Skip to Content

College Counseling

Specialized Certificate

Page Tools

Home / Courses and programs / College Counseling

About the College Counseling Program

The UC San Diego Extension Program in College Counseling is designed to bring participants the latest in college counseling techniques and to emphasize the personal dimension of working with families during one of their most crucial transitional experiences. Skilled and enthusiastic instructors make the program a professional valuable and personally meaningful learning experience.

This online program is designed to effectively address the most current and relevant issues of College Counseling. Participants will receive instruction in the fundamentals of building a college counseling operation that provides outstanding service to the college-bound. Courses feature timely comprehensive topics in an online environment related to helping students make the transition to college.

The Specialized Certificate in College Counseling is designed and taught by specialists currently working in the field. Our instructors are highly experienced in College Counseling and focus on the development of practical skills. Their skills and knowledge are what keeps our program up-to-date in the field.

The College Counseling program focuses primarily on the college application process and working with students through that process.

There are three courses in total required for the program. The required course order is: Principles of College Counseling; College Counseling Strategies, and College Counseling Practicum. The classes must be taken in the required order.

Please review the application for specific admission requirements for this program. Although employers in the field may not require a college degree or professional experience a degree is required for admission to the program.

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.

Format: Online

Estimated Cost: $1,505

Duration: 6-9 months

Contact
Department
Education
Phone
858-534-9286
Email
unexeduc@ucsd.edu

Courses

Delivery Method
Show Legend
  • Live Online
  • In-Person
  • Online
  • Hybrid

both courses are required

Principles of College CounselingEDUC-40130

Units: 6.00

$675

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 att...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

College Counseling StrategiesEDUC-40131

Units: 3.00

$385

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 designin...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Required

College Counseling PracticumEDUC-40132

Units: 3.00

$385

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...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

0 units required - for Professional Development

U.S. College/University Application Process and the International StudentEDUC-41548

Units: 3.00

$390

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 ...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Implementing a Comprehensive School Counseling ProgramEDUC-41393

Units: 3.00

TBD

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 ...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Starting and Maintaining An Independent Educational Consulting PracticeEDUC-41673

Units: 6.00

$675

If you are considering working as an independent educational consultant, understanding the complexities and requirements of a consultant are important. In this class you will utilize your background i...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Counseling Students on College Application EssaysEDUC-41672

Units: 4.50

$495

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 ...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

The 21st Century Career Counselor: Preparing Students for College and Career Readiness and SuccessEDUC-41605

Units: 6.00

$600

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...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Counseling Students with Learning Differences and ADHDEDUC-40121

Units: 6.00

$675

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 co...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

The Ethics of College Admission CounselingEDUC-40248

Units: 3.00

$390

This course will explore ethical considerations for educators advising high school and transfer students applying to college from a variety of perspectives. We will consider formal rules established b...

See Details
Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Download PDF

Certificate Guidelines

All candidates who wish to receive the College Counseling Certificate are required to:

  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.

Next Steps Experience

Connect your classroom education with real-world experiences through a Next Step Experience course. These specially designed classes allow students to gain hands-on experience by working closely with instructors and/or peers on real-world projects.

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.

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).

Professional Development

We do offer several electives if there is an area that you would like to study in deeper detail. They are not required in order to earn the certificate. There is no required order or prerequisites to enroll in the electives for this program.

If you wish to take one of the College Counseling Specialized Certificate online courses for professional development without registering for the program, you may do so.

IECA Members Discount

All IECA members qualify for a 10% discount on any UC San Diego College Counseling Certificate elective courses.

Elective college counseling elective classes that qualify for the 10% discount include (subject to change):

IECA members must contact the IECA office to receive the membership verification code. Please review the schedule and determine the course and section you would like to participate in. Then, contact Education Department at unexeduc@ucsd.edu to consult with a Program Manager. The Program Manager will provide you with detailed information to enroll with the 10% discount in a college counseling elective course.

IECA Associate Membership Requirements:

Completion of the UC San Diego Extension College Counseling Certificate program with six (6) additional elective quarter units (from any of the related UC Extension College Counseling certificate programs) satisfies the experience requirement when applying for associate membership in IECA.

Please visit the IECA website for more information about IECA Membership: https://www.iecaonline.com/

 

Contact Information

Education Department
Email: unexeduc@ucsd.edu (The quickest most direct method is via email.)
Website: extension.ucsd.edu/collegecounseling

Related Documents

Advisory Board

Mario Aguilar, M.S.C.

Assistant Director

Early Academic Outreach, UCSD

Nancy Caine, M.A.

Director of College Counseling

St. Augustine High School

Robert Garber, M.A.

Vice President, Student Affairs

Miramar College

Bonnie Laughlin, M.A.

Director of College Counseling

Francis Parker School

Carol Sobek, M.A.

Head Counselor

The Preuss School, UCSD

Chris White, M.A.

Director of College Counseling

High Tech High School

Programs you may also like:

Specialized Certificate

Institutional Research

Specialized Certificate

Gifted and Talented Education

Related Articles

May 23, 2017

Labor Insights: College Counseling

The UC San Diego Extension research team is doing the legwork for you by finding the latest employment facts and figures on each of our certificate programs including the specialized certificate in College Counseling.

April 05, 2016

College Counseling Instructor Steven Mercer On College Costs and Competition

Dr. Steven Mercer makes his living helping kids get into college, and so his professional success depends partly on his ability to spot trends in higher education.

December 07, 2013

The next step forward for college counseling

As relatively new professions head toward maturity, they tend to find themselves enwrapped in what one might best characterize as a ‘midlife crisis’ in establishing a unique identity. This rings particularly true with those in which the ends of the continuum are quite well defined but the middle far less so.

July 10, 2013

If you build it, will they come? Exploring the future of training and professional development in college counseling

Online college counseling certificate programs offered by a number of University of California Extension campuses have become one of the most ubiquitous sources of training and professional development for college counselors in general and Independent Educational Consultants in particular. As these programs see dramatic growth, along with drawing more enrollments from around the globe, administrators and instructors are making decisions about curriculum, practica supervision, and other administrative program components that will influence the quality of certificate training for years to come.
Request information

Request Information

Interested in the Program?

Request information

Interested in the Program?

<%= ApplyEnrollText %>

Apply Now

Ready to get started?

<%= ApplyEnrollText %>

Ready to get started?

This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There will be a $0 fee to apply to this program. Students will also be required to pay a $95 certificate fee upon enrollment into the program after acceptance. View the complete Certificate Registration and Candidacy Guidelines.

APPLY TO THIS CERTIFICATE