Format: Cohort-based
Prerequisites: None
Quick Facts
In-Person Option
Duration: 2.5 years
Starts: Fall term
Location: Thousand Oaks
Online Option
Duration: 1.5 years
Starts: Spring term
Location: Fully remote
Advocate, Educate & Transform With a Master’s in College Counseling
Put your passion into practice with the Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel (CSP) program.
This comprehensive program combines elements of student affairs and counseling to serve professionals who work with or aspire to work with college students, providing essential research, in-depth knowledge and practical experience.
Graduates of the MS in Counseling (CSP) will have the tools they need to become compassionate leaders and advocates who use proven research to guide their students toward success in higher education settings.
Cultural Proficiency Approach to College Counseling
In our program, you’ll develop as a counselor who can think critically about cross-cultural situations and respond effectively to the diverse needs of today’s college students.
Our curriculum is built on the cultural proficiency model, an inside-out approach that uses self-examination as a foundation for building empathetic counseling strategies. With this model you’ll be able to assess how your background and identity influence your work with students, using these insights as strengths rather than barriers.
Industry-Aligned Curriculum for Lasting Skills
We prepare our students to create genuine change through coursework aligned with the professional competency areas of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
You’ll graduate from the master’s in college counseling degree program with skills that truly matter in the complex educational landscape. This expanded expertise will help you support students on a deeper level and create positive, lasting change in their lives.
See the Master of Science in Counseling (CSP) curriculum page for more information on the coursework.
Master’s in College Counseling Program Features
- Convenient options for busy schedules. Our program offers two paths to complete your degree: evening classes at the Thousand Oaks campus or an online option that combines on-demand study with regular live sessions.
- Standards-backed skills: Get the qualifications employers seek by developing your cultural proficiency, adding important microskills and developing your professional competencies as defined by the ACPA and NASPA.
- Real-world experience: Whether you study in person or online, you’ll complete two 150-hour placements on site at a college or university of your choice. This ensures you get real-world experience that aligns with your career goals. We also provide support to find your ideal site.
- Student-centered learning: Our small class sizes and cohort model encourage you to have meaningful engagement with faculty and classmates. You’re part of a supportive community no matter whether you study online or in-person. You’ll also have access to personalized support through one-on-one advising.
“An MS in Counseling degree elevated me as a professional because it taught me cultural proficiency, which helps me serve students in a more equitable way. It also gave me exposure to the different components of student affairs, such as law and ethics, which help me navigate day-to-day situations that arise in the field.”
How We Empower Our Students To Succeed
We believe that anyone seeking graduate education should have that opportunity, and we’re here to help you make your goals a reality. In addition to support from faculty, advisors and peers, students in our master’s in college counseling have access to financial solutions and valuable academic resources.
Financial aid and scholarships
Cal Lutheran provides a diverse range of financial support opportunities, including internal and external funding sources and funding for current and future educators. Explore your options on our financial aid page.
Veteran resources
To honor those who serve and have served our country, we offer an accessible, high-quality education to veterans, military members and their families.
Cal Lutheran proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. In addition to small class sizes and personalized support, we help veterans achieve their goals through assistance with paperwork, academics and the college transition. Learn more about veteran resources at Cal Lutheran.
DREAMers
We stand with undocumented students by assisting them with the admission and financial aid process. With a team of trained allies and cross-campus resources, we continue to support our DREAMers as they transition into the college lifestyle and become graduates of Cal Lutheran. Learn about resources available to DREAMers.
First-generation students
Graduate students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education can access dedicated resources that recognize their accomplishments and provide practical support throughout their degree program. Learn more.
Career Outcomes
Wondering where your Cal Lutheran Master of Science in Counseling degree can take you? Our graduates help students thrive in a wide range of higher education counseling and student affairs roles.
Where Our Alumni Work
Cal Lutheran alumni have gone on to make a difference at many colleges and universities, including:
- California Lutheran University
- California State University, Channel Islands
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, San Marcos
- Coastline Community College
- College of the Canyons
- College of the Desert
- Colorado State University
- Glendale Community College
- Johnson & Wales University
- Los Angeles City College
- Los Angeles Mission College
- Los Angeles Pierce College
- Los Angeles Valley College
- Moorpark College
- Mt. San Jacinto College
- Orange Coast College
- Oxnard College
- Pepperdine University
- Santa Barbara City College
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of San Francisco
- University of Southern California
- Ventura College
- Yavapai College
Common Career Paths
Potential career paths for graduates with a higher education counseling degree include:
- Academic advisor
- Academic counselor
- Admissions counselor
- Assistant dean/dean of students
- Assistant director/director of a variety of student support services
- Career counselor
- Disability support services counselor
- EOPS counselor
- Financial aid counselor
- Retention specialist/counselor
- Sexual violence prevention & response counselor
- Student athlete counselor
- Student success counselor
- Title IX officer
- Transfer counselor
Ready to learn more? Download our brochure, and explore our curriculum, admission, and FAQ pages.
Request Information
To learn more about the Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel offered by the Cal Lutheran Graduate School of Education and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-493-3325 or for the online Master of Science in Counseling and College Student Personnel call 805-521-9856.
