Program Details | School Counseling

Total creditsEstimated resident costEstimated Washington border costEstimated 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 1CR
Fall
COUN 551: Theories and Interventions I3
COUN 569: Developmental Foundations 3
COUN 576: Parents, Families, and Communities in Schools3
*COUN 509: Practicum: Group Counseling1
Winter
COUN 556: Counseling Children in Schools 2
COUN 557: Counseling Youth in School2
COUN 566: Appraisal Instruments 1
COUN 567: Using Tests in Counseling 3
*COUN 509: Practicum: Group Counseling1
Spring
COUN 526: Effective Teaching in School Counseling3
COUN 570: Legal and Ethical Issues 3
COUN 585: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning I3
*COUN 509: Practicum: Group Counseling1
Summer
COUN 545: Youth Ecosystems3
COUN 584: Crisis Assessment and Intervention1
*COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling3
Electives 
Year 2
Fall
COUN 509: Practicum: Counseling 3
COUN 543: Counseling Skills 3
COUN 596: Foundations of School Counseling 3
Winter
COUN 509: Practicum: Counseling 3
COUN 527: Counseling Individuals with Disabilities3
COUN 547: Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling3
COUN 581: Multicultural Counseling3
Electives 
Spring
COUN 509: Practicum: Peer Supervision 1
COUN 568: Career and Lifestyle Planning 3
COUN 571: Group Counseling 3
COUN 580: Supervision 1
Summer 
COUN 509: Practicum: Peer Supervision 1
COUN 504: Internship1
*COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling 3
Electives 
Year 3
Fall
COUN 504: Internship 4
COUN 531: Foundations of Addictions Counseling)3
COUN 589: Action Research in Counseling2
Winter
COUN 504: Internship 4
COUN 575: Foundations of Couples, Marriage, and Family3
*COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling 3
COUN 589: Action Research in Counseling1
Spring
COUN 504: Internship 4
COUN 546: Grief and Loss2
COUN 589: Action Research in Counseling2
Total Program Credits90

Field Placement

The College of Education provides comprehensive support for students to find appropriate field placements, including the application process, through our Community Partnership Office. In keeping with P-12 licensure requirements, School Counselors in training are placed in two schools, including both an elementary school and a middle or high school. They spend at least 600 hours interning at the combination of the two sites, typically serving three days per week at one, and one day per week at the other.

Preliminary School Counselor License

School counselors in Oregon are licensed through the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC). Once a student has completed their program of study and all required tests and workshops, they may apply to be recommended for licensure.

Requirements for licensure change frequently and students are responsible for staying up-to-date on licensure requirements.

All applicants for Oregon Initial licenses are required to submit passing scores on the ORELA: Civil Rights test.

According to TSPC OAR 584-052-0010, graduates must apply for the Preliminary School Counselor license within three years of program completion. After three years, additional program coursework will apply.

Students may also wish to earn certification as a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC).

LPC licensure

School Counseling students completing specified courses in their master’s program may be eligible to apply for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in the State of Oregon. The licensure statutes can be found online at the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT). These statutes outline requirements for: a) education, b) exam, and c) post-master's experience under supervision.

The state licensing board does recognize a satisfactory score from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Because PSU is CACREP accredited, the NBCC allows students to apply for and take the national exam prior to graduation. Therefore, many of you may want to take the exam at the time you are completing your program of studies. Please note that NBCC requires a minimum of five-quarter hours in eight of 10 categories.

When PSU's Counselor Education program was approved by the state licensing board, the following provision was made:

Graduates completing the master's program will be allowed to utilize the direct clinical service hours documented in their master's program toward the 1,900 clock hours required for licensure. NBCC has now increased required clock hours of experience to 3,000 prior to the awarding of the NCC credential.

Note: Graduation from the department does not automatically equate with positive endorsement for licensure from the department faculty.