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

Chapman University College offers a Master of Arts 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 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.

Admission Requirements

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 Chapman University College as state in the catalog (see the Graduate Admissions section).
2. Applicants using the CUC Admissions Option Two with a grade point average between 2.5 and 2.99 in the last 30 graded semester credits (45 quarter units) in either a baccalaureate or post baccalaureate program including credits earned toward a credential 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 this program. The minimum acceptable score for the Verbal and Quantitative sections is 450. The minimum acceptable score for the Analytic 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 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 Associate Dean and other designated faculty.

Program Requirements

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 short-term 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 (CBEST) 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 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 515, 618, 620, and 621 must be taken at Chapman University College.

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