Quick Facts
Duration: Three years
Starts: One per year, fall semester
Format: On campus, cohort
Campus locations: Thousand Oaks or Oxnard
Prerequisites: None
Champion Student Success With a Master’s in School Counseling and PPS Credential
Prepare to become a school counselor in California with a culturally responsive, student-centered master’s degree program. The Cal Lutheran Master of Science in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) equips you with theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and field experience.
By earning both your master’s in school counseling and PPS Credential, you’ll have the expertise and the qualifications you need to support K–12 students.
Counseling that sees the whole student
We’ve built our program on the cultural proficiency model, an inside-out approach that recognizes and values the ways in which your identity and background inform your approach to counseling. Through engaging classroom work and multiple on-site practicum experiences, you will graduate as a deeply skilled counselor who is ready to empower students with the tools to succeed.
Your path to PPS certification
Upon graduation, you will be eligible for the PPS Credential in School Counseling offered by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Students who choose to pursue the optional Child Welfare and Attendance Specialization are also eligible for the CWA authorization.
See what you’ll learn in the Master of Science in Counseling (PPS) program.
MS in Counseling (PPS) Program Features
- A schedule designed for working professionals: Courses for the master’s in school counseling meet in the evenings, in the fall and spring semesters. In the summer, students meet twice per week in person and one evening per week online. To optimize your time and travel, we schedule two courses back-to-back when you’re on campus. You can complete your degree at either our Thousand Oaks or Oxnard campus.
- A comprehensive counseling skillset: With an emphasis on building cultural proficiency, individual and group counseling skills, and knowledge of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) framework, you’ll become well-rounded, highly skilled counselor.
- A blend of theory, tools and on-site practice: In the classroom, we ensure that our students have a strong grasp of theories and knowledge of how to put them into practice. Multiple on-site internships in K-12 schools allow you to harness what you’ve learned and apply it to real educational settings.
- A student-centered experience: We care deeply about our student’s well-being. Small class sizes enable close-knit relationships between faculty and students, while our one-on-one advising provides you with personalized guidance on your degree plan and your career.
“I was inspired to pursue my MS in Counseling for K-12 Schools because I have a passion for helping students. I have always worked with students and youth and wanted to be able to help many more by guiding them through their educational journey. Cal Lutheran seemed like the perfect fit since the program had small classes, which allowed me to create relationships and bond with classmates and professors.”
Program Specializations
Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Specialization
With one additional field study experience course, students can complete a Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Specialization. Child welfare and attendance issues impact many disenfranchised public school students, and the CWA Specialization empowers future practitioners to more effectively assess, understand and respond to each student’s unique situation. Learn more on our curriculum page.
College Counseling Specialization
Students can also specialize in college counseling, preparing for careers that span the P-20 educational spectrum. This specialization works well for those who want to understand and support students through the complete educational experience, from elementary school through higher education. Along with the core PPS curriculum, students take specialized courses and complete a practicum experience through an internship at a college or university.
How We Empower Our Students To Succeed
We believe that anyone seeking graduate education should have that opportunity, and we’re here to help you make your goals a reality. In addition to support from faculty, advisors and peers, students in our master’s degree in school counseling have access to financial solutions and valuable academic resources.
Financial aid and scholarships
We provide a diverse range of financial support opportunities, including internal and external funding sources and funding for current and future educators. Explore your options on our financial aid page.
Veteran resources
Cal Lutheran is committed to honoring those who serve and have served our country by offering an accessible, high-quality education to veterans, military members and their families.
With small class sizes and a personal approach to earning your degree, Cal Lutheran helps veterans to obtain their academic goals, as well as assist with the transition into civilian and college life. Learn more about veteran resources at Cal Lutheran.
DREAMers
We stand with undocumented students by assisting them with the admission and financial aid process. With a team of trained allies and cross-campus resources, we continue to support our DREAMers as they transition into the college lifestyle and become graduates of Cal Lutheran. Learn about the DREAM Act.
First-generation students
We aim to assist our first-generation students by offering resources and scholarships tailored to their needs. Learn more.
Careers With a Master’s in Counseling and PPS
With a master’s in school counseling, your California PPS credential and extensive field experience, you’ll be prepared for a meaningful career in K-12 education.
Where our alumni work
- California Community Colleges
- Central Valley Unified School District
- Conejo Valley Unified School District
- Fillmore Unified School District
- Hueneme Unified School District
- Lancaster Unified School District
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- Moorpark Unified School District
- Oxnard School District
- Oxnard Union High School District
- Santa Barbara Unified School District
- Santa Paula Unified School District
- Simi Valley Unified School District
- Ventura Unified School District
Common career paths
Potential career paths for graduates of a master’s degree in school counseling with the PPS Credential include:
- School Counselor (K-12)
- Guidance Counselor
- Academic Counselor
- Career Counselor
- Behavioral Disorder Counselor
- School District Counseling Coordinator
- Program Director
- Youth Advocate
- College Access and Success Programs
- Program Director
- Director of Student Services
Frequently Asked Questions
The master’s degree in school counseling can be completed in three years.
The program is completed on a full-time schedule, with students completing two courses per semester. In the fall and spring, students come to campus once per week for two back-to-back courses in the evening. In the summer semester (6 weeks), students take two in-person evening classes per week, attending one class each evening. Asynchronous online coursework will be required once a week.
Our College Counseling specialization is part of the larger MS in Counseling (PPS) degree. This option prepares you to work across the full educational spectrum, from kindergarten through college, or support K-12 students with deeper knowledge of what comes after graduation.
If you want to focus specifically on higher education settings, we offer a dedicated MS in Counseling and College Student Personnel degree. This program provides specific education for student affairs positions in colleges and universities.
Students should choose based on their career goals: the specialization for those wanting PPS credentials with a K-through-college perspective, or the full degree for those targeting careers exclusively in higher education.
The State of California requires the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential for anyone who wants to work in K-12 public schools as counselors, social workers or psychologists.
The PPS credential is divided into specialization areas, each with its own set of requirements:
- School counseling
- School social work
- School psychology
- Child welfare and attendance services
You can view the requirements for each specialization on the Commission on Teacher Credentialing website.
Cal Lutheran’s MS in Counseling (PPS) program fulfills the education and experience requirements for the Added Authorization in Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA).
Those with the CWA credential will be authorized to perform the following duties:
- Access appropriate services from both public and private providers, including law enforcement and social services.
- Provide staff development to school personnel regarding state and federal laws pertaining to due process and child welfare and attendance laws.
- Address school policies and procedures that inhibit academic success.
- Implement strategies to improve student attendance.
- Participate in schoolwide reform efforts.
- Promote understanding and appreciation of those factors that affect the attendance of culturally-diverse student populations.
Yes, Cal Lutheran offers a variety of funding options from internal and external sources. These include:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Veterans benefits
- Employer discounts
Visit our financial aid page for detailed information. You can also call a graduate enrollment specialist at 805-493-3325 to learn more about funding your education.
Ready to learn more? Download our brochure, and explore our curriculum, admission, and FAQ pages.
Request Information
To learn more about the Graduate Degree Programs offered by the Cal Lutheran Graduate School of Education and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-493-3325 or for the online Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel call 805-521-9856.
