Overview of Counseling Programs
The Counseling Program offers the flexibility of three Master of Arts degree, which build upon each others coursework offering candidates the greatest flexibility as they learn and focus in on their specific career goals within the program.
- Master of Arts in College Counseling and Student Affairs (41 semester units)
- Master of Arts in School Counseling with California (K-12) PPS Credential in School Counseling and Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization (51 semester units)
- Master of Arts in Counseling with School Counseling Specialization or Mental Health Specialization for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Eligibility (60 semester units). The LPCC program may be combined with the California PPS Credential/CWA Authorization as well.
Request a detailed information packet to learn more about the details of our program offerings plus answers to FAQ's and a link to our curriculum map and the intersection of coursework that meets each of our flexible program offerings.
M.A. in Counseling with LPCC Intern Eligibility (60 units) with optional PPS Credential
The Master of Arts in Counseling (60-units) prepares candidates with the academic requirements for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), through the Board of Behavioral Sciences. This program maximizes post-graduation options as a mental health professional working in clinical mental health in a variety of settings. Candidates select one of the following two degree options:
Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
In this specialization, you will gain skills and experiences to provide mental health counseling to clients from a variety of age groups and with a variety of clinical issues in clinical mental health settings. Experiences include group counseling, assessment, and may also include family and couples counseling.
Specialization in School Counseling
In this specialization, you will gain additional skills and experiences to work in TK-12 school settings such as teacher consultation, prevention programming, and individual, group, career and college counseling. You will be eligible for a California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling and a Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization (CWA) to work in all TK-12 public schools.
Both specializations share a common core of courses that includes learning counseling theories, best practices relative to quantitative and qualitative research and evidenced-based approaches across a variety of settings relative to individual, group, career and multicultural counseling and consultation services.
M.A. in School Counseling with P.P.S. School Counseling Credential (51 units)
The Master of Arts in School Counseling/PPS School Counseling Credential/CWA is designed to prepare aspiring counselors to maximize their professional mobility in K-12 public, private, and parochial schools. These candidates do not intend to also pursue LPCC licensure. This program fully integrates the coursework and fieldwork experiences required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) for the School Counseling Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential and the Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization. The California P.P.S. Credential in School Counseling with CWA authorizes you to immediately begin serving as a school counselor in TK-12 California schools. The Master of Arts degree in Counseling further emphasizes your professional preparation and training, underscoring the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you've gained in the program.
M.A. in College Counseling and Student Affairs (41 units)
MA in College Counseling and Student Affairs (41 units) prepares candidates to work in higher education and/or non-profit settings (e.g., university academic advisor, career counselor, etc.) Candidates in this program often see their primary professional role as one that involves counseling young adults as they navigate their way through the college experience. While they do not intend to pursue LPCC licensure or a PPS credential, they may see this MA degree as excellent preparation for a doctoral program.
Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Authorization
The Child Welfare Attendance (CWA) PPS Authorization is a program option for those who already hold a California P.P.S. credential in School Counseling, School Psychology, or School Social Work. The PPS Authorization enables practitioners to provide child welfare attendance and related services in addition to their main role or function within a school district.
LMU offers an integrated program for incoming PPS students as well as a standalone Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Authorization program for current California PPS credential holders. The stand-alone program is a one-semester (9 graduate unit) program to add the CWA authorization to a current PPS credential. Program coursework is completed in one semester (fall or spring) and is offered FULLY ONLINE synchronously on select Saturdays during the semester.
Fieldwork Support
The School of Education has excellent partnerships with school sites, districts, and educational agencies across the great L.A. area and places candidates in sites to meet program requirements. The following lists the total number of fieldwork hours for each program. The fieldwork administrator works directly with candidates in placements, support, and documentation.
- MA in College Counseling and Student Affairs – 300 hours
- MA in School Counseling with PPS Credential – 800 hours (No fieldwork in Summer as schools are closed.)
- MA in Counseling with LPCC – 600 hours during the program.
- Combined LPCC and PPS – total 800 hours.
- Additionally, for the LPCC, there is a requirement of 3,000 supervised hours after you graduate and become an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. Candidates complete these hours independent of LMU with supervision through applicable
employment.
- Child Welfare and Attendance -- 150 hours
Convenient Class Scheduling
M.A. programs offer late afternoon and evening classes to accommodate working professionals, and fieldwork experiences:
- In Fall and Spring semesters, each 3-unit class meets once a week.
- In the Summer Session semester(s), each 3-unit class meets twice per week.
- Classes are usually 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm, or from 7:15 pm to 9:45 pm.
- In-person classes are held on our beautiful campus in Westchester, California (near LAX/Marina del Rey).
- Several online and/or “hybrid” (mix of in-person and online) classes are also offered each semester (as courses offered in “online” and “hybrid” modalities will vary each semester, please check with your Advisor if you prefer online options).
- All online courses offered meet synchronously (aka in “real time” over Zoom).
- CWA courses are fully online on select Saturdays during the Fall or Spring semesters.
Accreditation
All programs are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The California PPS School Counseling Credential/MA School Counseling w/CWA Authorization included program (51units) is accredited by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The Master of Arts in Counseling (60 units) degree with LPCC (and optional PPS/CWA) has been identified by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as meeting the statutory requirements for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) under the Business and Professions Code section (BPC) 4999.32.
Per Federal Regulation 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v), all LMU School of Education credential/licensure programs meet the California state requirements as specified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and for the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences as appropriate. The institution has not made a determination as to whether these credential, licensure, and professional preparation programs meet the requirements of states outside of California.
If you are interested in practicing outside the state of California, it is recommended that you contact the respective licensing entity of that state to seek information or guidance regarding their licensure and credential requirements in advance to allow for appropriate planning.