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Updated February 23, 2015

Counseling

 

College of Health and Social Sciences

Interim Dean: Alvin Alvarez

 

Department of Counseling

BH 524
Phone: 415-338-2005
Fax: 415-338-0594
E-mail: counsel@sfsu.edu
Website: http://counseling.sfsu.edu
Chair: Graciela Orozco

 

Faculty

Professors: Alvarez, Gutkin, Lee, Orozco, Toporek
Associate Professors: Chronister, Kwan, Van Velsor, Williams
Assistant Professors: Cerezo, Fitzgerald

 

Programs

Minor in Counseling

M.S. in Counseling

M.S. in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling

M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Counseling Designation

Certificate in Counseling Deaf Persons
(Program not accepting students pending review for discontinuance)

Certificate in Counseling Deafened and Hard of Hearing Persons
(Program not accepting students pending review for discontinuance)

Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling
(Program not accepting students pending review for discontinuance)

 

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Program Scope

Culturally competent, psychologically-minded, and emotionally grounded Professionally Licensed Counselors, Credentialed School Counselors, Certified Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counselors, Career Counselors, College Counselors, and Gerontological Counselors are needed in the field of human services. The department’s six graduate programs, its undergraduate minor in counseling, and our partnerships with community agencies collaboratively prepare students who are well-grounded to help meet the growing demands in the field. Our department’s faculty and the curriculum we have designed aspire to achieve excellence in three core areas: Multicultural Competence, Community Partnerships, and Action Research.

 

Our faculty are locally, nationally, and internationally recognized in their scholarly contributions to multicultural competence in counseling, social justice, and health equity. They work to provide a solid learning environment for students with disabilities, students from diverse ethnic and sexual orientations, as well as students from a range of socioeconomic groups.

 

By the end of graduate studies, our students should embody multicultural competence, have grown deep connections to the local community, and embrace best practices in counseling. Combined, our students provide thousands of hours per year of counseling services to San Francisco Bay Area communities. They are in schools, community mental health and rehabilitation agencies, colleges and universities, careers centers, and hospitals, to name a few. Our students reflect the diversity of California and especially the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Graduates of the department will have the necessary preparation to be eligible to sit for the National Board of Certified Counselors examination, known as the National Counselor Examination^®. Rehabilitation counseling graduates will have the necessary preparation to be eligible to sit for the National Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam. Graduates of the program will also be license eligible in the state of California for either a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (for all degrees) or a Marriage & Family Therapist (MFCC degree program only).

 

We prepare School counseling students for the PPS Credential (School Counseling Program).

 

The Department of Counseling offers three master's degrees:

• Master of Science in Counseling— There are four different specializations—Career, College, Gerontological, and School. School counseling students are eligible for the State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a specialization in School Counseling (PK-12). Graduates will have achieved most of the education requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license in California.
• Master of Science in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Students are eligible to sit for the State of California examination for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license upon completion of all the Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements. Graduates will also have achieved most of the education requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license in California.
• Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Students are eligible to take the National Certified Rehabilitation Counselor examination. Graduates will have achieved most of the education requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license in California.

 

Students specialize in one area of counseling. For example, a student whose objective is an MFT license will follow the curriculum for the M.S. in Counseling: Concentration in MFCC. In addition, students may also apply to take an emphasis in another counseling area, such as school, career, college, gerontological, or rehabilitation counseling. If accepted, additional courses and fieldwork will be required.

 

The department also offers an undergraduate minor in counseling. The minor is designed for students who want training as a paraprofessional or counselor aide; to supplement majors that have some involvement with the helping professions; or for students considering graduate study in human services.

 

Accreditation. All of the counseling department programs are accredited. The programs in School, College, Career, Gerontological, and Marriage and Family Counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through 2018. The Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program has national accreditation from the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) through 2020. The Pupil Personnel Services Credential program in School Counseling is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

 

Career Outlook

Students graduating with a master’s degree in counseling are eligible for a variety of career options. The profession of counseling involves counselors assisting clients to learn about themselves and learn to help themselves within their respective environments. The role of the professional counselor calls for skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to help people make personal life decisions.

 

Career Counselors work in high school, college and university career centers, student support services and advising offices. Some graduates use this training to establish private career counseling and consultation practices while others enter career development centers in private industry and public agencies. Many students combine this training with another area of counseling. Program Coordinator: Rebecca Toporek, Ph.D.; email: rtoporek@sfsu.edu.

 

College Counselors may work in two- and four-year colleges and universities providing academic counseling in a range of college student personnel positions in programs such as student retention, EOP or EOPS, financial aid, CalWorks, multicultural student services, residential life, college outreach, transfer services, general counseling and other student services. Program Coordinator: Alison Cerezo, Ph.D.; email: acerezo@sfsu.edu.

