Masters Programs

School Counseling (51 credit hours)

Graduates of the School Counseling Program are trained to work in either PreK, elementary, middle or secondary school settings such as: public, nonpublic, vocational technical, and charter schools. This program is endorsed by the Department of Education (DOE) and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

View School Counseling (5-12) Program of Studies

View School Counseling (PreK-8) Program of Studies

Admission Requirements for School Counseling

  • Dependent upon the candidate's counseling experience noted on their application, CNGC 501 Orientation to Counseling, may be required based on a review by the Counselor Education Admissions Committee and the Department of Counselor Education.
  • 2.8 undergraduate GPA.
  • A composite score of 1000 on the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test.
  • 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 specifically related to working with children in an educational setting.
  • A passing score on the Communication and Literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
  • All applicants will be required to interview with a faculty member.
  • 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 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.

Download Application for Admission (pdf)

For additional information, contact either:

School 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

Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International http://www.csi-net.org/

Massachusetts Department of 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: July 13, 2009