Program Overview

Introduction to the Counseling School & Community, S.Y.C. Program

The Counseling School & Community, S.Y.C. program at Southern Connecticut State University offers advanced graduate studies in counseling, providing students with the opportunity to further their counseling competence.

Application Deadlines

• January 15 for fall semester
• Intra-department Application: Rolling Admissions

Sixth Year Professional Diploma in School Counseling

The sixth year advanced graduate studies program in counseling is designed for students holding a master's degree in counseling or counseling-related areas. This program is not CACREP accredited.

Admission Requirements for School Psychology

Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:

• Academic background: minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for the Master's Program and/or a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the Sixth Year Program
• 15 credits in psychology, including:
  • Developmental Psychology or Child Development
  • Educational Psychology, Theories of Learning, or Cognitive Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology, Abnormal Child Psychology, or Psychopathology
  • Statistics
• Completion of the Connecticut State Department of Education's special education requirement
• Praxis Core Academic Skills Test for Educators (waivers available for high scores on SAT, GRE, ACT, or PAA/ESLAT/TOEFL)
• Evidence of a desire to enter the profession and knowledge of the field
• Evidence of exceptional interpersonal skills
• Strong recommendations from at least three individuals
• Evidence of superior writing skills
• 500-word essay describing interest in the School Counseling program
• Resume
• Meeting with the School Counseling Faculty members for an admissions interview (if invited)

Program Sequence

The program requires a minimum of 30 credits. Students will meet with an advisor to determine the necessary courses for graduation and state certification requirements. Available courses include:

• CSP 595: Professional Orientation and Ethical Issues in C.C. (3 credits)
• CSP 569: Theories of Counseling (3 credits)
• CSP 540: Understanding Individual Psychological Testing (3 credits)
• CSP 691: Research and Evaluations in Schools and Community Agencies (3 credits)
• CSP 521: Counseling the Substance Abuser and Other Addicted Populations (3 credits)
• CSP 550: Counseling Procedures (Lecture and Lab) (4 credits)
• CSP 605: Introduction to Family Counseling (3 credits)
• CSP 549: Issues in Crisis Intervention (Theory and Method) (3 credits)
• CSP 656: Group Counseling (Lecture and Lab) (3 credits)
• CSP 568: Counseling and Life Span Development (3 credits)
• CSP 572: Psychology of Career Development (3 credits)
• CSP 571: Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders (3 credits)
• CSP 541: Introduction to Psychopharmacology (1 credit)
• CSP 578: Counseling and Assessment of Culturally Diverse Populations (3 credits)
• CSP 554: Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders (3 credits)
• CSP 575: Counseling Supervision: Theory and Practice (1 credit)
• CSP 552: Counseling Practicum (3 credits)
• CSP 553: Counseling Practicum Seminar (3 credits)
• CSP 676: Counseling Internship and Seminar (3-9 credits)
• Other approved courses (3 credits)