Frequently Asked Questions

M.S. in School Counseling

Costs and Expenses

For information and assistance, visit the SDSU Financial Aid office.

As SDSU guarantees on-campus housing for all first-time freshmen and non-local sophomores, on-campus housing for non-required students is limited.

Please note that SDSU cannot guarantee a space for non-required students. If you have any questions, please contact SDSU Housing.

General Application Questions

Admission to this program requires a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution, so the majority of applicants meet the Basic Skills Requirement through their degree. For more information, visit the CTC Website.

Yes, out-of-state applicants are allowed to wait until after they are offered admission into the program to take the CBEST. However, the CBEST must be taken immediately upon beginning the program, as failure to pass the CBEST will impact the student’s ability to continue within the program.

While not required prior to admission, undergraduate courses in counseling theories, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, child psychology, and related fields provide useful preparation.

While there is no average GPA, applicants should have a minimum GPA of 2.85, per university policy. That said, applicants are reviewed holistically, and we recommend that all interested applicants apply.

Yes, it is important to gain recent experience working with diverse children and adolescents in a professional helping context. It is also beneficial to have professional experiences working with diverse students in a school setting. Experiences that support and promote leadership, advocacy, and multicultural growth in one’s professional and personal development are highly beneficial and strongly encouraged.

No, you do not need to be a certified teacher to complete this program. However, all applicants must meet the CTC's Basic Skills Requirement. Please refer to the CTC website for more information on this requirement.

No, there is only one application cycle to apply for the incoming graduating class. Learn more at How to Apply.

The acceptance rate fluctuates year to year, depending on the number of applicants. That said, each graduating class is typically comprised of 18 students. Due to the small class sizes, the application process can be very competitive.

General Program Questions

The PPS credential is specific to California. If you wish to work in another state, a high score on the Praxis Exam will help you earn reciprocity in other states. All students take the Praxis Exam before graduation. For more information, visit the California Department of Education.

Unfortunately, SDSU does not offer this type of evaluation service because our school counseling program is a full time, cohort model program. SDSU does not offer a part time program. A person seeking a review to determine which additional courses are necessary to earn a PPS credential would be best served by conducting their review at the same institution where part time coursework could eventually take place and a PPS could be earned. For further information, please contact the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Most classes are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working students. During the fall semester of the first year, students attend practicum one day per week and have classes three days per week. Classes are primarily held in the evening, with some daytime classes on Wednesdays. During the spring semester, students attend practicum two days per week and have classes in the late afternoon and evening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. In the second year, students complete fieldwork two days per week, with classes held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evening.

Current students must enroll in and complete all courses in the program of study. No course can be waived based on undergraduate or post-graduate transcripts.

The M.S. in School Counseling and the PPS are completed in two full years of full-time study, including summer coursework. 

The program is designed as a full-time course of study, with most classes scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Because of the academic and fieldwork demands, working full-time is not recommended. Most students who are successful in the program work no more than 20 hours per week.

Our program is full-time with most classes scheduled for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We do not suggest students work more than 20 hours a week.

Our program is currently not CACREP-accredited. However, here is some information about our program that may be helpful in terms of our accreditations:

  • SDSU's School Counseling coursework (64 units - which is more than the 48 required for CA) aligns with CACREP requirements.
  • Our program is CTCC-accredited.
  • CACREP is not required in CA, and our students have a very high employability rate in CA and many other states.
  • In addition, our program requires the PRAXIS test (our students' scores typically exceed all minimums in all states), and credentials earned in CA are portable. Many of our students are employed in states other than CA.

Program Requirements

Being a teacher is not required in CA, however, it might be required for hiring in some districts and/or states. Regardless, experience working with children and adolescents in a professional school and helping context is strongly recommended as school counselors are better prepared when they have experience in schools.

Entry into the school-counseling program requires students to complete a two-year full time program in a cohort model approach. All students in the program are required to complete the application process and begin at the same time. SDSU does not admit students on a part time basis. Students may waive up to nine (9) units upon acceptance to the program (in consultation with the Director), however it is unlikely that more than a few previously completed courses will transfer for credit to SDSU. Courses in the school counseling program at SDSU are designed to scaffold learning in a deliberate, systematic fashion. All courses are integrated with and built upon one another. A distinctive philosophy underpins the program. Thus, to maintain the integrity of our training program, we require that all students enroll in courses offered by the SDSU school counseling program unless otherwise pre-approved by the Program Director.

SDSU’s school counseling program is a full-time, cohort model program. SDSU does not offer a part-time program. A person seeking a review to determine which additional courses are necessary to earn a PPS credential would be best served by conducting their review at the same institution where part-time coursework could eventually take place, and a PPS could be earned. For further information, please contact the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

SDSU’s school counseling program is a full-time, cohort model program. SDSU does not offer a part-time program. A person seeking a review to determine which additional courses are necessary to earn a PPS credential would be best served by conducting the review at the same institution where part-time coursework could eventually take place and a PPS could be earned. For further information, please contact the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).