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School Counseling, MA
Degree
Master of Arts in Counseling
Department
At a Glance
This CACREP-accredited, on-campus MA in School Counseling prepares you for New Jersey preK–12 school counselor certification and to support students, families, and communities across elementary and secondary settings. You can also pursue eligibility for LAC/LPC licensure, which opens additional career paths.
Program Coordinator: Kathleen Grant, grant24@tcnj.edu
Duration
- full time: 2–2.5 years
- part time: 3–4 years
Availability
- on campus
Certification
- School Counselor
20
- courses
60
- credits
$1170.17
- per credit
Who Should Pursue This Program?
This program is a good fit for those who want to make a difference in the lives of students, families, and communities by supporting student growth and ability to thrive. It’s designed for those who want to bring about positive systemic change in these groups, who care deeply about youth, and who are invested in creating change in schools.
Career and Salary
In a career as a school counselor, you will support students’ academic, career, and social-emotional development across preK–12 settings, delivering counseling programs, advising on college and career readiness, and partnering with families and teachers.
TCNJ graduates are well positioned for careers in this field: 100% of the Class of 2022 who sought employment and responded to a TCNJ career survey reported working in school counseling. Graduates are prepared for New Jersey preK–12 school counselor certification and work in elementary, middle, and high schools, with LAC/LPC eligibility opening clinical and community roles as well.
School counselors earn a median salary of $64,330, and positions in the field are expected to grow by 3% through 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Accreditation and Licensure
The program is accredited by CACREP, the recognized national accreditor for counseling programs. CACREP accreditation signals that the curriculum, faculty, and clinical training meet rigorous national standards and supports eligibility for certification and licensure. Graduates qualify for New Jersey school counselor certification and are eligible to pursue LAC and, with supervised experience, LPC licensure.
Curriculum
The 60-credit curriculum spans 20 courses and includes supervised clinical training through practicum and internship, so you graduate with the hands-on hours required for certification. Coursework prepares you for New Jersey preK–12 school counselor certification, and you can supplement it with community-based internships, independent studies, faculty research, or summer courses through the International School Counseling Program in Portugal. The coursework is detailed in this program planner.
Tuition and Aid
Tuition is $1,170.17 per credit, the same regardless of where you live. Financial aid, graduate assistantships, and federal loan options are available; graduate students apply for federal aid using FAFSA.
» Learn more about tuition, assistantships, and aid
Engaged Faculty
Learn from nationally and internationally recognized faculty who are fully engaged with their students. Your professor knows your name and teaches all of your classes. You won’t find any TAs here.
Extensive Network
Study alongside peers with solid counseling experience, learn from faculty who have valuable contacts in their field, and benefit from an alumni community with strong professional connections.
Application Requirements
For your application to be considered complete, you must submit the online application and all supplemental documents.
- Admissions Questionnaire Addendum: As part of the online application, applicants will be asked to list and describe their pre-professional and professional experiences, and special assets that should be considered, such as being bilingual or multilingual, having overcome extremely adverse life circumstances, having multicultural/ethnic life experiences, having special leadership and advocacy experiences, and/or having a record of outstanding scholarship.
- National Standardized Admission Test: Applicants are only recommended to take the GRE if their undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the program CACREP accredited?
Yes. The program is accredited by CACREP, the recognized national accreditor for counseling programs.
Do I need a master’s degree to become a school counselor?
Yes. New Jersey requires a master’s degree and state certification to work as a school counselor; this program is designed to qualify you for that certification.
What is the difference between a school counselor and a school psychologist?
School counselors support the whole student population’s academic, career, and social-emotional growth, while school psychologists focus primarily on assessment, testing, and special education eligibility.
What can I do with this degree?
Graduates work as certified preK–12 school counselors and, with LAC/LPC eligibility, can pursue additional clinical and community counseling roles.
How long does the program take to complete?
Full-time students finish in two to two and a half years, and part-time students complete the program in three to four years.
Recommended Application Deadlines
We consider applications on a space-available basis. You can apply up to and including the first day of the semester.
Accreditation
CACREP accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties offered by colleges and universities in the United States and throughout the world.
