Bachelor's-MA in School Counseling

Learn the skills to support the academic, social and emotional needs of students with a dual degree in school counseling

You can make a difference in addressing significant and societal issues in K-12 schools and fostering a holistic approach to the well-being of all students with a career in school counseling. At Sacred Heart University, you can begin this professional journey by earning your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in six years.

Dual degree students are guaranteed admission to the Master of Arts in School Counseling program provided they continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress into graduate program enrollment.

Students complete their bachelor’s degree in four years of undergraduate study and complete the Master of Arts in School Counseling (MASC) in two years of graduate study.

Why Earn Your Bachelor’s-Master of Arts in School Counseling at Sacred Heart?

With a Sacred Heart University master’s degree in school counseling, you will be prepared to support students across a range of needs, from college and career readiness to social-emotional learning and development. The program is grounded in the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), as well as those for the American School Counselor Association. This approach ensures that graduates meet requirements for licensure in many states throughout the United States.

This program combines online coursework, (2) two-week residency experiences and 800 hours of fieldwork in school settings. Graduates of this program will have the tools and experience to help students thrive and succeed.

Other benefits of SHU’s 4+2 Dual Degree Program include:

Find Support

As undergraduates, students have an academic adviser, as well as other faculty and counseling resources to help them stay on track and progress toward their graduate degree. Industry-specific events and student clubs are also available for undergraduate students to become more deeply involved in their graduate field.

Save Money

Students who participate in dual degree programs may save on tuition costs as compared to completing a separate graduate program.

Less Stress

When you take advantage of the dual degree program, your spot in graduate school is already reserved. There’s no need for last-minute applications to graduate schools during the final months of senior year.

Criteria to Progress to the Master of Arts in School Counseling

Students admitted to the dual degree program must continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria in order to progress to enrollment in the MASC program:

• Official transcript demonstrating successful completion of the bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Completion of a state-specific acknowledgment form while in a conversation with a Counselor Education faculty member who is present to answer program-specific questions
• Submission of a personal statement
• Meeting with a faculty member in which the student successfully demonstrates potential for success in the School Counseling program
• Demonstration of academic ability, interpersonal skills and potential for success in the School Counseling program as evidenced by two letters of attestation from SHU faculty members who have had the student in class
• Submission of a letter of recommendation from an employer or volunteer supervisor that speaks to the student’s potential for success in the School Counseling program

Students must pursue an undergraduate major of psychology for this dual degree program.

More Information

For additional information for prospective first-year students, contact:

Undergraduate Admissions
203-371-7880
enroll@sacredheart.edu

For additional information for current dual degree students, contact:

Graduate Admissions
203-365-7619
gradstudies@sacredheart.edu