What Can You Do With a Degree in School Counseling?

Our graduates develop a comprehensive counseling portfolio that demonstrates their skills and achievements while preparing them for employment. The program provides graduates with New York State Initial Certification as school counselors, and candidates must then meet New York State Education Department requirements to obtain Professional Certification. Our graduates are sought after by schools where they counsel students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

School Counseling, M.S.Ed.

Top Employers

U.S. News & World Report ranks school counseling as the no. 11 best social-service job. With more than 1,700 public schools in New York City alone, there are many opportunities to find the right fit. This opens up a wide range of opportunities that will be beneficial and available to a graduate with a degree in school counseling.

All of our students complete required internships that prepare them to go on to work in schools both locally and across the country. Our program maintains long-term relationships with quality internship sites in the New York area, and our clinical coordinator works to help students develop a fieldwork plan that meets their professional requirements and personal goals. Each year, more of our alumni join our roster of internship supervisors, paying forward the excellent supervision they received as students.

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Alumni Profiles

Thomas Anthony Colella graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and speech language pathology in 2012, and a master’s degree in school counseling and an advanced certification in play therapy in 2016. He started career with the New York City Department of Education in 2015 as a counseling intern and substitute teacher. Since receiving his master’s, he has been an elementary school counselor.

Christina Canitano graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in children and youth studies in 2014, and a master’s degree in school counseling and an advanced certification in play therapy in 2017. She began her career as a school counseling intern and, after graduating in 2017, became a school counselor for the New York City Department of Education.

Navigating Your Career

Throughout your time in the program and in the years following graduation, you will be tasked with navigating your career in the field. If you have settled on veering toward working in education as a school counselor, it is valuable to have a good understanding of what is expected of you and what sort of cases you will be working with.

As much as this will be stressed in the program, it can mean all the difference if you can garner experience working with children. Regardless of what exactly this experience looks like, working with children, understanding their needs, and what sort of workplace you will find yourself in will only ease your transition from the classroom to workplace by making you a competitive candidate.

There are, of course, other settings for you to work in with this degree outside of the New York City Department of Education. Regardless of the setting, what sort of counseling or other professional duties you’ll be doing, or what sort of clients you will be helping, knowing about the field you are entering will be key to your success. Doing research and networking with faculty and alumni can help you get a better understanding of what sort of work you can expect to have in front of you.

On-Campus Resources

The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.

  • The center hosts frequent career events, which include panels with Brooklyn College alumni, company and organization visits, and workshops.
  • You can get matched with alumni with your major to learn about their experiences, seek career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
  • HireBC offers starter, competitive internships, and even job postings from Brooklyn College’s dedicated Job Board. Access HireBC via the Brooklyn College WebCentral Portal, under the Career tab. Many alumni post positions with hopes of working with Brooklyn College students. Begin by uploading your résumé and having it reviewed by a career counselor.
  • Kendra Lewis is the liaison to the School of Education. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the Magner Center’s website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.

Brooklyn. All in.

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