 

School Counselors upon graduation and after passing the California CBEST examination receive their State of California Pupil Personnel Services credential with a specialization in School Counseling (PK-12) and work in public and private school settings. They do personal and academic counseling and work in an integrated services team approach with other mental health and education professionals. Program Coordinator: Patricia Van Velsor, Ph.D.; email: pvanvels@sfsu.edu.

 

Gerontological Counselors work with older adults and their families performing case management and counseling in consultation with family members. Settings may include senior centers, residential homes, social service agencies,and hospices. Students sometimes combine this area of interest with Rehabilitation Counseling. Program Coordinator: TBD.

 

MFT Counselors work with mild, moderate, and severe mental health populations in the context of their social and cultural environments. MFT/MFCCs work in school, college/ agency, business and industrial settings. In addition to working in the private/non-profit area, MFCCs may also open a private practice upon receiving their MFCC license. Program Coordinators: John Blando, Ph.D. (jblando@sfsu.edu) and Karl Kwan, Ph.D.; email: kwan@sfsu.edu.

 

Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counselors provide counseling, advocacy and case management for a wide array of persons with disabilities and chronic illness within diverse contexts including (but not limited to) public rehabilitation agencies, private non-profit rehabilitation and mental health agencies, higher education settings, substance abuse agencies, county mental health agencies, and private for-profit settings. Many students combine rehabilitation counseling with other specializations. Program Coordinator: Sandra Fitzgerald, Ph.D.; email: sfitz@sfsu.edu.

 

Minor in Counseling

Undergraduate Minor Advisor: Patricia Van Velsor (pvanvels@sfsu.edu).

 

The Minor in Counseling program and related elective courses emphasizes student services in relation to a college campus. COUN 690 provides a broad overview of the entire field of counseling and COUN 691 exposes students to the department’s core value of multicultural human relations. The peer counseling courses (COUN 605 and COUN 606) offer an opportunity to actively engage the SF State student community on issues such as substance abuse and sexual abuse or assault. In addition, students are trained in basic counseling skills that necessarily include a great deal of self-awareness and self-examination. Furthermore, the department offers several elective courses related to the minor such as College Success Skills (COUN 325), Relationship Studies in College and University (COUN 100), Mental Health Advocate Training (COUN 325), and Empowering Poor Families to Graduate out of Poverty (COUN 280).

 

The Field of Counseling. Students are introduced to the counseling profession through an overview of role and functions in career, college, marriage, family and child, mental health, and rehabilitation settings; historical perspective; professional identification; ethical considerations; and self-awareness.

 

Psychological Understandings. Students receive a general introduction to the field of counseling and psychological dynamics.

 

Decision Making. Students examine how individuals make choices and how decisions are made through self-assessment and evaluation by others. The study includes ethnic and cultural differences in the decision-making process.

 

Skills Training. The development of basic skills that include attending, responding, interpretation, and decision making. The training includes practicum experience in interviewing skills.

 

Multicultural Human Relations. This group of courses equips students with the intrapersonal and interpersonal insights, socio-historical knowledge and communication competencies necessary to develop and enhance their multicultural relationships.

 

The counseling minor requires that students take six courses (18 units) and 6 units in electives, with the consent of the undergraduate minor advisor. Courses used to fulfill a major requirement may be also counted to fulfill the minor requirements.

 

Counseling, Minor — 24 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Graduate Programs in Counseling

General Information

At least 60 units of approved graduate work is required for the Master of Science degrees. All students go through a basic core sequence of academic courses including four semesters of supervised counseling practicum and internship. Students select electives according to their area of specialization. Two different academic year field placements are required. The department works collaboratively with over 150 community agencies that provide service and training opportunities for our students. These agencies are carefully screened to meet our standards. Fieldwork placements are viewed as an integral part of the training of prospective counselors.

 

Once admitted to the program, students may petition the department’s program coordinator and chair for up to 12 units of appropriate post-baccalaureate degree work taken in other institutions within seven years from the date students plan to graduate. Courses taken for another degree or credential may not be counted toward the master’s degree. Courses taken at other institutions after admission to the graduate program may not be counted toward the master’s degree. Refer to http://www.sfsu.edu/bulletin/gadmit.htm for more information.

 

It may be possible to complete the M.S. program either as a full-time student or as a part-time student taking daytime, late afternoon, and evening classes. Students must, however, expect that their personal and work schedules will need to be sufficiently flexible to accommodate fieldwork requirements and department class schedules.

 

Admission to Program

Applicants are admitted as conditionally classified graduate students in the fall semester only - there are no spring admits. Admission to the department involves the following procedures:

1. Complete the GRE General Test*, paying particular attention to the Written Analytical Section of the GRE. See note below.
2. Complete two separate applications: 1) Department of Counseling program application available at http://counseling.sfsu.edu/admissions.aspx and 2) San Francisco State University Graduate Studies online application available at www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy.
3. Submit the counseling program application to the Department of Counseling in Burk Hall 524 by January 15, 2015.
4. Submit the SF State Graduate Studies online application by January 15, 2015.

