Empower Students and Families with an Educational and Clinical Counseling Degree

APU’s Master of Arts in Education: Educational and Clinical Counseling with embedded School Counseling Credential program equips candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the educational and mental heath issues facing students and families today.

The master’s degree integrates the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling and preparation to meet California state licensure requirements for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). This versatile combination of credential and certificate allows candidates to pursue careers in the K–12 school setting, while also preparing counselors for the clinical, mental health field.

Graduates are positioned to empower students and families as they navigate the mental health issues that impact personal and academic growth.

Program Highlights

• Combines the master’s degree with credential program requirements, equipping students to advance their career.
• Renders the graduate highly marketable and qualified to serve as a professional counselor in an educational or clinical setting.
• Offers an efficient path toward the dual goal of meeting state requirements while earning a prestigious advanced degree from a leading Christian university.

Learn more about the program and our faculty.

School of Education Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). In addition, the School of Education receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is transitioning to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), making APU one of only three private schools in California with this distinction. Further, our credential programs are accredited by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Our Educational Psychology program is also accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These notable accreditations set APU graduates apart from other candidates and ensure that your degree will be recognized throughout the United States and internationally.

University Reputation

U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2023 edition named Azusa Pacific to its list of top national universities and several other significant lists, including First-Year Experiences and Top Performers on Social Mobility. The Princeton Review designated APU as 1 of 126 institutions in the “Best Western Colleges” section of its 2023 Best Colleges guide. APU’s School of Nursing was named a top nursing school in California for 2023 by College Factual and Niche. APU was included as a top-100 degree producer by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Azusa Pacific is also a Military Friendly School and Yellow Ribbon University, serving more than 500 military-connected students and families, and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral Research University.