Become a Stronger Advocate for Students Through Advanced Counseling Skills
Master of Science in Counseling
Request Brochure
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Master of Science in Counseling programs offered by Cal Lutheran, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with a graduate enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-493-3325 or for the online Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel call 805-521-9856.
Quick Facts
Pupil Personnel Services Degree
Units
48 units 51 units with CWA specialization
Duration
3 years
Format
On-Campus Location: Thousand Oaks
Start Date
Fall
College Student Personnel Degree
Units
45 units
Duration
Online: 1.5 years In-person: 2.5 years
Format
Online or In-person (Thousand Oaks)
Start Date
Online: Spring semester In-person: Fall semester
Program Benefits
Get first-hand experience through a supervised practicum and field study
Collaborate with a cohort of fellow working professionals
Convenient learning options to fit your schedule
A unique cultural proficiency model embedded throughout the program
Learn to advocate for equity, access and inclusion for all students
Guide with compassion and expertise with a Master of Science in Counseling from Cal Lutheran’s Graduate School of Education.
The Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) and College Student Personnel (CSP) programs uniquely combine innovative scholarship with practical experiences that prepare you to support students at every stage of their education — from preschool to post-college — and beyond.
Two Master’s in Educational Counseling Degrees, Specialized for Your Career Goals:
- Master of Science in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS)
- Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel (CSP)
Why Choose Cal Lutheran for Your Counseling Degree?
Expand your counseling community
Our courses follow a cohort format so that you can move through the full degree program with a supportive network of classmates. Whether you complete your degree in person or online, you will belong to an encouraging community where instructors know you by name and your peers can support your growth with their stories, advice and insights.
Learn by doing with practicums and internships
Through a supervised practicum and field study experiences, you’ll add hundreds of hours of experience in K-12, college or university settings to your resume. We pair you with a program fieldwork coordinator who will help you find the right placements based on your interests and goals.
Programs designed around your schedule
Our counseling degrees are uniquely designed for working educators and professionals moving into education counseling.
For our in-person programs, we provide convenient evening classes that meet just once a week during the academic year, and twice a week in the summer. In our online CSP program, coursework is a mix of on-demand content and engaging live sessions.
“This program has such an emphasis on cultural diversity. Much of the coursework brought awareness to inequalities that exist within the academic system and how we, as counselors, can help bring equity to the students we work with daily.”
Master of Science in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services
This master’s degree in school counseling equips educators, counselors and administrators with the expertise they need to support elementary, middle and high school students.
You’ll learn to select and apply the best counseling methods to support each student, taking their needs as well as their socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds into consideration. The program also teaches you the methodologies and theories needed to create practical and effective counseling programs that make efficient use of your school’s resources.
The M.S. in Counseling and PPS also includes an optional Child Welfare and Attendance Specialization. This specialization focuses on understanding the school, home and community factors that affect student attendance, as well as the laws related to attendance and the intervention programs that can improve both attendance rates and school safety.
Practicum and Internships: M.S. in Counseling and PPS students complete a supervised field placement and three internships in schools or community agencies for a minimum of 800 hours (950 hours for students who add the Child Welfare and Attendance specialization). These sites have included Los Angeles, Ventura, Conejo Valley, Oxnard, Fillmore, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Santa Paula and Santa Barbara school districts.
Download the program overview brochure to learn more.
“Throughout the program, I was challenged to look within and understand myself before attempting to help students. The program also tremendously improved my writing and critical thinking skills because it connects research to practice.”
Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel
This master’s in college counseling degree program is designed for individuals who work with or aspire to work with students in college and university settings.
Higher education counseling offers a broad range of opportunities, and this degree is great for those who work in student affairs, academic advising, student support, diversity and inclusion, disability services and residence life.
Our program gives you practical, research and interpersonal skills to use in your everyday work with students. We focus on helping you become a lifelong learner, so that you can apply different viewpoints and approaches with each student.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to adapt to different situations and truly understand the wide range of needs your students bring to campus.
Practicum and Internships: MS in Counseling (CSP) students complete a supervised field placement and two internships on different higher education campuses for a minimum of 300 hours. These placements have included work in student affairs, financial aid, admissions, advising, student success and disability support.
About the Graduate School of Education at Cal Lutheran
About the Graduate School of Education
At the Cal Lutheran Graduate School of Education, you will turn theory into practice, learn one-on-one with experienced faculty and collaborate with public, private and charter schools — from kindergarten through higher education — as well as community-minded organizations.
You will pursue your purpose and grow as an educator through experiential instruction in an environment dedicated to introspection and exploration, preparing you as an innovative, transformative leader.
The quality of your education is ensured by our accreditation approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
About Cal Lutheran
Founded in 1959 and formally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2016, Cal Lutheran is home to a wide range of undergraduate and graduate students. They’ve come to Cal Lutheran from dozens of countries and represent a wide spectrum of faith and spirituality.
Our dedicated, accomplished faculty work with small classes of students who are open-minded — about ideas, about people and about faith — and are seeking to grow as individuals.
Both in and out of the classroom, everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping each student pursue their passions and transform their community and the wider world.