Mission Statement
The Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling prepares students for highly effective, ethical and satisfying careers as professional educators and counselors working with individuals, families and groups in educational, organizational and community settings. The aim of our programs is to reflect an ecological and developmental life-span approach to theory, research and practice centered on the study and application of major concepts and skills from counseling, early childhood education, educational psychology and psychological foundations of education. Department faculty are committed to continuous evaluation and improvement of our courses and programs.
Academic Advisement
Information for students who are interested in department programs is available by accessing the website or by calling or visiting the graduate advisor and/or department office. Students admitted to a master’s degree, certificate or credential program should contact program coordinators for advisement. In addition, first-year practicum instructors serve as advisors for students in all master’s degree programs in Counseling.
Graduate Advisor: Shannon Sexton
Office: ED 1223
(818) 677-5719
Graduate Coordinator: Shyrea Minton
Program Advisors
Career Counseling: Merril Simon
College Counseling and Student Services: Merril Simon
Development, Learning, Instruction and Evaluation: Carolyn Jeffries, Pete Goldschmidt
Early Childhood Education: Carrie Rothstein-Fisch, Joannie Busillo-Aguayo
Marriage and Family Therapy: Stanley Charnofsky, Jessica ChenFeng, Diane Gehart, Mark Stevens, Dana Stone
School Counseling: Shyrea Minton, Tovah Sands
School Psychology: Wilda Laija-Rodriguez, Alberto Restori
Careers
Graduates completing a master’s degree may qualify for positions in public schools, public mental health facilities, community agencies, community colleges and universities, business and industry, career development, marriage and family therapy, private clinical practice, integrated medicine settings and related areas. With the completion of state requirements, students can receive a credential in Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) in either school counseling or school psychology and/or a license as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) or educational psychologist.
Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has conferred accreditation on the following Master of Science degree options in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling: Career Counseling, College Counseling and Student Services, Marriage and Family Therapy, and School Counseling. The National Association of School Psychology (NASP) has conferred accreditation on the School Psychology option program. The School Counseling and School Psychology option programs also are accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
State Licensure
Students who seek licensure as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT) must complete the 63-67-unit Master of Science degree in Counseling, option in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), and 3,000 hours of fieldwork and internship prior to applying for the state examination.
Students seeking future licensure as a professional clinical counselor (LPCC) must complete the Master of Science degree in Counseling with an option in one of the following: (a) Career Counseling, comprised of 60 units plus an 18 additional units for the LPCC totaling 78 units; (b) College Counseling/Student Services, comprised of 60 units plus 18 additional units for the LPCC totaling 78 units; (c) School Counseling, comprised of 55 units plus 24 additional units for the LPCC totaling 87 units; or (d) the master’s degree in Counseling option in MFT (63-67 units), which includes the LPCC units. In addition, 280 pre-master’s clinical hours and post-master’s hours (3,000 hours of fieldwork and internship) must be completed prior to applying for the state examination.
Students who seek licensure as an educational psychologist (LEP) must complete requirements for the School Psychology credential and subsequently meet additional fieldwork requirements.
For additional information on licensure, please contact the following advisors:
Marriage and Family Therapy: Stanley Charnofsky, Diane Gehart
School Psychology: Wilda Laija-Rodriguez, Alberto Restori
LPCC Licensure: Merril Simon
For general program advisement, please contact the following professors/program advisors.
Career Counseling: Merril Simon
College Counseling/Student Services: Merril Simon
Marriage and Family Therapy: Stanley Charnofsky
School Counseling: Tovah Sands, Shyrea Minton
School Psychology: Wilda Laija-Rodriguez or Alberto Restori
Contact
Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling
Chair: Alberto Restori
Education (ED) 1218
(818) 677-2599
(818) 677-2601
epcdept@csun.edu