Academic Programs

Graduate Programs

The Department of Counseling offers three master's degrees: the Master of Science in Counseling; the Master of Science in Counseling with a Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling; and the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. All graduates are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination.

Within the Masters of Science in Counseling There are four different counseling specializations -- Career, College, Gerontological, and School. School counseling students are eligible for the State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a specialization in School Counseling (P-12).

Accreditation

The programs in Career Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling: College Counseling; Marriage, Family and Child Counseling; and, School Counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through March 31, 2022. The Pupil Personnel Services Credential program in School Counseling is also accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 

 

Masters of Science in Counseling:

Career Counseling

Career Counselors work in high school, college and university career centers, student support services and advising offices. Some graduates use this training to establish private career counseling and consultation practices while others enter career development centers in private industry and public agencies. Many students combine this training with another area of counseling. 
Masters of Science in

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counselors work in an array of community-based behavioral health agencies, hospital-based inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, school and college settings, rehabilitation programs, youth wellness centers and programs/services for at risk and marginalized communities. Graduates obtain their LPCC and may choose to work in private practice. 

 
Masters of Science in Counseling:

College Counseling

College Counselors may work in two- and four-year colleges and universities providing academic counseling in a range of college student personnel positions in programs such as student retention, EOP or EOPS, financial aid, CalWorks, multicultural student services, residential life, college outreach, transfer services, general counseling and other student services. 
Masters of Science in Counseling:

Gerontological Counseling

Gerontological Counselors work with older adults and their families performing case management and counseling in consultation with family members. Settings may include senior centers, residential homes, social service agencies, and hospices. Gerontological counselors benefit from having an emphasis in Mental Health Counseling.
Masters of Science in

Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling

MFCC specialization prepares graduates for LMFT licensure in California. MFTs provide assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for individuals, couples, families, children, and groups in family, youth, and child agencies, hospitals, schools, universities, forensic settings, private practice, and a variety of community counseling services. The curriculum emphasizes a culturally-informed and systemic-familial-relational orientation to prevention, intervention, consultation, and advocacy.
Masters of Science in Counseling:

School Counseling & Pupil Personnel Services Credential

School Counselors upon graduation and after passing the California CBEST examination receive their State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a specialization in School Counseling (PK–12) and work in public and private school settings. They do personal and academic counseling and work in an integrated services team approach with other mental health and education professionals.

Undergraduate Programs

We do not offer a Bachelor's degree Major in Counseling. Please refer to the SFSU Bulletin for an extensive list of undergraduate academic programs.

Undergraduate Minor in Counseling

The minor offers four areas of study for all students:

The Field of Counseling. Students are introduced to the counseling profession through an overview of role and functions in career, college, marriage, family and child, mental health, and rehabilitation settings; historical perspective; professional identification; ethical considerations; and self-awareness.

Psychological Understandings. Students receive a general introduction to the field of counseling and psychological dynamics.