Master of Arts (M.A.) in School Counseling / Master of Arts (M.A.) in School Adjustment Counseling
Master of Arts (M.A.) in School Counseling / School Adjustment Counseling
Prepare to work as a licensed school counselor or school adjustment counselor in a broad range of PreK-12 schools that represent our diverse, ever-changing society.听The hybrid program鈥檚 small cohort size and comprehensive mentorship support make it a singular and nurturing place to launch a counseling career. The program has trained hundreds of school counselors to become leaders, advocates, and change agents who use evidence-based practices to remove barriers to learning and promote positive development for children and adolescents.
Choose From Two Degrees
M.A. in School Counseling
Graduates will be eligible for听school counselor roles听in a broad range of PreK-12 schools, supporting students' social, emotional, and academic performance.听
- This program leads to the听School Counselor license听in Massachusetts.
- Become a licensed school counselor in PreK-12 schools, offering听clinical assessment and intervention, program evaluation, college and career counseling, partnerships with families and communities, supervision, and consultation.
- Complete a听600-hour, year-long practicum听in a public school in Massachusetts under the supervision of a professional school counselor.
M.A. in School Adjustment Counseling
Graduates will be eligible for听school adjustment counselor roles in elementary and secondary schools, providing support for the mental health needs of students and families.
- This program leads to the听School Adjustment Counselor (SAC) license听in Massachusetts.
- Become a licensed school adjustment counselor, supporting Pre K-12 students living with mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and other diagnoses to succeed in school and post-graduation.
- Complete a听900-hour, year-long practicum听in a comprehensive school system under the supervision of a school adjustment counselor.听
At a Glance
Meeting the Demand for School Counselors
77,000
the number of school counselors it would take to reach recommended levels in American schools
The Washington Post
#6
in Best Social Services Jobs
U.S. News & World Report
$52M
amount of MA district spending to expand mental health support for students through counseling in 2022
Education Center Data MA
72.4%
growth rate for school adjustment counselors from 2018 - 2023 in MA school districts
Education Center Data MA
#9
National ranking for Student Counseling program
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Our Alumni
Curriculum
Our curriculum offers after-work course options to allow students to pursue their degrees full-time or part-time, balancing family and professional commitments. Learn about the curriculum and licensure outcomes for our M.A. in School Counseling and School Adjustment Counseling.
Requirements
- Courses: 16
- Credits: 48
- Comprehensive Exam
Students interested in school counseling can pursue either an M.A. in School Counseling or an M.A. in School Adjustment Counseling. Each programs offers a different license in the state of Massachusetts. Learn more about what sets the programs apart:
School Counseling
- Graduates will be eligible for听school counselor roles听in a broad range of elementary and secondary schools, learning the skills and strategies needed to engage competently in professional practice, including: clinical assessment and intervention, program evaluation, college and career counseling, partnerships with families and communities, supervision, and consultation.
- The 48-credit program leads to the School Counselor license in Massachusetts.
- Students must complete a 600-hour, year-long practicum in a public school in Massachusetts under the supervision of a professional school counselor.
School Adjustment Counseling
- Graduates will be eligible for听school adjustment counselor roles, supporting Pre K-12 students living with mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and other diagnoses to succeed in a learning environment and post-graduation.
- The 48-credit program leads to the School Adjustment Counselor (SAC) license in Massachusetts.
- Students must complete a 900-hour, year-long practicum听in a comprehensive school system under the supervision of a school adjustment counselor.
The 48-credit, two-year M.A. in School Counseling program leads to the听School Counselor license听in Massachusetts. Students must complete a听600-hour, year-long practicum听in a public school in Massachusetts under the supervision of a professional school counselor. The program prepares graduates for听school counselor roles听in a broad range of elementary and secondary schools, learning the skills and strategies needed to engage competently in professional practice.