*Please note: Your GRE scores will not determine our recommendation to either admit or deny you admission to our program. We will review the Analytical Writing score so that we may determine your writing needs before you enter the program. Those who do not meet the minimum writing expectation, that is a 4.0 on the Analytical Writing Section of the GRE General Test, upon admission will be required to take a writing course, COUN 714, Writing for Counselors, usually at an additional cost. Refer to www.ets.org/gre for all GRE and GRE test related questions.

 

Prerequisites.

Prior to enrolling for classes, an applicant must successfully complete three undergraduate prerequisites with a grade of C or better: theories of personality/counseling, development through the lifespan, and a psychopathology course. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units is required for admission to the program. Paid or volunteer experience working with people is an important factor for admission. Selection of students is based on academic as well as personal background.

 

COUN 690 is a prerequisite for all students except those specializing exclusively in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. This course should be taken prior to admission into the program or can be taken concurrent with the first semester in attendance. Students who do not earn a grade of B minus (B-) or better in the repeated course will not be considered for classified status.

 

Access to Counseling Courses Prior to Admission. Applicants may take, on a space available basis, and by permission of the instructor, any of the following courses through Open University: COUN 690, COUN 700, COUN 702, and COUN 703. Students shall not take any courses numbered 700 or above and count them toward their SF State bachelor's degree; however, SF State students may indicate on their graduation application that they wish to have these courses applied to their graduate work, if taken in the final semester before graduation. Completion of these courses does not guarantee admission into the program.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: All applicants must successfully demonstrate writing proficiency with a score of 4.0 or better on the Analytic Writing section of the Graduate Record Examination. This must be taken prior to applying to the program. The score must be submitted in your application package. Those who do not meet the minimum writing expectation upon admission will be required to take a writing course, usually at an additional cost.

Level Two: Satisfied by demonstration of English competency on the culminating experience paper for COUN 892.

 

Clinical Proficiency Requirement

Students must earn a grade of B or better in the following courses: COUN 705, COUN 706, COUN 736, COUN 890, and COUN 891.

 

The M.S. in Counseling incorporates four specializations and/or emphases: career, college, school, and gerontology. The scope of this degree allows students the flexibility to focus their attention on specific areas of interest. The student combines the core sequence of classes with their specialization or emphasis. Counselors will be able to function in a wide variety of community agencies and work with individuals of all ages. The curriculum meets most of the educational requirements to be eligible for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license.

 

Counseling (M.S.) — 60 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Counseling Designation – Post-Master’s Level

Pupil Personnel Services Credential Only Program

School counselors are professionals who specialize in assisting students in public and private schools (grades PK-12) with effective counseling, guidance programs, and services that are designed to meet students' personal, social, and career needs. The Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) program in school counseling is designed to accommodate those individuals who currently hold a master's degree in counseling and who wish to acquire a credential enabling them to work as a school counselor in a public school setting.

 

Employment Prospects. The Department of Education notes that 190,000 teachers will have to be trained and hired to teach a projected increase of 33.1% in the school age population in the coming years. The hiring of school counselors will likely follow.

 

General Information

Students completing the post-master’s PPSC program in school counseling will meet the standards of quality and effectiveness as recommended by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).

 

The program is designed to supplement in a systematic manner an already completed master's degree. It comprises a minimum of fifteen semester units that can be completed in two or three semesters. The three-course school specialization sequence (COUN 716, COUN 717, COUN 718) is offered fall, spring, and fall. Students also complete a post-master's internship, consisting of a minimum of 600 hours in two of three settings (elementary, middle, or high school) and under the supervision of a credentialed school counselor who has been practicing in the field for at least two years.

 

Admissions Procedure

Applications are accepted for fall semester only and must be received in the department no later than January 15 of each year. To obtain a post-master’s PPSC only program application, visit our website at http://counseling.sfsu.edu/ppscCoun.aspx. The department reviews each application and, if accepted, consultation with the coordinator of the school counseling program is required to determine which classes are needed to complete the PPSC program. Upon departmental review of the application and acceptance to the credential program, the student is invited for advising and orientation.

 

Applicants must also apply to the University in order to register for courses.

 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Counseling Designation — Minimum 15 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Additional Courses for Post-Master’s Credential-Only Students

In order to meet the national standards of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), upon advisement, students may be required to take additional course work to meet program and credential requirements. Typical content courses include the following:

Assessment in Counseling
Addictions
Group Counseling Process
Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling
Law and Ethics in Counseling
Couples and Family Counseling
Crisis Counseling for Counselors

 

Required Fieldwork

The state-mandated requirements are as follows:

 

Field Practice

Each candidate in field practice must demonstrate knowledge and skill in the areas of educational assessment, personal and social counseling, academic and career counseling, program development, program coordination and supervision, consultation, legal issues, multicultural competency, and professional ethics.

