Sacred Heart University

What you'll study

The program blends online classes with in-person experience: students complete online coursework, two separate two-week residency experiences, and 800 hours of fieldwork in school settings. The curriculum emphasizes supporting students' academic, social and emotional development, college and career readiness, and school-based counseling practices consistent with CACREP and ASCA guidance.

Entry requirements

To progress from the undergraduate portion into the MASC, dual-degree students must meet several requirements while still enrolled as undergraduates. These include submitting an official transcript showing completion of the bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, completing a state-specific acknowledgment form during a discussion with Counselor Education faculty, providing a personal statement, meeting with a faculty member who evaluates potential for success, and demonstrating aptitude and interpersonal skills via two letters of attestation from SHU faculty and one letter of recommendation from an employer or volunteer supervisor. Applicants to this dual pathway must pursue an undergraduate major in psychology.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to serve as K–12 school counselors addressing academic, social-emotional and career-readiness needs. National employment projections cited by the program indicate continued growth in school-counselor roles, with about 29,000 openings per year (BLS, 2024). School counselors may work in public or private schools and can move into district-level leadership positions; the occupation is also noted among higher-ranked social services careers.

Scholarships & funding angle

The dual-degree format can reduce overall cost compared with completing separate degrees because it reserves a graduate place and streamlines the path to the MASC. While specific scholarships are not detailed on the source page, dual-degree students receive undergraduate advising and access to faculty and departmental resources, which can help with planning financing and applying for funding opportunities.