Admissions to the MS in Counseling Program

The M.S. in Counseling is a professional program to prepare students for a successful career in the counseling profession. The program's emphasis on postmodern praxis and commitment to social justice sets the tone for preparing counselors who can respond to complex issues in a variety of settings. Students who complete the appropriate concentration within the degree can apply to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to become Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). Coursework in the appropriate concentration prepares students to become counselors in grades K-12 by applying for the California Pupil Personnel Services School Counselor Credential (PPS). The degree offers three concentrations, School Counseling, Professional  Counseling, or a dual concentration of School and Professional Counseling. 

• Must complete CSU Apply Application.
• Must apply to directly to the concentration of interest, either School Counseling, Professional Counseling or School and Professional Counseling Dual Concentration.
• Students must be admitted to CSUSB graduate studies and meet the general requirements of the university.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher from all previous undergraduate/graduate work.
• Attending Information Sessions: All prospective students are encouraged to attend one of our Counseling Program admission Information Sessions, where submission criteria and guidelines will be provided.
• Review the CSUSB Master of Science in Counseling Program: Personal Statement Prompts and Evaluation Rubric: The personal statement prompts are designed to guide your reflection on key aspects of your background, experiences, and career goals. The evaluation rubric provides specific details on the additional documents required for your application, including your resume, three letters of recommendation, TB test results, and CTC clearance. You will be required to upload the following documents:
  • Submission of Personal Statement of Interest: As part of your application, you are required to submit a personal statement that provides insight into your experiences, values, and professional goals. Additionally, we provide an evaluation rubric that outlines the key criteria our admissions committee will use to assess your application. These criteria ensure a comprehensive review of your commitment to social justice, alignment with the program’s mission, and potential contributions to the field of counseling. Please carefully review the prompts and rubric to ensure your personal statement is thorough, well-structured, and reflective of your passion for becoming a counselor.
  • Submission of Current Resume: When submitting your resume, please ensure it highlights your relevant academic background, professional experience, community service, and leadership roles. Focus on counseling-related experiences and any work with diverse populations. Your resume should demonstrate your commitment to the field and align with the program’s mission and core values.
  • Submission of Letters of Support: Three Letters of support should come from individuals who can speak to your academic preparation, professional potential, and suitability for the counseling field. These letters should highlight your compassion, commitment to social justice, and values that align with the program. The letters should provide specific examples of your contributions and potential impact as a future counselor.
• The following items are required, and they must be submitted either at the time of admission or before the start of the fall semester to be conditionally admitted into the program:
  • Evidence of current negative TB test: Please indicate in your application that you are waiting on official confirmation if your clearance is pending);
  • Evidence of CTC Livescan Clearance: Please indicate in your application that you are waiting on official confirmation if your clearance is pending) OR possession of a valid California teaching credential;
• Upon completion of the above requirements, the student's file will be reviewed by an admission committee composed of at least three members of the Counseling faculty.

The Fall 2025 application deadline date is January 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding admissions, please contact Shelia Braggs at prospectivestudents.mscounseling@csusb.edu.

Upon admission to the program, you will be notified of a new student orientation meeting that typically takes place the first week of the new term. At the meeting, we will collectively meet one another and provide you with many of the details you need to flourish as a graduate student. 

While in the program, you will be expected to attend two program-wide advisement meetings per year, one per semester. The purpose for the advisement meetings is to build a sense of community amongst the three cohorts, check in with all cohort students and faculty, and inform students of courses for the following term as well as any other necessary information. All PowerPoint slides containing such information will be posted on our MS Counseling Community group in CANVAS. 

You will also be assigned to a faculty advisor to ensure your academic success throughout the program. We want to see that you are supported and successful, both as students in the program and as professionals in your future career. During your first semester as a graduate student, you will be assigned an advisor. This faculty member will be available to you throughout your program of study, helping plan your coursework and answer questions. They are also the person who will be doing your program plan of study sometime during either your spring term of your first year or the fall term of your second year. They will also explain the requirements needed to advance to candidacy and graduation. 

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy: 

• In order to be formally advanced to candidacy a student must have: 
• Completed 12 semester units of coursework with a grade point average of 3.0 ("B"), to include COUN 6220, COUN 6221; COUN 6222. 
• Meet graduate writing requirement that is housed in COUN 6221 with a passing grade as specified in course syllabus. 
• Filed an approved graduate program plan for completion of the degree. This must be prepared in consultation with a program advisor and approved by the program coordinator. 

A minimum of 60 semester units of graduate-level work, with a minimum of 42 units completed in residency at this university. Students pursuing the dual concentration must complete a minimum of 49 units in residency; 

A minimum of 20 semester units of credit taken after a student has been advanced to candidacy for the degree; 

A grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) in course work taken to satisfy the degree requirements, including a minimum of a “B” in COUN 6220, and COUN 6224, and no grade below a “B-” (2.7) in all other courses in the program; 

The graduation writing requirement is met either through demonstrated competence by a passing grade on the writing assignment housed in COUN 6221 as specified in course syllabus or the completion of an equivalent course, GRE score of 5.0 or higher on the writing portion, publication, or masters degree as outlined in the graduate writing waiver form and approved by the program coordinator & graduate studies dean 

Comprehensive examination, culminating experience, and/or through completion of a Master’s degree project; 

Completion of a graduation requirement check; 

Any additional requirements not cited above and listed in the requirements for a Master’s Degree listed in Graduate Degree and Program Requirements. 
The comprehensive examination is designed to test the student’s knowledge of the field of counseling. The examination is a standardized national exam, the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). The student will take the examination during their final term. The student must be advanced to candidacy at least one semester before taking the comprehensive examination. The student must complete a graduation check with the Office of Records, Registration and Evaluations before permission to take the examination can be granted. Students who do not receive a passing score may petition the program coordinator to retake the examination. Students who do not receive a passing score the second time must petition the Dean of Graduate Studies to retake the exam. Approval to retake the examination may be, at any time, contingent upon completion of additional designated courses. 
 
A Master’s research project can be reported in the form of a paper, which could include other media. The project proposal and the project must be approved by the student’s advisor and one other professor in the College of Education and submitted in an approved format. Further information is available in the Graduate Thesis and Project handbook available through the Graduate Studies Office. Students who elect to complete a project are not required to take a comprehensive exam.