The Career Counseling Specialization provides students with the knowledge, theory, and skills to work as effective counselors/career development specialists, and consultants in a variety of settings: community-based agencies, schools (K-12), colleges and universities, private practice, business, industry, and government. Students are trained to facilitate a holistic career development/career decision-making/planning process with groups and individuals that integrates personal, social, and career needs. Students develop the skills to address current issues such as career self-reliance, work/family/life balance, multiculturalism, diversity, and lifelong learning.
The programs are clinically oriented, with didactic and experiential courses, a 100-hour clinical practicum, and 600 hours of field experience. The program is a full time three-year program and students will take between 9-12 units each fall and spring to complete within the three years. Students are admitted into a cohort and will follow the course sequence designated by their program concentration. The cohort model allows students to advance together throughout their education while building support and connections within their peer group. Students are encouraged to advance their advocacy and professional experiences through such activities as participation in professional organizations, research, and presentations at the state, regional, and national level, involvement in the CSUS Multicultural Conference, and/or involvement in the Counselor Education Student Counseling Society. Both leadership and research opportunities are supported through faculty mentorship. The curricular experience is organized around core foundation courses, an intensive on-campus practicum training clinic experience, interpersonal growth experiences, advanced theory and practice courses, and a culminating field study placement.