The curriculum consists of 16 courses, including two, 3-credit practicum courses to be completed in the fall and spring semesters of the second year of the program. Learn more about the specific coursework required.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| APSY7800 | Introduction to Comprehensive School Counseling This course provides an introduction to the profession of school counseling and helps students understand the major functions of school counselors. Students gain an understanding of schools as dynamic organizations and learn to recognize and appreciate the intersection of family, school, culture, and community. Professional issues related to the practice of school counseling are examined, along with the history of the school counseling profession and and recent innovations in the field. | 3 |
| APSY7801 | Foundations of Counseling in Schools Provides an introduction to counseling principles and techniques with an emphasis on interviewing skills. The areas of communication skills involving the use of role playing, observation, and practice components are emphasized. Training consists of peer role-plays and laboratory experiences with individual and group supervision. | 3 |
| APSY7802 | Child Psychopathology听 Introduces the theory and research that provide the context for understanding the socio-emotional problems of children. Places particular emphasis on the role of risk and protective factors as they contribute to children's resilience and vulnerability to childhood problems. Considers implications for clinical practice and work in school settings. | 3 |
| APSY7803 | Impact of Psychosocial Issues on Learning听 Examines, from a holistic perspective, psychological and social issues that affect learning in children and adolescents. Discusses the role of risk and protective factors in the development of vulnerability and resilience. Highlights collaboration of educators with professionals involved in addressing psychological and social issues. | 3 |
| APSY7528 | Multicultural Issues Assists students to become more effective in their work with ethnic minority and LGBT clients. Increases students' awareness of their own and others' life experiences, and how these impact the way in which we approach interactions with individuals who are different from us. Examines the sociopolitical conditions that impact individuals from ethnic and non-ethnic minority groups in the U.S., and presents an overview of relevant research. | 3 |
| APSY7448 | Career Development Provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical and practice aspects of career development and the psychology of working. Students learn existing theories and related research pertaining to the vocational behavior of individuals across the life span. Through readings, case discussions, and lectures, students learn how to construct effective, ethical, and humane means of helping people to develop their work lives to their fullest potential. | 3 |
| APSY7518 | Issues in Lifespan Development This course addresses the major psychological and socio-cultural issues in development from childhood through adulthood. The theory, research, and practice in the field of lifespan development are examined and evaluated. | 3 |
| APSY7743 | Counseling Families The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to family and couple counseling theory, and perspectives of family therapy along with issues of diversity. This course will focus on theory and practice, viewing the couple/family as a unitary psychosocial system. Major topics will include history, theory, and practice models, healthy family functioning, family dysfunction, and intervention techniques. This course will also address issues relative to diversity in families and couples along with perspectives of family therapy. | 3 |
| APSY7465 | Psychological Testing Introduces psychometric theory, selection, and use of standardized aptitude, ability, achievement, interest, and personality tests in the counseling process from a social justice perspective. Includes measurement concepts essential to test interpretation, and experience in evaluating strengths, weaknesses, and biases of various testing instruments. Students will gain laboratory experience in administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological tests. | 3 |
| APSY7805 | Pre-Practicum Diversity and School Culture A two-semester experience in schools. In semester one, students spend one-half day per week in a school with a diverse population. In semester two, students spend one day per week (minimum of 75 hours) in another school working under the supervision of a school counselor. The pre-practicum experience is processed each week in small group laboratory sections. | 3 |
| APSY7640 | Group Counseling听 This course examines both the theory and practice of group counseling. Among the theoretical positions discussed are client centered, behavioral, existential, and rational emotive. Important aspects of group process are also discussed including group leadership, group membership, establishing a group, and maintaining a group. As such the course covers therapist issues, patient selection criteria, group structuring as well as basic therapeutic techniques. The course prepares students to design structured counseling groups, to prepare group counseling materials, and to lead counseling groups of various types. | 3 |
