Earn Your Master’s in School Counseling and Guide Students to Discover Their Full Potential

APU’s Master of Arts in Education: Educational Counseling program equips candidates with in-depth understanding of the numerous issues and pressures facing pupils today. With a solid background in this area, candidates are better able to communicate with pupils of all cultures, socioeconomic levels, and learning abilities.

The master’s degree coupled with the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling significantly increases one’s marketability. This program immerses the candidate into the world of school counseling, emphasizing practical techniques to help pupils stay in school. Candidates explore problem-solving skills, discipline procedures, crisis and routine intervention, and work side-by-side with practicing school counselors.

Program Highlights

APU's Master of Arts in Education: Educational Counseling with embedded School Counseling Credential program:

  • Combines the master's degree with the credential program requirements, equipping students to advance their career.
  • Renders the graduate highly marketable and competitively qualified to serve as a professional school counselor in a public school setting.
  • Offers an efficient path toward the dual goal of meeting state requirements and earning a prestigious advanced degree from a reputable university.
Meet a School Counselor Who Helps Students Prepare for the Future

Pursuing a career in K-12 education meant Tony Morrow ’11, MAEd ’12 would be a positive influence early in students’ journeys. Meet Tony and learn more about the role of school counselors.

School of Education Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). In addition, the School of Education receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is transitioning to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), making APU one of only three private schools in California with this distinction. Further, our credential programs are accredited by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Our Educational Psychology program is also accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These notable accreditations set APU graduates apart from other candidates and ensure that your degree will be recognized throughout the United States and internationally.

University Reputation

U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2023 edition named Azusa Pacific to its list of top national universities and several other significant lists, including First-Year Experiences and Top Performers on Social Mobility. The Princeton Review designated APU as 1 of 126 institutions in the “Best Western Colleges” section of its 2023 Best Colleges guide. APU’s School of Nursing was named a top nursing school in California for 2023 by College Factual and Niche. APU was included as a top-100 degree producer by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Azusa Pacific is also a Military Friendly School and Yellow Ribbon University, serving more than 500 military-connected students and families, and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral Research University.

Note: This information is current for the 2022-23 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.