School Counseling (MSEd)

Welcome to the School Counseling (MSEd) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the program from acceptance to graduation. Students can complete the program part-time or full-time.

Academic Plan

GSC-MSED

Total Credits

Earn at least 60 credits

Program Mission Statement

Our mission is to train clinicians who are clinically insightful, capable of practicing in various clinical settings, and committed to serving a diverse population that reflects the fabric of New York City. We value an education that promotes cultural humility, curiosity, empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, ethical practice, advocacy, and an appreciation of human diversity. Our aim is for trainees to provide therapeutic interventions that are evidence-based, offer practical solutions to everyday concerns, foster personal insight, and promote self-efficacy and overall well-being.

School counselors provide counseling and consultation services to students and their families, as well as to other members of the school community, through comprehensive, developmentally appropriate school counseling programs. In alignment with the mission of schools, school counselors support students’ academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development while promoting equitable access, opportunity, and success for each and every student. School counselors are prepared to work in K–12 school settings and may also apply their counseling, consultation, assessment, and advocacy skills in college settings and other related settings such as correctional facilities, hospitals, and community organizations.

Program Philosophy

Central to all counseling approaches is the belief that people can develop, assume responsibility, achieve autonomy, and engage in problem-solving. Effective counseling requires counselors to understand and accept clients, develop rapport, and establish collaborative working relationships. To achieve these ends, counselors need to understand the psycho-social aspects of human development, counseling theories, the impact of diversity (e.g., gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation) on human experience, ethics, and human service systems, and must develop skills in counseling and assessment. They must have knowledge of current issues in counseling and research. In addition, counselors must be self-aware and understand their own values, judgments, and beliefs. Course work and supervised practice in agencies provide students with the skills needed for employment.

Counselors of today must possess the knowledge and skills to function effectively in various systems that affect people living in our city. As a counselor training program in an urban area, our program provides students with the opportunity to learn from and work with individuals from many diverse backgrounds. Our students learn about the needs of specific populations and have access to a multitude of community resources.1 In addition, the program is located in New York City, an environment that offers a rich array of accessible opportunities for our students and the people they serve.

Program Objectives

Counselor education students will demonstrate a set of values and attitudes consistent with the highest professional standards. They are expected to identify themselves with the counseling profession and to adhere to counseling program objectives.
The counseling program prepares graduates who will:

Professional Identity – Students develop a professional identity aligned with the roles and functions of professional school counselors.
Counseling Skills – Students become effective counselors who use clinical skills and evidence-based strategies to improve the lives of their clients.
Ethical and Legal Practice – Students apply ethical standards, principles, and legal considerations in their work with clients.
Multicultural Humility and Advocacy – Students develop and demonstrate multicultural humility, knowledge, skills, and advocacy by actively minimizing stereotyping, prejudice, and stigmatization.
Human Development and Wellness – Students develop an awareness of and a strengths-based approach to human development across the lifespan and apply strategies to promote wellness.
Systems Advocacy and Social Justice – Students demonstrate the competencies to work both individually and systemically within complex systems by advocating for access, equity, and social justice.

Program Delivery

The School Counseling program is registered as in-person programs in New York State, with a few online courses available. A list of online/hybrid courses was approved and grandfathered in by the Hunter College Senate in 2021. The in-person classes are offered on the main campus located in 695 Park Ave, New York, NY10065.

Advisors and Faculty

Markus Bidell, Program Leader
GoEun Na, Program Faculty
Sophia Leno, Program Faculty
Uzma Khan, Program Faculty
Michelle Lask, Clinical Coordinator of Field Placements
Valerie Lyons, Graduation, Certification and Administrative Advisor

Annual Report and Student Outcomes

Please view the Annual Report and Counseling Programs Student Outcomes Report that we provide in compliance with The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the body that accredits the Hunter College School of Education’s program in school counseling.

Newly Accepted Students

Getting Started and Orientation

New Student Checklist

Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.

New Student Support

If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.

Orientations

Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:

General New Student Orientation
Program Advising Session
Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation

See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.

Financing Your Degree

Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.

Fingerprint Clearance Requirements

All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.

Counseling Programs Student Handbook

Counseling Programs Student Handbook

Program Sequences

Consult the program sequence for course information. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.