| APSY7804 | Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling听 Guided by the ethical codes of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA), a wide range of legal and ethical conflicts that school counselors encounter will be discussed. Specific topics will include school counselors' ethical and legal duties as they pertain to confidentiality, suspected child abuse/neglect, mental health referral and treatment, students at risk to themselves and/or others, students involved in the juvenile justice system, bullying, the rights of LGBTQ students, and special education. Knowledge of multicultural school counseling competencies and ethical issues that are related to social justice will be emphasized | 3 |
| EDUC7438 | Educating Learners with Disabilities This course focuses on the education of students with disabilities and other learners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The goal of the course is to promote access to the general curriculum for all students through participation in standards-based reform. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides the theoretical framework for this course. Through an examination of historical milestones, landmark legislation, systems for classification, approaches to intervention, and the daily life experiences of diverse learners, students acquire knowledge about diversity and the resources, services, and supports available for creating a more just society through education. | 3 |
Students will select one course from the options below:
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| MESA6410 | Introduction to Statistics An introduction to descriptive statistics. Topics include methods of data summarization and presentation; measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression; the normal distribution; probability; and an introduction to hypothesis testing. Provides computer instruction on PC and Mac platforms and in the SPSS statistical package. | 3 |
| MESA6420 | Intermediate Statistics听 Topics and computer exercises address tests of means, partial and part correlations, multiple regression, analysis of variance with planned and post hoc comparisons, analysis of covariance, repeated measures analysis, elements of experimental design, and power analysis. | 3 |
| MESA6380 | Interpretation and Evaluation of Research This course will improve a students' understanding of the empirical research literature in education and psychology. It concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of empirical research and the practical analytic skills needed by a competent reader and user of research articles. Topics address purpose statements, hypotheses, sampling techniques, sample sizes and power, instrument development, internal and external validity, and typical quantitative research designs. Exercises emphasize the critical evaluation of published research. Each student will develop a research proposal. | 3 |
Students' final capstone experience in the school counseling program is completing a 600-hour, year-long practicum in a public school in Massachusetts under the supervision of a professional school counselor.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| APSY7806 | Practicum in School Counseling I Practicum involves placement in a comprehensive school system in both fall and spring semesters. Students typically spend three days a week at the school for the school year. The minimum hours of practicum are 600 in addition to the pre-practicum. | 3 |
| APSY7807 | Practicum in School Counseling II听 Practicum involves placement in a comprehensive school system in both fall and spring semesters. Students typically spend three days a week at the school for the school year. The minimum hours of practicum are 600 in addition to the pre-practicum. | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| APSY8100 | Master鈥檚 Comprehensive Exam听 In order to ensure that all students graduating from the master's program have a fundamental understanding of the field which they are about to enter, they are required to complete a comprehensive examination covering the broad areas of the core courses.听 | 0 |
By completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate broad and general knowledge pertinent to the fields of psychology and school counseling that has shaped the contemporary identity of school counseling.
- Apply the skill and strategies needed to engage competently in professional practice, including: clinical assessment and intervention, program evaluation, college and career counseling, partnerships with families and communities, supervision, and consultation.
- Uphold ethical and legal standards in professional practice that affirm individual and cultural differences for students, families, colleagues, and communities.
- Conceptualize how systemic and contextual factors, including power and privilege, impact assessment and intervention and act upon this knowledge in order to serve as a change agent for positive student wellbeing.听听
- Apply models of comprehensive student support systems for both school and community to address the ways in which factors such as poverty, oppression, and systemic racism, impact student achievement.
- Reflect on multiple identities and social locations of power and privilege as related to counseling processes.
The 48-credit, two-year M.A. in School Adjustment Counseling program leads to the听School Adjustment Counselor (SAC) license听in Massachusetts. Students must complete a 900-hour, year-long practicum听in a comprehensive school system under the supervision of a licensed school adjustment counselor. The program prepares graduates for school adjustment counselor roles, supporting Pre K-12 students living with mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and other diagnoses to succeed in a learning environment and post-graduation.
