Master of Science in Counseling Psychology (School Counseling)

The School Counseling concentration in the M.S. in Counseling Psychology program at Holy Family University is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, allowing students to receive their professional certification as Pre K-12 school counselor.

School counselors are introduced to the American School Counseling Association’s (ASCA) National Model, based in the following areas: define, deliver, manage, assess. As such, they are uniquely qualified to address all student needs— academic, career, and personal/social development. Additionally, they are trained to develop comprehensive programs that promote and enhance student success.

School counselors come to recognize that through leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, they have the opportunity to promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students in elementary, middle/junior, and high schools.

Advocacy is a strong component of our school counseling concentration. It is built into the curriculum and reinforced with opportunities to advocate outside of the classroom, such as trips to Harrisburg and Washington, DC to lobby for school counseling issues.

Likewise, students have presented their research and advocacy efforts in a number of venues including the ASCA annual conference, the PA School Counseling Association’s annual conference, and the PA Counseling Association’s regional conference.

In order to meet the PA Department of Education’s (PDE) regulations, the program includes two additional courses pertaining to working with English Language Learners (COUN 576) as well as working with students with emotional and learning disabilities (COUN 575).

An additional strength is the dual curriculum, which enables students to be eligible for meeting the requirements to obtain their license as a professional counselor (LPC) as well as their certification as a school counselor. This is unique since they leave the program with marketable skills for employment as a counselor in schools but also in many other areas of mental health. 98% of our students choose to get their license as a Professional Counselor.