Transfer of Credits

A matriculated student may request a transfer of credit for a graduate-level course completed at another institution. To be eligible, the course must have been taken within the past five years and closely match the content of a required course in the student’s Hunter College program. The request will be reviewed by faculty for equivalence. Each program sets the courses for which a transfer will be considered. Graduate students are limited to 12 transfer credits.

Courses Permitted for Transfer

Graduate students are limited to 12 transfer credits. The program will review transfer of credit requests for the following courses:

COCO 70000 Life Stage Developments
COCO 70200 Theories of Counseling
COCO 70300 Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
COCO 70800 Measurement & Appraisal
COCO 70900 Research Methods
COCO 71100 Supervision & Administration
COCO 71300 Career Counseling, College Readiness
COCO 71500 Family Systems & Counseling Issues
COUNS 71700 Foundations of School Counseling
COUNS 72000 Culminating Seminar in School
COUNS 72100 Counseling Interventions for Children and Adolescents
COUNS 72200 School Based Consultation
EDUC 72000 DASA, Health and Safety in Birth through 21
- Eligible for transfer with equivalent health course and the completion of Child Abuse, School Violence and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop

Transfer of Credit Not Approved

Transfer of Credit is never approved for the following courses:

COCO 70100 Counseling Skills & Interviewing
COCO 70600 Group Counseling
COCO 70700 Multicultural Aspects of Counseling
COCO 71800 Practicum in Counseling
COUNS 71900 Advanced Counseling Skills and Contemporary Issues Seminar
COUNS 72500 Internship in Counseling I
COUNS 72600 Internship in Counseling II

Transfer of Credit Form

Please complete the Transfer of Credit Request Form, sign digitally, pdf and attach all required documents. Then send it to your faculty advisor for review. Once you obtain your faculty advisor’s signature upload the required form to the School of Education form uploader.

Hunter College Catalog

Use the Hunter College Course Catalog to review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements.

Clinical Experiences

Hunter College School Counseling Program students are required to complete a minimum of 700 field hours in two different fieldwork sites, K to 5 (elementary) OR 6 to 8 (middle) AND 9 to 12 (high school), over three semesters through the Practicum and Internship courses.

Fieldwork Manual

School Counseling Fieldwork Manual

Practicum

Practicum is a one-semester placement, which may be completed in the fall or spring semester. Practicum requires students to be in the field a minimum of 100 hours per semester (approximately one full day each week). There are two corresponding courses required to register for during the practicum semester.

Registration, Application and Placement Processes and Procedures

Registration permission is required to register for Practicum courses. Counseling students are responsible for identifying their placement in collaboration with the fieldwork coordinator. Once placement has been approved, registration permission will be granted.

Students are required to attend one fieldwork orientation session prior to applying for practicum. Of the two sessions scheduled each semester, students may choose one to attend. At this orientation, students will learn about the fieldwork search process and application process. Students are encouraged to apply from the list of pre-approved fieldwork sites, however are allowed to choose a new site to complete fieldwork, pending all requirements may be met at that new site. The Fieldwork Coordinator must vet all new sites for final approval.

Application Deadline

Students may apply for practicum by submitting a complete practicum application by the first Thursday in December or May, the semester prior to starting.

Internship

Upon successful completion of practicum, students are eligible to start internship, their second fieldwork experience during their academic program. Internship is a two-consecutive semester placement, which starts in the fall semester and is completed in the spring semester. Internship requires students to be in the field a minimum of 300 hours per semester (approximately three full days each week, totaling 600 hours for the academic year). There is one corresponding course required to register for during each internship semester.

Registration, Application and Placement Processes and Procedures

Registration permission is required to register for Practicum and Internship courses. Counseling students are responsible for identifying their placement in collaboration with the fieldwork coordinator. Once placement has been approved, registration permission will be granted.

Application Deadline

Students must apply for internship submitting a complete internship application by the first Thursday in May, the semester prior to starting.

Graduation

Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.

Certification and Licensure

This program leads to New York State certification in School Counseling.

Students who are completing or have completed the program will apply for their certification through the New York State Education Department TEACH Online Services.

All students graduating in Spring 2024 or later will be required to take the School Counseling Content Specialty Test (CST) for certification. For updates on this change, please review the NYSED Office of Teaching Initiatives website. To prepare for this exam, please review the NYSTCE study guides page and the School Counseling Preparation Materials page. To register for this exam, please review the School Counseling CST registration page.

