College Counseling

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• Required Courses

  both courses are required

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• Principles of College Counseling EDUC-40130 6.00 units Description

  • Assisting students and families through the college preparation and admission process has taken on even greater importance as higher education costs continue to rise. This course will give special attention to training in the college selection process while emphasizing the important issues impacting the profession. Participants will examine the fundamental concepts of setting up a college counseling office, while exploring the personal dimensions of working with families during one of their most crucial transitional experiences.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• College Counseling Strategies EDUC-40131 3.00 units Description

  • College counselors have a variety of critical roles in the college admission process. This course provides training in areas of program development, including building successful programs and designing useful resources for students. Various areas of college admissions will be explored, including the early decision debate, testing options, letters of recommendations and building relationships with college admission professionals. Strategies to successfully deal with students, parents and staff will also be addressed.

• Practicum

  Required

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• College Counseling Practicum EDUC-40132 3.00 units Description

  • The final component of the Specialized Certificate in College Counseling allows participants the opportunity to network with colleagues and apply their newly developed skills. Participants will engage in online discussions as well as research and develop a final project.
    
    This course is intended for individuals who have completed the first two courses (Principles of College Counseling & College Counseling Strategies) in the UCSD Extension College Counseling Certificate Program. The goal of this last course in the certificate sequence is to allow students to apply their growing knowledge of college counseling in an extended, in-depth project designed to meet their own professional needs. Students are encouraged to be aware of the larger educational issues that impact their own work as a college counselor. It is hoped that students will continue to be involved in the college counseling profession in a serious manner and see themselves as influential and ethical practitioners who value research and best practices.

• Elective

  0 units required - for Professional Development

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• U.S. College/University Application Process and the International Student EDUC-41548 3.00 units Description

  • This class is intended to assist the International College Advisor regarding the process of applying to college in the United States. The course covers topics like what admissions officers look for in applications, strategies for self-assessment to find the right university and the logistics of planning and submitting all the necessary elements of an application.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• Implementing a Comprehensive School Counseling Program EDUC-41393 3.00 units Description

  • This course is designed for counselors and school psychologists to help students with career planning, leadership development and character development. The school counselor’s role has been redefined as one of leadership within the school counseling model. Following the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) model, this course explores how school counselors can influence systemic change through collaboration with other schools professionals and how to develop a framework for a school counseling program that is preventative in design and developmental in nature.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• Navigating College Admission Testing EDUC-41671 6.00 units Description

  • College admissions tests are a rite of passage for students. Most four-year colleges and universities rely on standardized tests to determine how ready applicants are for college-level work. Navigating the college admissions testing requirements can assist in the understanding of options for schools. Colleges have adopted widely varying approaches to the tests, so it is important to recognize and learn what tests are required and how the results are weighed.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• Counseling Students on College Application Essays EDUC-41672 4.50 units Description

  • A student essay in an application to a college or university is an opportunity to show they can write well and support ideas with logical arguments while revealing their best qualities. A student can demonstrate to the admission committee what makes them stand out from other applicants in a favorable light. As a college counselor, you can guide the writing of an exceptional essay by understanding their importance, what makes them remarkable, and how to edit without taking over. This class will cover the role of the essay in the college application, working with students, tools for counselors and guest lectures from experts in the field of college admission essays.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• The 21st Century Career Counselor: Preparing Students for College and Career Readiness and Success EDUC-41605 6.00 units Description

  • The potential of all students to achieve academic and career success is a fundamental precept of the 21st century career counselor. The 21st century career counselor is both advocate and leader. This interactive course will engage participants with both research-proven best practices and practical hands-on curriculum. Participants will learn strategies to actively engage the students they counsel in the planning of college and career goals while also teaching them a learning a methodology on how to achieve those goals.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• Understanding College Affordability and Financial Aid EDUC-41536 6.00 units Description

  • This course covers the college financial aid process in a more in-depth manner. Topics include assessing financial need, components of a financial aid award, process of applying for financial aid, net cost of college, loans, case studies, while looking at strategies and approaches for working with families through the financial aid process.

• Course Title Course Number Units Actions
• Counseling Students with Learning Differences and ADHD EDUC-40121 6.00 units Description

  • The number of students diagnosed with a learning difference has increased significantly over the past 10-15 years and consequently, the number of students with learning differences is increasing on college campuses. Students with learning differences have a great deal of potential for success at the post-secondary level. However, there are unique considerations when assisting a student with a Learning Difference (LD), ADHD or High Functioning Autism to plan for college. Considerations such as the type and scope of diagnostic testing, college selection, campus support services, use of referral sources and transition planning become vitally important in laying a solid foundation for the student’s collegiate success.
     
    This course will provide the student with an understanding of: the etiology and definition of different types of LD; the important laws governing high school and college LD students; the differences among college support programs throughout the United States and how to evaluate them; the importance of referral sources and how to match an LD student with colleges which are a good fit. Application of the information learned in the course will culminate with a capstone project of developing a comprehensive college and transition plan for a case study student.

Candidates are also encouraged to take the Next Step by enrolling in the College Counseling Practicum where they can apply their newly developed skills learned throughout the program. During the application process, a prospective candidate should consider possible projects from his or her current company, employer, or volunteer organization; the project will allow the student to utilize learned skills and demonstrate quantifiable results.

• (1) Apply to the College Counseling certificate program.
• (2) Pay the certificate fee.
• (3) Complete all the required online courses with a grade of "C" or better.
• (4) Coursework must be completed within 5 years of beginning the program.

From the 'Apply Now' button, login to your student account, complete the online application, and pay the application fee if applicable. It is preferable that you create an account before proceeding if you have not already done so.

Candidates are encouraged to apply in the certificate program as early as possible to take advantage of program benefits. See Certificate FAQs for more information.

• Contact

  Education. Call 858-534-9286 or Email: unexeduc@ucsd.edu

• Conditions for Admission

  Please see the application for specific admission requirements for this program. Although a college degree or professional experience in the field are not required, applicants with such experience may receive preference for admission when program capacity is limited.
  
  All applicants will be required to submit a verification of bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited institution including degree awarded and date. This can be provided either as official letter from the school or an official, sealed transcript from the accredited institution which awarded your degree.
   

• Industry Requirements

  Completion of the UC San Diego Extension College Counseling Certificate program along with six (6) additional elective units satisfies the experience requirement when applying for associate membership in the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). 

• Mario Aguilar

  Early Academic Outreach, UCSD
  M.S.C.

• Nancy Caine

  St. Augustine High School
  M.A.

• Robert Garber

  Miramar College
  M.A.

• Bonnie Laughlin

  Francis Parker School
  M.A.

• Carol Sobek

  The Preuss School, UCSD
  M.A.

• Chris White

  High Tech High School
  M.A.

• U.S. College/University Application Process and the International Student; 
• Implementing a Comprehensive School Counseling Program; 
• Starting and Maintaining An Independent Educational Consulting Practice; 
• Navigating College Admission Testing;
• Counseling Students on College Application Essays; and
• The 21st Century Career Counselor: Preparing Students for College and Career Readiness and Success