M.A. in School Counseling and Ed.S. in School Psychology

Master of Arts in School Counseling and Pupil Personnel
Services Credential in School Counseling (PPSC)

University College offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling with an emphasis in school 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 PPS credential without enrolling in the Master of Arts program.

Admission and Program Prerequisites

Acceptance into the graduate program in school 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. Satisfactorily fulfill graduate admission requirements for University College as state in the catalog (see the Graduate Admissions section).
2. Applicants using CUC Admissions Option Two with a grade point average between 2.5 and 2.99 in the last 60 semester credits (90 quarter units) of their baccalaureate degree are required to submit passing scores from one of the following standard admissions tests:

   Graduate Record Examination (GRE): any two of the three GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, or Analytical Writing) may be used to meet graduate admissions standards for the Master of Arts degree. The minimum acceptable score for the Verbal and Quantitative sections is 450. The minimum acceptable score for the Analytical Writing section is 4.5.

   Miller Analogies Test (MAT): achieve a minimum scaled score of 403.

3. Submit a graduate application with the following:
   • Three letters of recommendation from individuals who have had experience with the candidate in an academic setting and knowledge of the candidate's academic potential and from someone who knows the candidate in a work setting, preferably one where the candidate has worked with children.
   • Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended.
   • A current resume which includes experiences working with children.
   • 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.
4. All applicants are required to arrange for an intake interview. The interview will be conducted by the program coordinator and other designated faculty.

The School Counseling program requires 48 units of coursework. Students entering the School Counseling program are expected to have the following:

Certificate of Clearance: A Certificate of Clearance application (including fingerprints) or a copy of a valid Emergency Permit must be submitted at the time of the intake interview or by the end of the first session of enrollment.

Tuberculosis Test: A current "negative" tuberculosis test, that is not more than two years old and covers the internship period must be submitted to the campus Education Department at the time of the intake interview or by the beginning of the first session of enrollment. A person whose tuberculosis test is "positive" can submit results from a chest x-ray examination that verifies the candidate does not have active tuberculosis.

CBEST: Candidates must take and pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test prior to enrollment in the second session of coursework.

Transfer Policy: No more than 12 credits may be transferred into the school counseling program from other graduate institutions upon approval by course transfer request to the Division Chair. 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.

The School Counseling program also requires the following:

Fieldwork and Internship: Candidates must complete the Practicum in School Counseling course and a minimum of 100 hours of practica fieldwork prior to beginning the final fieldwork or internship in CSPU 620 and 621. A minimum of 600 hours of post-practicum fieldwork or internship is required to apply for the credential. Most of these hours must be done in a public school setting at two different levels. All hours must be under the supervision of an experienced professional who holds a PPS credential in school counseling.

Exit Interview: Credential candidates must successfully complete an exit interview, a professional portfolio, and a capstone project to exit the program. Candidates who wish to earn a Master of Arts in school counseling must meet all the course requirements and earn a score of 550 or higher on the ETS Praxis Examination in Counseling and Guidance (#0420).

School Counseling Course Requirements

Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology (Ed.S.) and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology (PPSP)

University College offers an Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology. The School Psychology program prepares students to serve as school psychologists in public schools for grades K-12 and meets the requirements for a California State Pupil Personnel Services credential authorizing service as a school psychologist. Candidates enrolled in the Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology program will also earn a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology after the completion of required coursework, passing the Praxis exam in school psychology, and completion of the required practicum fieldwork and final year fieldwork or internship.

Admission and Program Prerequisites

Acceptance into the graduate program in school psychology is based on multiple criteria. These criteria include academic potential, experience working with children and youth, and compatibility with program philosophy. To be considered for admission the applicant must:

1. Satisfactorily fulfill graduate admission requirements for University College as stated in the catalog (see the Graduate Admissions section).
2. Applicants using CUC Admissions Option Two with a grade point average between 2.5 and 2.99 in the last 60 semester credits (90 quarter units) of their baccalaureate degree are required to submit passing scores from one of the following standard admission tests:

   Graduate Record Examination (GRE): any two of the three GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, or Analytical Writing) may be used to meet graduate admissions standards for the Educational Specialist degree and the Master of Arts of degree. The minimum acceptable score for the Verbal and Quantitative sections is 450. The minimum acceptable score for the analytical Writing is 4.5.

   Miller Analogies Test (MAT): achieve a minimum scaled score of 403.

3. Submit a graduate application with the following:
   • Three letters of recommendation from individuals who have experience with the candidate in an academic setting and have knowledge of the candidate's academic potential and from someone who knows the candidate in a work setting, preferably one where the candidate works with children.
   • Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended.
   • A current resume which includes experiences working with children.
   • An autobiographical essay (2-3 pages) describing the life experiences that have shaped the candidate's approach to working with children and youth and what led to the decision to become a school psychologist and their commitment to the program.
4. All applicants are required to arrange for an intake interview. The interview will be conducted by the program coordinator and other designated faculty members.

The school psychology program requires 66 credits of coursework, excluding one prerequisite. Students entering the school psychology program are expected to have the following:

Certificate of Clearance: A certificate of clearance application (including fingerprints) or a copy of a valid Emergency Permit must be submitted at the intake interview or by the end of the first session of enrollment.

Tuberculosis Test: A current "negative" tuberculosis test, that is not more than two years old and covers the internship period must be submitted to the campus Education Department at the time of the intake interview or by the beginning of the first session of enrollment. A person whose tuberculosis test is "positive" can submit results from a chest x-ray examination that verifies the candidate does not have active tuberculosis.

CBEST: Candidates must take and pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test prior to enrollment in the second session of coursework.

Transfer policy: No more than 18 graduate credits may be transferred into the school psychology program from other graduate institutions with an earned master's degree upon approval of the Division Chair. Candidates without an earned master's degree may transfer up to 12 credits of graduate coursework upon approval of the Associate Chair for PPS and the program coordinator. Transferred courses must have been awarded a grade of "B" or better and cannot be older than seven years at the completion of the school psychology program. CSPU 640 & CSPU 641 must be taken at Chapman.

The school psychology program also requires the following:

Fieldwork and internship. All candidates must complete the two practicum courses in school psychology and a minimum of 450 hours of practica fieldwork prior to beginning the final year fieldwork or internship with a minimum of 1200 hours of field experience. Most of these hours must be completed in a public school setting. All hours must be under the supervision of an experienced professional with a Pupil Personnel credential in school psychology

Exit Interview. Candidates must successfully complete an oral exit interview, a professional portfolio, and a capstone project to exit the program. Candidates must meet all course requirements and earn a score of 590 or better on the ETS Praxis exam in school psychology (#0400).

Specific School Psychology Course Requirements