The Master of Science degree in Counseling is a 46-48 semester unit degree designed to provide graduate preparation for counselors in the areas of School Counseling and Student Affairs in Higher Education. The major goal of the program is to prepare professional counselors who have the knowledge and skills to practice in a wide variety of counseling settings.<br>All MS in Counseling students take 34-36 units of core courses in counseling, 6 units of specialty courses, 6-8 units of supervised field experience, and a final culminating activity (comprehensive exam). Most students complete the program in two years, attending full-time, or three years, attending part-time. Students may extend their program for up to 7 years according to university regulations.<br><br>Extensive field based experiences are woven throughout the Program. Courses are typically offered on weekdays in the late afternoon and evening for working students, although courses in Practicum and Fieldwork may require extensive daytime commitments during the September-June traditional school year.<br><br>Students desiring to counsel in P-12 public or private educational settings should select a concentration in the area of School Counseling. The curriculum has been designed for preparation toward a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential issued by the state of California. This option reflects the preparation standards established by the American School Counselor Association and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). While CCTC standards do not require a teaching credential, many local districts strongly prefer to hire candidates with previous teaching and credential backgrounds.