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Our School Counseling program, accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, prepares prospective school counselors to work with ethnically and racially diverse populations in New York City area schools. Working from a holistic, social justice–oriented approach, candidates are encouraged to develop the required skills to promote socio-emotional, academic, and career growth for their students. Our graduates engage all members of the educational community—parents, administrators, teachers, students, and community organizations—in the process of making schools more responsive, equitable, and caring environments that foster lifelong learning and growth. A specialization in bilingual school counseling is also offered, which provides additional training for multilingual students to provide counseling services to English-language learners.
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.
The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.
The school counseling program prepares prospective school counselors to work with ethnically and racially diverse populations in New York City public and private schools. Working from a holistic approach, candidates are encouraged to develop the necessary skills for engaging all members of the educational community-parents, administrators, teachers, students, and community organizations-in the process of making schools more responsive, equitable, and caring environments that foster lifelong learning and growth. Internships and supervised field experiences are an integral part of our course of study.
The Master of Science in education provides graduates with New York State Initial Certification as school counselors. Graduates holding Initial Certification must meet New York State Education Department requirements to obtain Professional Certification. A specialization in bilingual school counseling is also offered. Graduates of our program are sought after by public and private schools where they counsel students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Instruction methods vary per instructor, but generally consist of lectures, discussions, application exercises, experiential methods and exercises, presentations, supervision, fieldwork, Blackboard assisted instruction, and audiovisual and web resources, among others.
Applicants must obtain and file the college admission form, including the supplemental School of Education admission form. Applicants must also submit letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with applicants’ professional and academic experience. The program invites selected applicants to participate in a group interview and to complete an on-site writing sample.
In addition to the above requirements, applicants for the bilingual specialization in school counseling are interviewed in the language presented for competency.
Students should note additional requirements found at the beginning of this section as well as in the sections “Admission” and “Academic Regulations and Procedures” of the Brooklyn College Bulletin of Graduate Programs.
Sixty credits are required for the degree. Sixty-six credits are required for the degree with a specialization in bilingual school counseling.
Students must complete 60 credits in the following courses: SPCL 7801X, 7800X, 7806T, 7802T, 7804X, 7803T, 7810T, 7807T, 7808T, 7809T, 7922T, 7811T, 7813X, 7812T, 7814T, 7815T, 7901X, 7818T, 7823T, 7820X.
Students who have the school counseling M.S. degree from another university and wish to complete the bilingual specialization must take the following courses: SPCL 7922, SPCL 7823, SPCL 7914, CBSE 7350, SPCL 7815.
Full-time students typically take four courses each semester, and part-time students typically take two to three courses each semester. Summer courses may be available.
After a student completes approximately 12 credits, the faculty members review the student’s progress and potential and recommend continuation or withdrawal. This evaluation is based on criteria described in the “Program Statement of Expectations” made available to students when they enter the program.
Students will develop a professional portfolio.
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (B). A student who earns six credits below B- will not be awarded an M.S. in education in this program.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
All students accepted to the School of Education are required to submit fingerprint verification before signing up for most education classes. Verification is needed if you already have fingerprint records or not. Please read the instructions and if you have questions about the instructions, you may e-mail Helen Spencer.
The program is competitive and receives more qualified applicants than there are openings available. Following a review of applications, potential candidates will be invited for a group interview with the program faculty. The interview enables faculty to assess personal characteristics deemed necessary for successful performance in the field of school counseling. During the interview, applicants will be asked to complete a writing sample of 250 words drawn from suggested topics. A satisfactory interview evaluation is a requirement for admission.
Students are admitted to the School Counseling Program with matriculated status only. Students commit to either full-time or part-time status, depending on availability of the openings, and are expected to maintain this status for the duration of their matriculation. Transfer credits are rarely accepted. Applicants who wish to have courses considered for transfer credit must provide course descriptions or syllabuses demonstrating that the courses are directly parallel to offerings required in the Brooklyn College program.
Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.
1107 James Hall E: gutnick@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.5876
Or contact:
222 West Quad Center 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210 E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.4536
Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:
BC Admissions Appointment Tool
Students in the bilingual specialization take the following additional courses: SPCL 7914 and CBSE 7350.
The sequence of the courses will be determined in consultation with the coordinator of the specialization in bilingual school counseling.
Additional requirements for students in the bilingual specialization:
Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members in the Department of School Psychology, Counseling, and Leadership offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
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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