The Master of Science in School Counseling is a CACREP-accredited degree program that prepares professionals to work at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The focus of study consists of professional orientation, ethics and professional standards, social and cultural competence, equity, and applied counseling skills supporting K-12 students' social-emotional, academic, and career development at multiple levels of intervention.
The M.S. program meets the State of Connecticut Certification (068) requirements as a K-12 School Counselor. Students are trained to provide preventive and responsive counseling services that meet the guidelines of the American School Counselor Association's (ASCA) National Model, as well as the Connecticut Comprehensive School Counseling Framework (CCSCF).
- The 60-credit program is available in full or part-time study.
- Evening classes are offered for the working professional.
- Class format includes online and in-person meetings.
- The program follows a cohort model, fostering supportive collegial relationships throughout their study.
- Includes two supervised field experiences in school settings. Both fieldwork experiences are completed under the supervision of a certified school counselor.
- Practicum: The practicum offers students the opportunity to develop, sharpen, and demonstrate individual and group counseling skills. In this first field experience, students are required to spend a minimum of 100 hours over the course of one semester within a school setting.
- Internship: The internship is an intensive, diversified experience that exposes students to a full range of school counselor responsibilities appropriate to the setting. In line with Connecticut certification requirements, the internship consists of a 10-month-long, 700-hour minimum counseling experience in a school setting.
- A comprehensive exam is required.
Foundational
Assessment & Diagnostic Processes
Career Development
Counseling Practice & Skills
Ethical & Legal Issues in School Counseling
Group Counseling & Group Work
Orientation to School Counseling
Research & Program Evaluation
Theories of Counseling & Lifespan Development
Specialization
Consultation in Schools
Counseling Children & Adolescents
Crisis Response & Intervention
School Counseling Curriculum Development & Classroom Management
Developmental Psychopathology
K-12 Career & College Readiness Counseling
Substance Use Prevention & Intervention
Graduates will:
- Demonstrate ethical, collaborative, and advocacy-driven practices by accurately identifying professional roles, credentialing requirements, relevant legislation, and counseling supervision models, and by applying self-awareness, professional engagement, and informed leadership to promote access, equity, and excellence across diverse service delivery settings.
- Demonstrate competence in culturally sustaining and evidence-based practices by effectively conceptualizing cases, developing and implementing prevention and intervention plans, responding to crises, building ethical counseling relationships, and engaging in collaborative decision-making to support diverse student needs across practice settings.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and wellness-oriented strategies grounded in developmental, relational, and neurobiological theories to support individual and family development, foster resilience and adaptation, and promote holistic well-being across the lifespan.
- Apply multicultural, social justice, and advocacy frameworks by identifying systemic barriers, and analyzing the influence of cultural identities and intersectionality and the impact of historical trauma, discrimination, marginalization, and income disparities on the people they serve. They will implement inclusive strategies that promote empowerment, wellness, and equitable access to services.
- Demonstrate the ability to ethically design, facilitate, and evaluate group counseling sessions by applying evidence-based, culturally sustaining, and developmentally responsive strategies, and by analyzing group dynamics, leadership roles, and therapeutic factors across diverse settings and delivery modalities.
- Apply ethical, culturally sustaining, and developmentally responsive career counseling strategies by conducting career assessments, interpreting labor market data, identifying systemic barriers, and developing individualized career and education plans that support diverse clients in achieving meaningful vocational and life-work goals.
- Design, implement, and evaluate career development programming that expands access and helps close equity gaps across learner and client populations.
- Demonstrate the ability to ethically select, administer, and interpret a variety of assessments by applying knowledge of developmental, cultural, and legal considerations to accurately inform case conceptualization, goal setting, service planning, and referral decisions across academic, career, personal, and clinical contexts.
- Demonstrate competency in research and program evaluation by designing ethically sound studies, selecting appropriate methodologies, analyzing and interpreting data, and applying culturally responsive, evidence-based findings to inform counseling programming and the counseling profession, evaluate outcomes, and support professional advocacy efforts.
- Demonstrate the ability to design and lead equitable, data-informed PK–12 programs that promote academic success, social-emotional development, and career readiness through advocacy, collaboration, culturally sustaining practices, trauma-informed care, and comprehensive school-based interventions and consultation.
Careers
School counselors are employed primarily in K-12 educational settings. They use their counseling knowledge, insight, and skills to promote student well-being and educational success.
Key Responsibilities of School Counselors:
- Provide a program of services for students in the school to promote academic, social-emotional, and career development in a proactive and preventive manner.
- Provide individual and group counseling for students identified in need.
- Consult with teachers, faculty, and administrators concerning student academic, social-emotional, and career success.
- Communicate and collaborate with parents/families to support students.
- Provide a liaison with community agencies based on student needs.
- Implement a comprehensive program that focuses on the uniqueness of all students based on data-informed decision making, closing achievement and opportunity gaps, and results in improved student outcomes.
Typical Job Titles
- School Counselor
For more information about school counseling, see the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and the Connecticut School Counselor Association (CSCA).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which is the premier independent accrediting body in counselor education.
School / College
College of Education
Department
Counselor Education
Contact
Dr. Jennifer Parzych
schoolcounselinggrad@southernct.edu
From our Alumni
I knew the minute I was introduced to Dr. P and Dr. G I knew I had to come to Southern to get my Masters in my dream career, School Counseling! Deciding on attending this program was the best decision for me. What I loved most about this program was the tight knit community and how supportive my cohort became. This program made it more clear that this was the profession that I was made for and I am so grateful.
Clare Brown,
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
Southern’s School Counseling Program is a true community where students and professors support and uplift each other throughout every challenge. The program builds empathy, collaboration, and confidence, fully preparing students to thrive as counselors after graduation. Joining this program was the best decision I made and an unforgettable experience!
Claire Doheny,
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
I gained insight into what it takes to become an effective school counselor and assist students in many different aspects of their development. Not only did Southern help me in becoming a school counselor, it also brought me lifelong friends, camaraderie and amazing professors who have supported me along the way. Go Owls!
Victoria Ray,
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
The SCSU School Counseling program pushed me to reflect on my own experiences in order to make a difference for students. I can’t thank the SCSU faculty and my peers enough for being part of my journey and watching me grow into the role model I’ve always strived to be.
Austen Searles,
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
I joined Southern’s School Counseling Graduate Program to advance my skills and professional identity. This experience equipped me with counseling knowledge, self-compassion, identity, and resilience, while fostering meaningful collaboration within my Cohort. This program transformed education from a past wound into a place of healing and purpose.
Najia Walker,
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
MS-School Counseling alumni, ‘25
Southern's School Counseling program has been truly life-changing. The dedicated faculty, flexible structure for working professionals, and unwavering support have empowered me to grow as a passionate advocate for students, families and communities. I wholeheartedly recommend this program as it inspires, equips, and transforms future counselors to make a lasting impact.
Mike Cebula,
SYC-School Counseling Alumni, ‘25
SYC-School Counseling Alumni, ‘25