All students who graduated from the School Counseling program prior to Spring 2024 and who did not apply for Provisional certification, will be required to apply for Initial Certification through the Individual Evaluation pathway.

Initial Certification: Requirements and Exams

The School of Education reserves the right not to recommend for certification any student who has committed a serious breach of professional ethics or behavior. The Initial Certificate is the entry-level certificate. Students apply and pay for their certification in their final semester.

Candidates seeking certification must fulfill the following requirements before applying:

1. Complete NY State Certification required workshops and submit to the Office of Academic and Students Affairs (OASA)

All applications for NY State certification require that students take and complete the workshops listed below. Students who have completed these workshops for a prior certification, do not need to take them again. Upon completion of workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated.

Submit Workshop Completion Form

School Violence Intervention and Prevention

This workshop is included in coursework for your program.

Child Abuse Identification and Reporting

This workshop is included in coursework for your program.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop

Students may take this workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

2. Clear fingerprints with the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

All students in programs leading to New York State certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.

Initial Certification: Application Directions and Program Code

1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account

Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account. From your Teach Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate which is found under “Online Application”. This will start a new application.

If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).

2. Verify/Update Profile

The Verify/Update Profile section will ask for education and employment history. For educational history, provide information from bachelor’s degree to present. For employment history enter all full-time, paid teaching experiences in both public and private schools.

Hunter College is an approved New York Teacher Certification Program. When prompted provide the following information:

Award Title: Master of Science in Education
Program Code: 02364 – SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Major: Education
Enter all full-time, paid teaching experience (in both public and private schools).

3. Select Certificate(s)

Enter the following information for the certificates section.

Select your Area of Interest: Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
Select your Subject Area: School Counseling
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
Select the Title: School Counselor
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

Professional Certification: Requirements

The School of Education reserves the right not to recommend for certification any student who has committed a serious breach of professional ethics or behavior. Once candidates have completed three years of counseling experience, they can apply for permanent certification. Candidates who hold a valid or expired provisional certificate may apply for permanent certification.

Candidates seeking permanent certification must fulfill or maintain the following requirements before applying:

1. Maintain fingerprint clearance with the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

All students in programs leading to New York State certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.

2. Complete three years of verified counseling experience

3. Verification of Mentoring

4. Content Specialty Test (CST) School Counseling (if not already completed)

To prepare for this exam, please review the NYSTCE study guides page and the School Counseling Preparation Materials page. To register for this exam, please review the School Counseling CST registration page.

Professional Certification: Application Directions and Program Code

How to Apply for Professional Certification

1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account

2. Verify/Update Profile

Hunter College is an approved New York Teacher Certification Program. When prompted provide the following information:

Award Title: Master of Science in Education
Program Code: 02364 – SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Major: Education
Enter all full-time, paid teaching experience (in both public and private schools).

3. Select Certificate(s)

Enter the following information for the certificates section.

Select your Area of Interest: Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
Select your Subject Area: School Counseling
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
Select the Title: School Counselor
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

Provisional and Permanent Certification: For Students who Graduated in Fall 2023 or Before

The deadline to apply for the Provisional or Permanent School Counseling certification has passed. Please review guidance and next steps on the NYSED School Counseling certification page.

Checking Certificate Status in TEACH Account

There are two certificate statuses in the TEACH account: “not ready to review” and “ready to review.” Prior to graduation a student’s application is marked “not ready to review.” Once a student has met all the requirements, has institutional recommendation, and their graduation has posted, the status will change to “ready to review.” The New York State Department of Education will then review the application.

Out of State Certification or Licensure

Students applying for certification or licensure in states other than New York must complete the Out of State Certification and Licensure Form.

Hunter International Students (F1 Visa Holder) Certification or Licensure

Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email TCERT@nysed.gov with “TEACH Access Number” in the subject line to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for all processes involving certification such as fingerprinting, creating your TEACH Account, registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams, and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.

Students currently certified in initial or transitional B certificate who will not graduate in time to meet the master’s requirement for their expiring certificate, may be eligible for an extension through the New York State Education Department TEACH Online Services. Create/log in to your TEACH account and select “Apply for a Time Extension.”

Certification Support

If you have questions regarding certification, contact The Office of Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at soe.oasa@hunter.cuny.edu or meet with the Administrative Advisor for support.