MS in School Counseling

Program Overview

The 60-credit Master of Science in School Counseling prepares students to become skilled, ethical, and compassionate professional school counselors who support the academic, career, and social-emotional development of K–12 students.

Through primarily in-person coursework, experiential learning, supervised skills practice, practicum, and internship, students develop counseling, consultation, collaboration, advocacy, and program-development skills for work in diverse school communities. The program emphasizes strong counseling relationships, professional identity, ethical practice, multicultural responsiveness, and the use of data and evidence to support student success.

The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and prepares graduates for New York State certification as school counselors. SUNY New Paltz recommends eligible graduates for certification.

The program can be completed full-time in two years, including summer coursework. Students may also attend part-time; all degree requirements must be completed within the University’s established time limit.

Admission Requirements

The Counselor Education Department’s Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications. Please prepare the following items for inclusion in your online application:

Required

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• One official copy of transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.
• Minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all undergraduate work or strong evidence of recent academic achievement.
• Successful completion of 9 undergraduate credits in the social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, education, philosophy, anthropology, political science, history, economics, geography, criminology, gender studies, communication).
• An updated resume.
• Response to the essay admissions questions.
• Completed dispositions self-assessment.
• Three professional letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your professional/academic activity, interpersonal skills, and overall qualifications.
• International students must meet these additional requirements for admission: International Graduate Admissions | SUNY New Paltz.

Preferred

• Coursework in any of the following: abnormal psychology, personality, counseling theories, lifespan development, culture/diversity, behavioral assessment, group behavior, inferential statistics, social science research methods.
• Applied human services experience - can be volunteer, paid, or an internship.

Application Deadlines

This is a firm deadline, applications submitted after February 1st will not be considered.

This 60 credit program leads to NYS certification as a school counselor and can be completed full-time in two years, including summer classes:

Two Year Study Plan

This program leads to NYS certification as a school counselor and can be completed on a part-time basis in three years, including summer classes:

Three Year Study Plan

Graduate Checklist

Academic Good Standing, Transfer Credits, and Degree Deadline

Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are available to selected students each year. Current stipends are $7500 per year plus a six-credit tuition scholarship per semester. Assistantship duties involve assisting in faculty teaching. Inquiries should be addressed to the Chair of the Counseling Graduate Program. Other means of financial support are available to selected students each year in positions such as Assistant in the Office of Psychology and Counseling Graduate Programs, Academic Advisor to undergraduate psychology students, Graduate Intern at the Career Advising and Development Center, and Technical Assistant at the Disability Resource Center. For further information, contact the Office for Psychology and Counseling Graduate Programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

MS School Counseling Program Learning Objectives align with CACREP's Professional Identity Standards.

Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice 

Career Development 

• PO-07- Students understand career development across the lifespan for diverse students, how to integrate career concerns with mental health concerns, and demonstrate ethical and culturally competent career counseling strategies.. 

Counseling & Helping Relationships 

• PO-08- Students learn theories and models of counseling, including a systems approach to conceptualizing students.
• PO-09- Students learn the foundational ingredients of effective counseling and psychotherapy, particularly development of an empathic, collaborative therapeutic alliance and therapeutic skills that foster movement toward students’ goals and potentialities. Students demonstrate basic competence in utilizing psychotherapy skills fundamental to all theoretical approaches, conduct an intake interview with initial assessment and case conceptualization, and facilitate counseling sessions. 

Group Counseling & Group Work 

• PO-10- Students learn the theory and practice of group counseling. Students demonstrate understanding of types of groups related to students’ goals; ethical and professional concerns related to group work; leadership issues and skills; group dynamics; stages of group development; therapeutic factors evoked within groups; application of contemporary theoretical approaches; and standards of practice.

Assessment & Testing 

• PO-11- Students will gain knowledge needed to administer, interpret, and utilize psychological tests and other sources of assessment data in school settings.

Research & Program Evaluation 

• PO-12- Students will understand how to apply principles of effective research to evaluating counseling research to inform their counseling practice and to participate in practice-based research at their school counseling site.

Crisis Counseling & Disaster Mental Health

• PO-13- Students learn theory, research, and practice in crisis counseling and disaster mental health.

Professional Dispositions 

• PO-14- Students demonstrate the interpersonal capacity to relate to others in the appropriate and professional manner expected of school counselors. 

School Counseling 

• PO-SC-01- Students understand the theories and models of school counseling and are able to effectively use guidance lessons and student case conceptualizations to assess student needs, identify and apply appropriate school counseling interventions, and respond to a wide range of student situations.

School Counseling Program Mission Statement

• Function as highly skilled and ethical counselors able to work effectively in a variety of school settings with students of different ages.
• Demonstrate mastery of major counseling theories and skills and show the ability to utilize them appropriately and effectively within schools.
• Have strong foundational knowledge in human growth and development and can use it to inform their understanding of the students with whom they work.
• Value and respect diversity and demonstrate multicultural competency working with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Attend to and understand the system of teachers, parents, administrators, and community members that makes up a school setting and can work with these constituencies effectively.
• Can utilize data to effectively assess and evaluate student academic achievement, career, and personal/social development as well as the school counseling program as it relates to their school’s broader mission.
• Possess an adjustment-oriented approach that emphasizes not only addressing administrative responsibilities of school counselors, but also their role as counselors providing intervention and advocacy in both preventative and remedial forms for the students they serve.