Master of Science in School Counseling | Marywood University Scranton, PA

Enhance Student Success with a School Counseling Degree

Marywood's school counseling program prepares students to become professional PK-12 school counselors, who are certified/licensed educators with a minimum of a master's degree in school counseling, making them uniquely qualified to address all students' academic, career and personal/social development needs by designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success. Professional school counselors serve a vital role in maximizing student success. Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, professional school counselors promote equity and access to a quality education and post-secondary options. They work with students individually, in small groups, and through classroom lessons. They collaborate with teachers, parents/guardians, and administrators.

A Master of Science degree in School Counseling provides skills and expertise in individual and group counseling, educational planning, and career development. It is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and meets the Pennsylvania Department of Education's requirements for PK-12 school counseling certification. We rely heavily on one-to-one interactions between students and faculty mentors. A professor will periodically review your progress and help you reach your educational goals.

Upon degree completion, graduates:

Can apply for dual (PK-12) school counseling certification in Pennsylvania.

Possess all of the educational requirements for counseling licensure (LPC) in Pennsylvania.

Are able to apply for any master’s level counseling position, even if it is not within a school.

Program Highlights

Personalized Attention

Experience personalized attention through individual faculty advising every semester, a close-knit cohort model, and peer mentoring that fosters connection and support.

Ranked Among the Best

Marywood is ranked #14 Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings for 2026, making Marywood a great, centrally located option for students in Northeastern Pennsylvania who want to stay closer to home.

Entensive Fieldwork Experience

Students in our school counseling program complete a 600-hour supervised internship in a real-world counseling setting [300-hours elementary (PK-8) and 300-hours secondary (9-12)]. You can choose the school(s) at which you would like to complete your fieldwork experience, and this invaluable, hands-on experience allows you to put into practice skills and knowledge learned in the classroom.

About the School Counseling Program

Admissions Requirements

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DEADLINE: Applications are still being accepted for Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 semesters.

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
“B” average during undergraduate study or demonstrated potential for graduate work
Completed Application: http://www.marywood.edu/admissions/applying/
Two letters of recommendation
Essay outlining professional and personal qualities that you believe will make you a successful school or mental health counselor. Please review the following resources prior to submitting the essay:

-American Counseling Association: www.counseling.org

-American School Counselors Association: www.schoolcounselor.org

Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions

Submit an essay outlining professional and personal qualities that you believe will make you a successful school or mental health counselor. Applicants should be specific. Please review the follow resources prior to submitting the essay:

American Counseling Association
American Mental Health Counselors Association
American School Counselors Association
Pennsylvania Counselors Association
Pennsylvania School Counselors Association

Facilities & Technology

McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies

The McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, located on the corner of University and North Washington Avenues, contains classrooms and related clinical/professional space for Communication Sciences and Disorders, Psychology and Counseling, Education, and Business students. The Marywood Market is also located here.

The McGowan Center is home to the School of Education and the School of Business and Global Innovation. The Counseling/Student Development Center is also located here.

The building has modern classrooms, computer labs, and controlled lab settings for the Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders programs. Students from the School of Education may utilize the Curriculum Lab, which houses hundreds of school textbooks, teacher manuals, and other teaching materials.

Market Marywood is a convenience store located on the first floor of the McGowan Center. It features favorite beverages, snacks, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, on-the-go sandwiches, fruit, and salads.

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McGowan Center Classrooms

The Communication Sciences and Disorders program has many facilities and features a Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, where students have the opportunity to work with individuals with speech, language, and hearing difficulties. The clinic is equipped with video monitors and a complete audiological evaluation facility.

The Psychology and Counseling program features distinctive teaching and research facilities to support counseling and psychology students.

The School of Business and Global Innovation operates facilities such as The Wall Street West Financial Lab and a Flight Simulator for students in Aviation Management.

The School of Education maintains a curriculum lab of texts, manipulative materials, and software designed for K-12 programs. For those interested in working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children, there are ample opportunities to observe and teach right on campus.

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Psychological Services Center

The Psychological Services Center (PSC), located in Room 1009 in the McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, is a clinic and training facility. It serves the community as an outpatient mental health clinic that provides services to individuals across the life spectrum from young children to older adults. The entry of the PSC is privately located on the north side of the McGowan Center on Marywood's campus. The PSC is composed of several individual, couple, family, and group therapy rooms, as well as a reception area and waiting room.

Individual Therapy
Marital/Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Child Play Therapy
Parent Training
Educational & Geriatric Assessment
Psychological and Personality Assessment

The PSC is not able to provide emergency services. If you have a life threatening emergency, please go directly to your nearest emergency room or dial 911.

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Scholarships

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's scholarship programs are designed to encourage and support outstanding students who work hard, demonstrate a strong will to succeed, and have financial need. Our scholarships provide financial assistance and academic support to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.