The curriculum consists of 16 courses, including two, 3-credit practicum courses to be completed in the fall and spring semesters of the second year of the program. Learn more about the specific coursework required.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| APSY7800 | Introduction to Comprehensive School Counseling This course provides an introduction to the profession of school counseling and helps students understand the major functions of school counselors. Students gain an understanding of schools as dynamic organizations and learn to recognize and appreciate the intersection of family, school, culture, and community. Professional issues related to the practice of school counseling are examined, along with the history of the school counseling profession and and recent innovations in the field. | 3 |
| APSY7801 | Foundations of Counseling in Schools Provides an introduction to counseling principles and techniques with an emphasis on interviewing skills. The areas of communication skills involving the use of role playing, observation, and practice components are emphasized. Training consists of peer role-plays and laboratory experiences with individual and group supervision. | 3 |
| APSY7802 | Child Psychopathology听 Introduces the theory and research that provide the context for understanding the socio-emotional problems of children. Places particular emphasis on the role of risk and protective factors as they contribute to children's resilience and vulnerability to childhood problems. Considers implications for clinical practice and work in school settings. | 3 |
| APSY7803 | Impact of Psychosocial Issues on Learning听 Examines, from a holistic perspective, psychological and social issues that affect learning in children and adolescents. Discusses the role of risk and protective factors in the development of vulnerability and resilience. Highlights collaboration of educators with professionals involved in addressing psychological and social issues. | 3 |
| APSY7528 | Multicultural Issues Assists students to become more effective in their work with ethnic minority and LGBT clients. Increases students' awareness of their own and others' life experiences, and how these impact the way in which we approach interactions with individuals who are different from us. Examines the sociopolitical conditions that impact individuals from ethnic and non-ethnic minority groups in the U.S., and presents an overview of relevant research. | 3 |
| APSY7548 | Psychology of Trauma in Childhood & Adolescence: Theory, Intervention, and Cultural and Social Justice Perspectives The focus of this course is on the neuro-developmental and psychosocial aspects of traumatic stress, including an exploration of the psychological sequelae of exposure to various types of trauma (e.g., physical abuse, domestic violence, mass disasters) in childhood and adolescence. Assessment and clinical and community-based interventions concerning traumatic stress will be discussed with attention to cultural and linguistic diversity. Social justice and human rights in the context of interpersonal and collective violence is also examined. | 3 |
| APSY7518 | Issues in Lifespan Development This course addresses the major psychological and socio-cultural issues in development from childhood through adulthood. The theory, research, and practice in the field of lifespan development are examined and evaluated. | 3 |
| APSY7743 | Counseling Families The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to family and couple counseling theory, and perspectives of family therapy along with issues of diversity. This course will focus on theory and practice, viewing the couple/family as a unitary psychosocial system. Major topics will include history, theory, and practice models, healthy family functioning, family dysfunction, and intervention techniques. This course will also address issues relative to diversity in families and couples along with perspectives of family therapy. | 3 |
| APSY7465 | Psychological Testing Introduces psychometric theory, selection, and use of standardized aptitude, ability, achievement, interest, and personality tests in the counseling process from a social justice perspective. Includes measurement concepts essential to test interpretation, and experience in evaluating strengths, weaknesses, and biases of various testing instruments. Students will gain laboratory experience in administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological tests. | 3 |
| APSY7805 | Pre-Practicum Diversity and School Culture A two-semester experience in schools. In semester one, students spend one-half day per week in a school with a diverse population. In semester two, students spend one day per week (minimum of 75 hours) in another school working under the supervision of a school counselor. The pre-practicum experience is processed each week in small group laboratory sections. | 3 |
| APSY7640 | Group Counseling听 This course examines both the theory and practice of group counseling. Among the theoretical positions discussed are client centered, behavioral, existential, and rational emotive. Important aspects of group process are also discussed including group leadership, group membership, establishing a group, and maintaining a group. As such the course covers therapist issues, patient selection criteria, group structuring as well as basic therapeutic techniques. The course prepares students to design structured counseling groups, to prepare group counseling materials, and to lead counseling groups of various types. | 3 |
| APSY7804 | Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling听 Guided by the ethical codes of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA), a wide range of legal and ethical conflicts that school counselors encounter will be discussed. Specific topics will include school counselors' ethical and legal duties as they pertain to confidentiality, suspected child abuse/neglect, mental health referral and treatment, students at risk to themselves and/or others, students involved in the juvenile justice system, bullying, the rights of LGBTQ students, and special education. Knowledge of multicultural school counseling competencies and ethical issues that are related to social justice will be emphasized | 3 |
