Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)

School counseling programs at California University of Pennsylvania are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Through the University, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Post-Secondary Schools accredits the Department of Counselor Education. The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredits the school counseling programs (elementary and secondary school guidance). Courses offered by the department have been approved by both the National Board for Certified Counselors and by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for certification and continuing education credits (Act 48). The Counselor Education Department is authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer certification programs in elementary and secondary school guidance.

Our Master of Education program in school counseling fulfills the degree requirements needed for the National Counselor Examination (NCE), required to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Students also have the option of taking an additional 12 credits before or after graduation to total 60 credits, also required to become an LPC in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Licensure Act 136 of 1998). Students will need two or more additional years of supervised work experience after graduation to complete the requirements for LPC.

Students who hold a master's degree in another discipline may decide to seek certification. The department will evaluate their transcripts to determine which courses are required.

Prospective students are advised to read the CED Student Handbook, which describes the philosophy, admissions and departmental procedures in detail. This may be downloaded at http://www.calu.edu/academics/colleges/education/counselor-education/index.htm.

Traditional with occasional online course

• Minimum overall undergraduate 3.00 GPA (see handbook for exceptions)
  
• Applications may be considered with an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.60, a score of 403+ on Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and admissions interview
• Graduate School Application plus $25 nonrefundable application fee
• Three professional letters of recommendation (see handbook)
• One-page resume of work and education
• Psychobiography
• Official transcripts from all graduate and undergraduate work
• An admissions interview may be required

* If you have not taken the following courses or their equivalent courses as either an undergraduate or graduate, they are now required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and must be taken in order to receive school counseling certification. For this reason, we recommend completing this requirement before graduation:

ESP 611 Assessments and Positive Behavior Supports (if not offered, take ESP 701) 3____

ESP 612 or 613 Evidence Based Practices in Inclusion (these will later combine into one class ESP 619) 3____

EDU 650 Supporting English Language Learners 3____

Co-requisites: Either one (1) course in Psychology (grad or undergrad) or approved CED substitution. (Must have a minimum “C” (2.0) undergraduate grade, or 3.0 graduate grade, and may be taken concurrently with other CED requirements)

Practicum/clinical field experience: Practicum and clinical field experience are taken near the end of the student’s program. Practicum requires a minimum of 150 hours on-site. The student will be supervised by a professional in his/her area of interest. The clinical field experience requires a minimum of 600 hours under the supervision of a school counselor in the student’s area of interest. This will be arranged in consultation with the field site coordinator.

Grafton Eliason, Ed.D.
724-938-4123
eliason@calu.edu

http://www.calu.edu/academics/colleges/education/counselor-education/index.htm

School of Graduate Studies and Research
California University of Pennsylvania
Eberly 202B
250 University Ave.
California, PA 15419
724-938-4187
http://www.calu.edu/academics/colleges/graduate-school/index.htm

Jacqueline A. Walsh, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, Professor; Department Chair; 724-938-4123; walsh@calu.edu
Grafton Eliason, Ed.D., NCC, LPC, Professor; 724-938-4464; eliason@calu.edu
Gloria Cataldo Brusoski, Ph.D., NCC, Professor, Licensed Psychologist; 724-938-4123; brusoski@calu.edu
Elizabeth Gruber, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, Professor/Field Site Coordinator;724-938-1567; gruber@calu.edu
John Patrick, D.Ed., CRC, NCC, LPC, Professor; 724-938-4452; patrick@calu.edu
Jeff Samide, Ed.D., NCC, LPC, Associate Professor; 724-938-4123; samide@calu.edu
Taunya Tinsley, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, Associate Professor;724-938-5698; tinsley@calu.edu