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Faculty

Courses & Curriculum (60 total credits)

Course Numbers	Course Names	Credit Hours
*Counseling Concentration Courses*		*42 total credits*
COUN 506	Stdnt Acdmc Crer Dvlpmt Schl Coun	3
COUN 518	Foundational Counseling Techniques	3
COUN 525	Theories of Counseling	3
COUN 530	Ethics/Professional Conduct for Counselors	3
COUN 532	Multicultural Issues-Prof Counseling Professionals	3
COUN 543	Group Process in Counseling	3
COUN 544	Advanced Counseling Techniques	0
COUN 561	Assessment and Testing for Counseling	3
COUN 501	Research Theory	3
EDUC 561	Methods Materials and Assessment in ESL Teaching ESL	3
COUN 514	Human Development	3
*COUN 518, COUN 530, and COUN 544: "B" grade required*
*Specialization Courses*		*12 total credits*
COUN 510	Principles and Practices of Professional School Counseling	3
COUN 540	Dvlpng & Mngng A Sccssfl School Counseling Prog	3
COUN 535	Student Soc & Emotional Dev/School Coun	3
COUN 598	Special Topics	3
*Fieldwork Courses*		*6 total credits*
COUN 500	Field Placement Prep	0
COUN 522	Pract: PK-12 Sch Coun (Group Supervisn)	3
COUN 522A	Practicum: School Counseling (Indiv)	0
	Or
COUN 522B	Practicum: School Counseling (Indiv)	0
	Or
COUN 522C	Pract: PK-12 Sch Coun (Indiv Supervisn)	0
	Or
COUN 522D		0
COUN 560	Internship PreK-12 School Counsel	3
*COUNT 522, COUNT 522A, COUN522B, COUN 522C, COUN 522D: "B" Grade required*

Course Numbers

Course Names

Credit Hours

Counseling Concentration Courses

42 total credits

COUN 506

Stdnt Acdmc Crer Dvlpmt Schl Coun

COUN 518

Foundational Counseling Techniques

COUN 525

Theories of Counseling

COUN 530

Ethics/Professional Conduct for Counselors

COUN 532

Multicultural Issues-Prof Counseling Professionals

COUN 543

Group Process in Counseling

COUN 544

Advanced Counseling Techniques

COUN 561

Assessment and Testing for Counseling

COUN 501

Research Theory

EDUC 561

Methods Materials and Assessment in ESL Teaching ESL

COUN 514

Human Development

COUN 518, COUN 530, and COUN 544: "B" grade required

Specialization Courses

12 total credits

COUN 510

Principles and Practices of Professional School Counseling

COUN 540

Dvlpng & Mngng A Sccssfl School Counseling Prog

COUN 535

Student Soc & Emotional Dev/School Coun

COUN 598

Special Topics

Fieldwork Courses

6 total credits

COUN 500

Field Placement Prep

COUN 522

Pract: PK-12 Sch Coun (Group Supervisn)

COUN 522A

Practicum: School Counseling (Indiv)

COUN 522B

Practicum: School Counseling (Indiv)

COUN 522C

Pract: PK-12 Sch Coun (Indiv Supervisn)

COUN 522D

COUN 560

Internship PreK-12 School Counsel

COUNT 522, COUNT 522A, COUN522B, COUN 522C, COUN 522D: "B" Grade required

Student Resources

Learn More About School Counselors:

From #DayOne , Marywood is here for you each step of the way.

Centers of Excellence

Marywood University hosts three academic Centers of Excellence on campus; The Center for Law, Justice and Policy, The Center for Urban Studies, and The Mother Theresa Maxis, IHM Center. Each center provides students with the tools and resources to excel in their academic endeavors, fostering a dynamic environment where they can engage deeply with their respective fields of study and make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.

Accreditation

Marywood University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSHE). / ADDRESS / 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104. | Phone: (267) 284-5000

The Master of Science (MS) in PreK-12 School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs ( CACREP ).

The Master of Science (MS) in PreK-12 School Counseling program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the graduate program in school and clinical mental health counseling is to train master’s-level students to be ethical and caring decision-makers who attend to the varied developmental needs of individuals in Pre K-12 educational and clinical mental health settings. Housed in a comprehensive regional institution steeped in the Catholic tradition, the Marywood counseling program, its faculty and curricular experiences, inspire and transform students to learn, lead and serve in a diverse and changing world. Within this context, the education of the whole person is paramount. The standards-based curriculum is rigorous; faculty expectations are high; and students are challenged to understand and apply the ethical dimensions of personal and professional life and to examine their own attitudes, values and beliefs. Bearing this in mind, while endeavoring to synthesize and integrate the general education and the professional preparation of its prospective counselors, the Counseling Program faculty adopts the following program objectives:

COUNSELING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

To exhibit ethical professional behavior, skills, and dispositions consistent with the ACA and its affiliate standards in order to assume the role of professional counselors in school and clinical mental health settings.
To acquire sufficient knowledge and skills to effectively provide individual, group, and outreach to meet the various concerns of diverse populations in clinical mental health and school settings.
To exhibit professional leadership and advocacy skills necessary to serve as effective agents of change and advance the cause of diverse and underrepresented groups. Likewise, to develop a mastery of consultation skills and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary collaborations.
To acquire a comprehensive knowledge base of research principles and assessment in order to be consumers and producers of quality research. Further, to integrate current empirical information to reform and refine all aspects of the professional counselor.
To demonstrate the capacity for self-reflection, self-evaluation, and integration of feedback.

School Counseling (MS)

Enhance Student Success with a School Counseling Degree

Program at a glance