Educational Psychology and Counseling

The purpose of this certificate is to provide students who have previously completed a master’s degree or Pupil Personnel Services Credential or who are concurrently enrolled in a master’s degree or credential program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling with knowledge and professional skills in career counseling theory, applications and program development; organizational theory; career and educational information; individual and group vocational assessment; and career counseling for special populations. These areas have been identified by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) as essential competency areas for National Career Counselor Certification (NCCC). Students completing the program will earn a Certificate in Career Education and Counseling, and they will be prepared for employment as career counselors in educational settings, including schools, business, industry and government, community-based agencies and organizations, and career counseling/consulting firms.

A. Prerequisites for the Certificate Program

1. M.A./M.S. in Educational Psychology and Counseling, a field approved by the program coordinator; or a Basic Pupil Personnel Services Credential, or concurrent enrollment in a master’s degree program in Educational Psychology and Counseling or PPS Credential.
2. One course in the Sociology of Work (SOC 340), or Management and Organizational Behavior (MGT 360), or the equivalent.

B. Suggested Course Sequence by Semester*

*All programs must be approved by the program coordinator. This listing is provided for information purposes only, is subject to change without notice and is not guaranteed to be correct. The student should consult the University Catalog and the program coordinator for further details and course descriptions. Students must also complete a professional development requirement.

Semester 1

EPC 657A Seminar in Career Counseling Theory (3)

One of the following:

Semester 2

EPC 653 Measurement for Career, College, and School Counseling (3)
EPC 655 Seminar in Counseling Theory and Practice (3)
EPC 657B Seminar in Career Counseling Resources (3)

Semester 3

EPC 658/L Seminar in Group Counseling and Lab (3/1)
EPC 660 Counseling for Career Adjustment and Change (3)

Semester 4

EPC 662 Current Issues in Career Education and Counseling (3)
or SPED 612 Design and Development of Indirect Services in Special Education and Lab (2/1)

Total Units Required for the Certificate: 25

Professional Development Requirement

In addition to certificate course requirements, students will be expected to complete a minimum of 40 hours of professional development training outside of a classroom setting. Approved training might include conference attendance, seminars and workshops. Students may not receive certificate validation for professional development training in excess of 10 hours per semester.