principles, and strategies to help close the achievement gap and school drop-out; employ suicide risk procedures; and are involved with designing curriculum and instructional strategies to teach a developmental guidance curriculum. Students also apply consultation strategies with parents, staff, administration and community resources; plan and implement developmental classroom guidance programs; learn the special education referral processes; and are taught to recognize and discuss personal limitations in supervision. Students are expected to utilize leadership strategies in the planning and implementation of parent education programs, and advisor/advisee programs. And lastly, students become familiar with the state achievement tests and the state curriculum frameworks. One contact hour of weekly supervision with a licensed supervisor and attendance at a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork is required.
The fieldwork experiences in this course address all of the Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling (except standard k).
Class preparation and assignments reflect levels preK-8 or 5-12 depending on fieldwork level and license level sought.
Onsite training supervised by a state-approved licensed/certified school guidance counselor at the level sought is required; currently, 600 contact hours minimum, 240 of which must be in direct service with students, and 360 hours of indirect service (per CACREP National Standards). Entry requires approval from school guidance counseling program chair, Associate Dean of Academic Advising and Field Experience, or designee.
This is the first of a two-term capstone experience where interns engage in the role of school counselor and attend a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork. Interns work with children and adolescents under supervision of a licensed school guidance counselor. They participate in individual and group counseling; utilize technology in the counseling process; apply counseling principles to career, social, personal, and academic development of students, and students with normal and abnormal behavior. Students are taught to use measurable outcomes for school counseling programs and activities. They utilize behavioral observation and program evaluation in planning successful interventions for students. They work with special education teams in understanding diagnosis of learning and behavior disorders. Interns are introduced to resources within the school district and community for referral. They develop plans for the prevention, treatment and referral of students engaged in legal or illegal substance abuse, personal, physical, and sexual abuse, school violence, school crises and other trauma-causing situations. Students engage in ethical and legal practices of school counseling; campaign for an identity as a school counselor; work in support service teams to identify opportunities that enhance or impede academic, personal/social and career development. They work with task and peer counseling groups; deploy multicultural strategies in relation to diversity, equity, and opportunity in student learning; involve parents to promote academic, personal/social, and career development. Students are taught to use data to make decisions regarding accountability; learn and practice concepts, principles, and strategies to help close the achievement gap and school drop-out; employ suicide risk procedures; and are involved with designing curriculum and instructional strategies to teach a developmental guidance curriculum. Students also apply consultation strategies with parents, staff, administration and community resources; plan and implement developmental classroom guidance programs; learn the special education referral processes; and are taught to recognize and discuss personal limitations in supervision. Students are expected to utilize leadership strategies in the planning and implementation of parent education programs, and advisor/advisee programs. And lastly, students become familiar with the state achievement tests and the state curriculum frameworks. One contact hour of weekly supervision with a licensed supervisor and attendance at a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork is required.
The fieldwork experiences in this course address all of the Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling (except standard k).
This course is designed to prepare students in the Mental Health, School Adjustment, and School Counseling programs to lead psychoeducational and/or counseling groups for children and adolescents. Class lectures and experiential activities will provide a theoretical and practical framework for organizing and leading theme-oriented counseling groups in school and community mental health settings. Readings will provide students with different theoretical perspectives on working with groups as well as the practical tasks in managing and working with school age youngsters in a group setting. Designing curriculum for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence as well as numerous other topics will be reviewed. The course explores counseling issues and provides specific techniques and strategies that are developmentally appropriate and applicable to the school/community settings. Application of ethical standards and legal requirements unique to counseling children and adolescents is included.
This course addresses the following Massachusetts state standards for school adjustment counseling: a. principles of therapeutic relationships. b. theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social and emotional development. d: Prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence in PreK-12 students.
This course addresses the following Massachusetts state standards for school counseling: f. knowledge of strategies used for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, the spectrum of mental illnesses, and violence in PreK-12 students. e. theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social and emotional development. l. group counseling and group leadership.
CSG 793 School Guidance Internship Fieldwork and Seminar I (offered in the spring term only):
- For PreK-8 register for CSG 793E
- For 5-12 register for CSG 793S
For 5-12 take CSG672, or for PreK-8 take an elective (see suggested electives below).
Class preparation and assignments reflect levels preK-8 or 5-12 depending on fieldwork level and license level sought.
Onsite training supervised by a state-approved licensed/certified school guidance counselor at the level sought is required; currently, 600 contact hours minimum, 240 of which must be in direct service with students, and 360 hours of indirect service (per CACREP National Standards). Entry requires approval from school guidance counseling program chair, Associate Dean of Academic Advising and Field Experience, or designee.
This is the second of a two semester capstone experience where interns engage in the role of school counselor and attend a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork. Interns work with children and adolescents under supervision of a licensed school guidance counselor. They participate in individual and group counseling; utilize technology in the counseling process; apply counseling principles to career, social, personal, and academic development of students, and students with normal and abnormal behavior. Students are taught to use measurable outcomes for school counseling programs and activities. They utilize behavioral observation and program evaluation in planning successful interventions for students. They work with special education teams in understanding diagnosis of learning and behavior disorders. Interns are introduced to resources within the school district and community for referral. They develop plans for the prevention, treatment and referral of students engaged in legal or illegal substance abuse, personal, physical, and sexual abuse, school violence, school crises and other trauma causing situations. Students engage in ethical and legal practices of school counseling; campaign for an identity as a school counselor; work in support service teams to identify opportunities that enhance or impede academic, personal/social and career development. They work with task and peer counseling groups; deploy multicultural strategies in relation to diversity, equity, and opportunity in student learning; involve parents to promote academic, personal/social, and career development. Students are taught to use data to make decisions regarding accountability; learn and practice concepts, principles, and strategies to help close the achievement gap and school drop-out; employ suicide risk procedures; and are involved with designing curriculum and instructional strategies to teach a developmental guidance curriculum. Students also apply consultation strategies with parents, staff, administration and community resources; plan and implement developmental classroom guidance programs; learn the special education referral processes; and are taught to recognize and discuss personal limitations in supervision. Students are expected to utilize leadership strategies in the planning and implementation of parent education programs, and advisor/advisee programs. And lastly, students become familiar with the state achievement tests and the state curriculum frameworks. One contact hour of weekly supervision with a licensed supervisor and attendance at a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork is required.
