Department of Counseling and Family Sciences, Griggs Hall, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA

Program Director

Cheryl J. Simpson, Ph.D., LEP, PPS

University of Oregon (1980); professor of counseling and family sciences; licensed educational psychologist; PPS credentialed school counselor and psychologist. 

(909) 558-4547 ext. 47012; csimpson@llu.edu  

Department

The M.S. in Counseling is housed in the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences. The department also offers graduate programs in Child Life Specialist (M.S.), Family Studies (M.A. and Ph.D.), and Marital and Family Therapy (M.S., DMFT, and Ph.D.). In addition, students may complete post-baccalaureate certificate programs in Child Life Specialist, Clinical Mediation, Drug and Alcohol Counseling, and Family Life Education.

Mission

Loma Linda University’s mission of whole person care guides the faculty in working collaboratively for the purpose of transforming lives through education, research, clinical training, community service, and global outreach.  Students are invited to join with faculty in supporting university values of compassion, integrity, excellence, freedom, justice, purity, and humility.  These attributes are depicted by the Good Samaritan statue in the heart of campus which contrasts human  indifference  and ethnic pride with empathy and service. Amidst the rich cultural heritage of our  academic community, the education offered within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences is the foundation  upon which to develop new and ever  more nurturing ways of being with others. 

Accreditation

The M.S. in Counseling is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).  The Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) is regulated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).  The Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential is regulated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Master of Science in Counseling

The Master of Science in Counseling is designed to give students a broad academic background in mental health counseling and professional training for a wide variety of careers working with individuals, families, and groups. Professional counselors assist clients in working through personal and relational concerns such as anxiety, depression, adjustment problems, family stress, developmental transitions, crisis, trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence, medical problems, disability, education and career planning, personal loss, and grief.  Students enrolled in the counseling degree program may choose to specialize as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) for work in environments such as community mental health agencies, career centers, recovery programs, legal systems, educational institutions, churches, medical facilities, or in private practice. Students may also choose to specialize as school counselors by completing the requirements for the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in order to qualify for work as K-12 counselors in California public schools. Two hundred LPCC hours can count toward PPS elective hours. 

LPCC Clinical Counselor License

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) represent one of several mental health professions requiring California licensure to practice. Preparation requires successful completion of the M.S. degree in Counseling with supervised clinical training through-out. Following degree completion, a candidate must apply to The Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for approval as an LPCC Clinical Counselor Intern, complete a supervised clinical internship, and pass licensure examinations which are administered by the board. 

PPS School Counseling Credential

The Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling qualifies individuals to work as California K-12 public school counselors.  Candidates must pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) before a credential is granted by the state.

Admission Requirements

Students may be admitted to the M.S. in Counseling during any of the four quarters which begin in July, September, January, and March.  Prior to enrollment, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in any field.  No prerequisite examinations or courses are required for admission.  The following admission standards apply.

• Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0
• All official college transcripts received by LLU
• Health clearance, including TB testing
• Background check, including Live Scan
• Three letters of recommendation as specified
• Written personal statement with application
• Interview with three department faculty

    (Group interviews held in March and May)

• Applicants for whom English is not first language    must present score for TOEFL as published in Loma Linda University Catalog
• Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must provide valid student visa

Clinical Training / Field Experience

All students in the M.S. in Counseling are required to complete a minimum of 300 hours (9 field experience units) of supervised counseling as part of their degree requirements.  For LPCC clinical counselor trainees, all 300 hours must be supervised, face-to-face hours of clinical counseling with individuals, families, or groups.  Supervision, students’ own personal therapy, time spent on documentation, and other work that does not involve client contact cannot be counted.  For school counseling, the 300 hours required for completion of the M.S. degree equal only half of the 600 hours required for the PPS credential. The remaining 300 PPS hours may be completed during or after degree completion.

Financial Assistance

Students accepted into the M.S. in Counseling may have the opportunity to qualify for assistance through merit-based awards  such as teaching, graduate, and research assistantships which are paid through the work study program.   Miscellaneous student scholarships may be available for specific purposes throughout the year.  For educational loans and other financial information applicants are advised to contact:        

                      Student Financial Aid Office

                        Loma Linda University

                        Loma Linda, CA 92350

                        (909) 558-4509

Program Information

The M.S. in Counseling requires 90 quarter credits of academic work and 300 hours of counseling field experience.   LPCC and PPS options can be singular specializations or dual specializations within the degree program. Students who do not complete both LPCC and PPS specializations must replace eliminated courses with advisor-approved electives. 

Core Counseling Courses

COUN 501 Research Tools and Method--Quantitative (3)

COUN 502 Research Tools and Method--Qualitative (3)

COUN 515 Crisis Intervention and Client Advocacy (3)

COUN 524 Psychopharmacology and Medical Issues (3)

COUN 528 Culture, Socioeconomic Status and Therapy (3)

COUN 540 Foun of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3)

COUN 547 Social Ecology of Development (3)

COUN 556 Psychopathology and Diagnostic Proc (3)

COUN 568 Groups:  Process and Practice (3)

COUN 575 Counseling Theories and Applications (3)

COUN 576 Exceptional & Medically Challenged Children (3)

COUN 577 Assessment in Counseling (3)

COUN 579 Career Theories and Applications (4)

COUN 584 Advanced Child and Adolescent Development (3)

COUN 604 Social Context in Clin Prac: Gender, Race, SES (3) 

COUN 614 Law and Ethics (3)

COUN 624 Individual and Systems Assessment (3)

COUN 638 Family Therapy and Chemical Abuse (3)

COUN 644 Child Abuse and Family Violence (3)

COUN 674 Human Sexual Behavior (3)

COUN 678 Consultation and Program Evaluation (3)

RELR  564 Religion, Marriage and the Family or RELR elect (3)

STCJ   515 Research/Writing GLP – online course (2)

-SEE CATALOG FOR LISTING OF ELECTIVE COURSES-

LPCC Clinical Specialization

COUN 675 Dynamics of Aging (1)

COUN 682 Clinical Counseling Practicum and Seminar (>1,1,1,1,1)

COUN 691 Process Approaches to Coun/Psychotherapy (3)

COUN 692 Cog Approaches to Coun/Psychotherapy (2)

COUN 693 Counseling & Psychotherapy within Systems (2)

COUN 791-793 Clinical Counseling Field Experience (all required)

Clinical Training Requirements:  300 client contact hours

PPS School Specialization

COUN 574 Psych Foundations of Education (3)

COUN 679 Professional School Counseling (3)

COUN 681 School Counseling Practicum and Seminar (>1,1)

COUN 781-786 School Counseling Field Experience 

Field Experience Requirements:  600 hours:300 before graduation

(400 hrs COUN 781-786 + 200 hrs COUN 781-786 or 791-793)       

Passing score on California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)