Post Master's

Licensure in School Counseling (PreK-8 or 5-12)

This Post Master's Licensure program is designed for those individuals who seek initial licensure as a School Counselor (PreK-8 or 5-12) who already hold a master's degree in an applied counseling or a related field (i.e. social work, clinical psychology), which has included a formal, supervised internship experience.  Each student plans their program of study with a faculty advisor in accordance with the current BSU requirements for licensure as a school counselor, which are aligned with licensure requirements established by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  The program will complement previous master's level coursework, and will include all appropriate field experiences.  Students will need to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations, which are in effect at the time of their anticipated graduation. Students must fulfill the requirements of the 51 credit School Counseling Program using courses from their already completed master's degree and with additional courses as listed in the Program of Studies.

View Post Master School Counseling (5-12) Program of Studies

View Post Master School Counseling (PreK-8) Program of Studies

Admission Requirements for Post Master's School Counseling

  • An applied master's degree in counseling or related field (i.e. social work, clinical psychology) which includes a formal, supervised field experience.
  • A 3.25 cumulative average in the master's program.
  • Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a supervisor who has knowledge of the applicant’s aptitude for the counseling profession and counseling related experience.
  • Successful experience in a counseling capacity.
  • A passing score on the Communication and Literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
  • Final applicants will be required to interview with a faculty member.  Admissions Day is held on the third Friday of March and the third Friday of November each year.
  • A completed application, including a five-hundred word personal statement that presents a synthesized, integrated, and self-reflective description of the applicant's career goals as they relate to school  counseling.

School Counselor Certification

Course requirements leading to initial licensure and professional licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a school counselor at the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade level (PreK-8) or the fifth through twelfth grade level (5-12) are outlined in the sample program descriptions. Licensure by the college will result in interstate reciprocity with signatory states as specified under the Interstate Certification Compact. To discuss the various certification program options, please consult with your advisor.

Application Deadlines

Students must submit a completed application with supporting materials by October 1st for the spring semester and February 1st for the summer and fall semesters. 

All newly accepted students are required to attend a new student orientation session.  Students who do not attend a session in the semester that they are accepted for admission will have a registration hold put on their account.  Upcoming dates have been scheduled as follows:  Spring 2012 - Thursday, May 10, 2012, and Tuesday, May 15, 2012, both from 5-6:30 p.m.; and Fall 2012 - Tuesday, December 11, 2012, Thursday, December 13, 2012, and Tuesday, January 15, 2013, all from 5-6:30 p.m.

Download Application for Admission (pdf)

For additional information, contact either:

College of Graduate Studies
Maxwell Library
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater, MA 02325
gradschool@bridgew.edu
(508) 531-1300

Counselor Education
Kelly Gym Room 104
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater, MA 02325
(508) 531-2836

Professional Links

American Counseling Association http://www.counseling.org

American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org

American School Counselor Association http://www.schoolcounselor.org

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education http://www.doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) http://massteacher.org

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) http://www.nasponline.org/index2.html

National Board of Certified Counselors http://www.nbcc.org

National Education Association (NEA) http://www.nea.org

U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov

 

 

 

Last Modified: December 9, 2011