1. A minimum of 600 clock hours of field practice are required in a PK-12 school setting in direct contact with pupils.
   1. Fieldwork shall be provided in at least two of three settings (elementary, middle, and/or high school) with a minimum of 100 hours at each setting.
   2. At least 100 clock hours shall be with at least ten pupils (individually and/or in a group) of a racial/ethnic background different from that of the candidate.
   3. A minimum of 25 clock hours will involve group counseling and guidance activities in a school setting.
2. Up to 150 clock hours may be in a setting other than schools counseling school age (PK-12) youth provided that the candidate is supervised by an experienced practitioner who holds the Pupil Personnel Services Credential.

 

Master of Science in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling

The Master of Science in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling provides the student with a degree that can lead to practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT). The MFT counselor meets with individuals, groups, and families that are in need of assistance in working through personal issues. MFT counselors work in a large variety of public and private community agencies, schools, hospitals, and other settings, including private practice. The MFT curriculum meets all of the educational requirements, except the psychopharmacology course, to be eligible for licensure in California upon graduation. The MFT curriculum meets most of the educational requirements to be eligible for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor License.

 

Counseling (M.S.) Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling — Minimum 60 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health counselors are trained to provide an array of counseling-related services in partnership with persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses to address the social, psychological, environmental, vocational, educational and living needs of the individual and his/her family in order to assist the individual in achieving optimal access and community integration. Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health counselors perform multiple roles including counselor, advocate, and case manager, and are trained to consider the interaction between the individual and his/her environment in service planning. “Disability” refers to a situation in which significant life activities and community participation are substantially limited due to factors related to a person’s health condition and his/her environment. Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health counselors practice in many settings including public vocational rehabilitation programs, non-profit organizations, county mental health agencies, independent living centers, community colleges and 4-year universities, disability resource departments in educational settings, substance abuse agencies, Veterans Administration Hospitals and other medical centers and hospitals, K-12 public schools, job training centers, insurance companies, and private industry.

 

Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) — Minimum 60 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

All other requirements for the Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling master's degree must be met.

 

Certificate in Counseling Deaf Persons

(Program not accepting students pending review for discontinuance)

General Information

The purpose of this certificate is to attest to students having completed the full body of course work and fieldwork that is required to be considered a specialist qualified to counsel deaf persons. This certificate reflects preparation to work with culturally deaf persons and other deaf people who use American Sign Language. To obtain this certificate one must have at least an intermediate level of American Sign Language proficiency as evaluated by the California Department of Rehabilitation or other certifying body such as the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf.

 

Admission and Course Requirements

The admission requirements and application process are the same as the graduate program in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Proficiency in sign language and experience with deafened and hard-of-hearing persons are additional important entry considerations. Current enrollment in the SF State master's program in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling or completion of an accredited master's level program in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, counseling, social work, or psychology is required along with relevant background for entry into the program.

 

Counseling Deaf Persons, Certificate — 12 - 15 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Certificate in Counseling Deafened and Hard of Hearing Persons

(Program not accepting students pending review for discontinuance)

General Information

The purpose of this certificate is to attest that students have completed the full body of course work and fieldwork that is required to be considered a specialist qualified to counsel deafened and hard of hearing persons. Sign language proficiency is encouraged, but not required.

 

Admission and Course Requirements

The admission requirements and applications process are the same as for the graduate program in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. The person's proficiency in sign language and experience with deafened and hard of hearing persons are additional important entry considerations. Current enrollment in the SF State master's program in rehabilitation counseling or completion of an accredited master's level program in rehabilitation counseling, counseling, social work, or psychology is required along with relevant background for entry into the program. Students accepted to the program from August 2006 through August 2010 must complete all coursework by August 30, 2011.

 

Counseling Deafened and Hard of Hearing Persons, Certificate — 12 - 15 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling

(Program not accepting students pending review for discontinuance)

General Information

This certificate attests to students having completed the full body of class work and fieldwork that is required to obtain the master's degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. It is designed for students who are currently working on or have completed a master's degree in counseling at SF State when the degree objective is not rehabilitation counseling, but who have completed all of the work to meet the requirements for the rehabilitation counseling master's degree.

 

Admission and Course Requirements

Admission requirements are the same as for the graduate program in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. For students who have completed master's degrees in other programs the approval of the coordinator of the Rehabilitation Counselor Training Program is required.

 

Rehabilitation Counseling, Certificate — 16 - 20 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.