| Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
|---|
| 90 | $56,350 | $61,300 | $78,490 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
Curriculum
The School Counseling specialization provides students with a basis in the fundamentals of counseling and advanced skills for acting as agents of change to support strong communities, educational development, personal growth, and an equitable and inclusive environment in P-12 schools. School Counseling students at PSU acquire the academic basis to become Licensed Professional Counselors in the State of Oregon as well as fulfilling the requirements for preliminary school counseling licensure through the TSPC.
Training includes both regular coursework and clinical practice, with greater emphasis on clinical work as students progress through the program. The first year includes foundational courses on developmental foundations, theories and interventions, legal and ethical issues in counseling, and diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as a group counseling experience. In the second year, students engage in specialized coursework and begin their clinical work, providing low cost services to community members through a practicum in our Community Counseling Clinic. In their final year, students complete advanced coursework in their specialization and serve as interns 20–30 hours per week in schools throughout the metropolitan area.
Course descriptions
For full course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.
Program Format
Modality
In Person: This program is held in person with classes held on-campus.
Full-time
Time to completion: Three years
Scheduling
Primarily evenings with some daytime requirements: Classes are generally held in the later afternoons and evenings. Clinical training in the second and third years requires daytime hours.
Weekly Estimated Time Commitment:
The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.
Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.
Students in this program generally take 9 credits per term and should expect to spend at least 18 hours per week outside of classroom time on homework and related activities.
Beyond the academic requirements, training as a counselor is a transformative experience that involves significant intrapersonal reflection and growth which can require additional time and energy.
As the program progresses, students engage in experiential learning through internships, which take additional time to complete. Internships generally require 30 hours per week.
Program of Study
Cohort: This program operates as a cohort model, meaning that students follow a set program of study with a group of peers, learning together and providing a peer-support network. The program of study below outlines these classes term by term.
*Courses with an asterisk can be taken at multiple points during the program.
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Fall |
| COUN 551: Theories and Interventions I | 3 |
| COUN 570: Legal and Ethical Issues | 3 |
| COUN 576: Parents, Families, and Communities in Schools | 3 |
| *COUN 509: Practicum: Group Experience | 1 |
| Winter |
| COUN 556: Counseling Children in Schools | 2 |
| COUN 557: Counseling Youth | 2 |
| COUN 569: Developmental Foundations | 3 |
| *COUN 509: Practicum: Group Experience | 1 |
| Spring |
| COUN 526: Effective Teaching in School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 543: Counseling Skills | 3 |
| COUN 585: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning I | 3 |
| Summer |
| COUN 545: Youth Ecosystems | 3 |
| COUN 584: Crisis Assessment and Intervention | 1 |
| *COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| Electives | |
| Year 2 |
| Fall |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 527: Counseling Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
| COUN 596: Foundations of School Counseling | 3 |
| Winter |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 581: Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 566 (taken with 567): Appraisal Instruments | 3 |
| COUN 567 (taken with 566): Using tests in counseling | 1 |
| Spring |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Peer Mentorship | 1 |
| COUN 568: Career and Lifestyle Planning | 3 |
| COUN 571: Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 580: Supervision | 1 |
| Summer | |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Peer Mentorship | 1 |
| COUN 504: Internship | 1 |
| COUN 547: Legal & Ethical Issues in School Counseling | 1 |
| *COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| Electives | |
| Year 3 |
| Fall |
| COUN 504: Internship | 3 |
| COUN 531: Foundations of Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 589: Action Research in Counseling | 2 |
| Winter |
| COUN 504: Internship | 4 |
| COUN 575: Foundations of Couples, Marriage, and Family | 3 |
| COUN 589: Action Research in Counseling | 1 |
| Spring |
| COUN 504: Internship | 4 |
| COUN 546: Grief and Loss | 2 |
| COUN 589: Action Research in Counseling | 2 |
| Total Electives | 2 |
| Total Program Credits | 90 |