| EDUC7438 | Educating Learners with Disabilities This course focuses on the education of students with disabilities and other learners from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The goal of the course is to promote access to the general curriculum for all students through participation in standards-based reform. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides the theoretical framework for this course. Through an examination of historical milestones, landmark legislation, systems for classification, approaches to intervention, and the daily life experiences of diverse learners, students acquire knowledge about diversity and the resources, services, and supports available for creating a more just society through education. | 3 |
Students will select one course from the options below:
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| MESA6410 | Introduction to Statistics An introduction to descriptive statistics. Topics include methods of data summarization and presentation; measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression; the normal distribution; probability; and an introduction to hypothesis testing. Provides computer instruction on PC and Mac platforms and in the SPSS statistical package. | 3 |
| MESA6380 | Interpretation and Evaluation of Research This course will improve a students' understanding of the empirical research literature in education and psychology. It concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of empirical research and the practical analytic skills needed by a competent reader and user of research articles. Topics address purpose statements, hypotheses, sampling techniques, sample sizes and power, instrument development, internal and external validity, and typical quantitative research designs. Exercises emphasize the critical evaluation of published research. Each student will develop a research proposal. | 3 |
Students' final capstone experience in the school counseling program is completing a 900-hour, year-long practicum in a comprehensive school system under the supervision of a licensed school adjustment counselor.
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| APSY7901 | Practicum in School Adjustment Counseling I Open only to Counseling degree students seeking initial licensure in school adjustment counseling. The first part of a two-course sequence (followed by APSY7902). Practicum involves placement in a comprehensive school system in both fall and spring semesters. Students typically spend three to four days a week at the school for the school year under the supervision of a school adjustment counselor. The minimum hours of practicum are 900 (in addition to the pre-practicum), which are accrued across the fall and spring semesters of the course. In addition to the field experience, this course consists of a weekly skills-based seminar taught by a licensed school adjustment counselor. Students enroll for 3-credit hours each semester. | 3 |
| APSY7902 | Practicum in School Adjustment Counseling II听 Open only to Counseling degree students seeking initial licensure in school adjustment counseling. The second part of a two-course sequence (following APSY7901). Practicum involves placement in a comprehensive school system in both fall and spring semesters. Students typically spend three to four days a week at the school for the school year under the supervision of a school adjustment counselor. The minimum hours of practicum are 900 (in addition to the pre-practicum), which are accrued across the fall and spring semestersof the course. Students enroll for 3-credit hours each semester. | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| APSY8100 | Master鈥檚 Comprehensive Exam听 In order to ensure that all students graduating from the master's program have a fundamental understanding of the field which they are about to enter, they are required to complete a comprehensive examination covering the broad areas of the core courses.听 | 0 |
The Whole Child Approach
In keeping with the听American School Counselor Association's model of school counseling, our program trains counselors to take a 鈥渨hole child鈥� approach, considering both the in-school and out-of-school factors that promote student thriving. You'll study how multiple systems鈥攊ncluding families, schools, and communities鈥攊nteract to promote thriving and achievement among children and adolescents who represent diverse cultures, racial and ethnic groups, social classes, abilities, and sexual orientations.
Practicum
Much of the second year of the program focuses on the internship, where you will have opportunities to hone your counseling skills. We emphasize the importance of culture and context, encouraging you to acquire a community-oriented understanding of the settings in which you serve.听Our dedicated director of practicum experience works to pair you with pre-practicum and practicum placements at schools that fit your goals.
Accreditation
We are an approved teacher preparation program by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon successful completion of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development's educator preparation program, students earn an endorsement from Boston College for licensure in Massachusetts, either for School Counseling or School Adjustment Counseling. The 600+ hours of practicum experience school counseling students receive exceed current Massachusetts requirements for initial licensure as a school counselor at all grade levels, while the 900+ hours school adjustment counseling students receive meet or exceed current requirements.
