Our school counseling master’s program prepares professional school counselors to work in P-12 public and private schools. Our program prepares school counselors to be change agents and advocates within the school environment promoting equity for all students to grow personally, socially, academically, and to achieve their life-long educational and career goals. We focus on preparing school counselors who are skilled in providing developmentally and culturally responsive prevention and intervention for students and families within schools, who work effectively with individuals and with complex systems, and who collaborate and partner with other professionals and their community to promote the growth and well-being of students.
Portland State University's Counseling programs are accredited by CACREP and the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practice Commission (TSPC).
Program objectives
PO1: Demonstrate competencies required to work individually and systemically with all P-12 students to support their personal, social, academic, and career development;
PO2: Demonstrate competencies required to work collaboratively with caregivers/parents, educators, other professionals, and community partners to support the developmental and educational needs of all students;
PO3: Demonstrate competencies required to design, implement, and assess a comprehensive school counseling program in accordance with the American School Counseling Association National Model and Oregon’s Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs; the Oregon Education Investment Board: Equity Lens; and the American School Counseling Association Ethical Standards for School Counselors.
Our faculty are committed to promoting social justice, equity, and cultural competence. We ensure that students are connected with field experiences that provide profound and transformative learning experiences for our candidates allowing them to put their learning into action throughout the 3-year program.
We have excellent community partnerships and school counseling students complete their own individual action research projects at one of their field placements along with a professional portfolio.
Graduates of our program go on to find jobs as early childhood and elementary school, middle school, high school, and college and career adviser counselors. Our alumni have worked in schools throughout the regional Portland area, especially within Portland Public Schools.