The fieldwork experiences in this course address all of the Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling (except standard k).
Class preparation and assignments reflect levels preK-8 or 5-12 depending on fieldwork level and license level sought.
Onsite training supervised by a state-approved licensed/certified school guidance counselor at the level sought is required; currently, 600 contact hours minimum, 240 of which must be in direct service with students, and 360 hours of indirect service (per CACREP National Standards). Entry requires approval from school guidance counseling program chair, Associate Dean of Academic Advising and Field Experience, or designee.
This is the second of a two semester capstone experience where interns engage in the role of school counselor and attend a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork. Interns work with children and adolescents under supervision of a licensed school guidance counselor. They participate in individual and group counseling; utilize technology in the counseling process; apply counseling principles to career, social, personal, and academic development of students, and students with normal and abnormal behavior. Students are taught to use measurable outcomes for school counseling programs and activities. They utilize behavioral observation and program evaluation in planning successful interventions for students. They work with special education teams in understanding diagnosis of learning and behavior disorders. Interns are introduced to resources within the school district and community for referral. They develop plans for the prevention, treatment and referral of students engaged in legal or illegal substance abuse, personal, physical, and sexual abuse, school violence, school crises and other trauma causing situations. Students engage in ethical and legal practices of school counseling; campaign for an identity as a school counselor; work in support service teams to identify opportunities that enhance or impede academic, personal/social and career development. They work with task and peer counseling groups; deploy multicultural strategies in relation to diversity, equity, and opportunity in student learning; involve parents to promote academic, personal/social, and career development. Students are taught to use data to make decisions regarding accountability; learn and practice concepts, principles, and strategies to help close the achievement gap and school drop-out; employ suicide risk procedures; and are involved with designing curriculum and instructional strategies to teach a developmental guidance curriculum. Students also apply consultation strategies with parents, staff, administration and community resources; plan and implement developmental classroom guidance programs; learn the special education referral processes; and are taught to recognize and discuss personal limitations in supervision. Students are expected to utilize leadership strategies in the planning and implementation of parent education programs, and advisor/advisee programs. And lastly, students become familiar with the state achievement tests and the state curriculum frameworks. One contact hour of weekly supervision with a licensed supervisor and attendance at a seminar that runs concurrent with fieldwork is required.
The fieldwork experiences in this course address all of the Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling (except standard k).
In this three credit course, we will explore neurobiology as it relates to emotional, behavioral and cognitive development and expression. The last decade, with the benefits of technology and research, has witnessed a renewed convergence of psychiatry and neurology. Emotional factors are often expressed via neurological symptoms and neurological deficits often resulting in psychological symptoms. This course will identify key areas in the brain, nervous system, and the interrelationship with internal and external factors that shape who we are and what we do. Through presentations, discussion and experiential practice, students taking this course will leave with a greater understanding of the brain/body connection as it relates to stress, trauma and the myriad of neurological and emotional pathologies. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.
Adjunct Instructor
Pages
Admissions
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Admission Test:
No standardized graduate school tests required for admission into non-licensure programs
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Admissions Office:
1-800-829-4723
- Application Form:
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Application Fee:
$50 ($100 for international students)
Health Requirements for Massachusetts Students
The Massachusetts Health Department and Cambridge College require the following of students in Massachusetts:
Immunizations – All students in Massachusetts are required to get certain immunizations before you can register for your first term. See form
Health Insurance – In Massachusetts, undergraduate students taking nine or more credits/term and graduate students taking six or more credits/term must enroll in the College’s health insurance plan. Students who have insurance with comparable coverage may request a waiver. See information and enroll or waive.
School Requirements
International Students
International students need to provide supplemental documentation:
- Official demonstration of English language proficiency
- Supplemental documentation for issuance of I-20
- International transcripts, evaluated by an accepted evaluation service
Transfer Credit
Please complete the transfer credit request form if you wish to have prior course work evaluated for transfer. Learn more.
Tuition
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Credits for Licensure:
48
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Cost per credit hour:
$639
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Application Fee:
$50 ($100 for international students)
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Health Insurance Fee:
$3,940 - Required for Massachusetts students only. See waiver details on Tuition & Fees page.)
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Internship/Practicum Fee:
$400
Note: Rates are as of July, 2022, and are subject to change without notice. Rates apply to all students, unless otherwise noted.
Financial Aid
Cambridge College offers financial aid to students in our degree programs who are enrolled at least half time. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits each term. Graduate and doctoral students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits each term. Learn more
Grants, Scholarships and Loans
Cambridge College welcomes the opportunity to support your efforts to pay for college. Federal, state and local resources in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study, including Cambridge College Scholarships, are available to help defray the cost of tuition. Learn more
Getting Your Company to Help
Many companies have tuition assistance programs, designed to help their employees with their professional development. Learn more